In the words of Tribe Called Quest, “here we go yo, here we go yo, so what so what so what’s the scenario” with the Chicago Bears moving forward?
We’ve heard all about outside consultants coming in to evaluate the organization from top to bottom.
We’ve heard the pressure could be ramping up on both Head Coach John Fox and General Manager Ryan Pace. We’ve heard Jay Cutler could be done for the season, due to a torn labrum in his throwing shoulder, and thus also finished as a Chicago Bear because he’s supposedly out the door once the season is over.
Then we hear he could still return this season, and also that he might be back next year as the Chicago Bears QB1.
It kind of sounds like a.) nobody really knows anything and b.) all these situations seem to be extremely fluid and the overall situation changes from day to day.
We do know a few things though-
1. This season has been totally dreadful
2. Interest in the Chicago Bears is seemingly as low as it’s ever been in recent years
3. John Fox, Ryan Pace etc. are going to have shake things up big time this offseason in order to re-energize and re-engage the base
4. A major figure somewhere in the Bears organization will be losing their job, a major change will be made in at least one position.
5. Jay Cutler is perhaps the most unpopular that he’s ever been in Chicago.
Here’s the latest via Ian Rapoport of the NFL Network. Maybe he’s right, maybe he’s wrong, but if he doesn’t get this correct, I don’t really know who could.
On head coaches on the hot seat:
“Gus Bradley, the Jacksonville Jaguars’ coach. Given the way that their season has gone, it is no surprise that he is very seriously in jeopardy, obviously potential that he could lose his job at the end of the season. It would be a surprise, in fact, if he continues to coach there in 2017. They have plenty of talent, just has not gone right for him. As for the Bears, the heat is also on John Fox, just in his second year but they have gone backward, looking at the possibility of a number three [overall] pick. One of the more intriguing situations, Marvin Lewis with the Cincinnati Bengals.
He signed just a one-year extension before the season. They have struggled, still do not have a playoff win. The one thing I would mention before we talk about how much in jeopardy he is, he still has a very strong relationship with the owner. That could prove huge later this year.”
On Chicago Bears quarterback Jay Cutler:
“I’m told he has a partially torn labrum along with other wear-and-tear in his right throwing shoulder. But believe it or not, Cutler still is trying to return this season somehow. I know how everyone has talked about the eventual divorce between Cutler and the Bears. I’m told it’s far from a certainty.
“Yes, they want to replace Jay Cutler but they do not know based on this draft class and the quarterbacks that might be available if they actually have a quarterback who will be better than him.”
Yes, who is Cutler’s replacement if the Bears cut ties? Do they go after Tony Romo like everyone else will be doing? Does John Fox make sure they draft one?
Earlier this season, reports surfaced that the Bears were actively scouting Miami Hurricanes quarterback Brad Kaaya, and that several representatives of the Bears organization had attended Kaaya’s games.
We can confirm, via the Notre Dame press box seating chart for the Miami game, Bears scouts, as well as General Manager Ryan Pace, in attendance for the ND-Miami game. However, with Kaaya returning to school (more on that here), the Bears will have to look elsewhere in order to resolve their unsettled situation at the quarterback position.
Paul M. Banks runs The Sports Bank.net, partnered with FOX Sports Engage Network. and News Now. Banks, a former writer for the Washington Times, currently contributes regularly to the Chicago Tribune’s RedEye publication and Bold Global.
He also consistently appears on numerous radio and television talk shows all across the country. Follow him on Twitter and Instagram and Sound Cloud.