January 11, 2022: The More Things Change

Was it that bad? I heard some of it. I read more of it. I didn’t want to listen to the whole thing in its entirety. What did we expect? George McCaskey hasn’t exactly instilled a ton of confidence over the years; it was more of the same to begin this offseason. Well, he did let Nagy and Pace go; that’s good, no? Yet, when he says he’s not a football guy, but he will be the final decision maker, you can’t help but feel uncomfortable. But I think… how many of the NFL owners really know football? I imagine George is in the majority. Point is, he doesn’t need to know football; point is, he needs to surround himself with people who do. Will he do that?

We’ve been here before, no? I remember the last time around, when he wanted to bring in a consultant, someone who knew more about football and building a team than he did; I thought it was a great idea. It didn’t work. Does that mean this time around, when he’ll follow the same playbook, it won’t work again? The more things change, the more they stay the same? It IS a good idea to lean on some other folks to help; it’s kind of hard to argue that, especially when George self-admittedly doesn’t know. I get that it didn’t work the last time around; I get that maybe you’re not fond of the guy he’ll be using. It’s crazy how all the bad stuff about Bill Polian hits the internet once he’s mentioned; he does have a book about this stuff though. My point, is that it can’t be worse than George doing it himself, or God forbid asking Ted Phillips for assistance. What does it matter what he’s paying him? The Bears got money. If this will lead to choosing a couple guys that are worth a shit, then it will be worth it, no?

I’m not flushing the future down the toilet because George is still the owner; what choice do we have? Wait it out for him to die like Bill Wirtz until the Bears have some kind of a turnaround? Expect “the board” to vote him out of his position, when the board, made up of his mother, family, and close friends, has just endorsed him? Big surprise… They DO own the Bears, not Rodgers. They will do whatever they please. We hope the best interest of the team is their best interest, but again, how many times does that matchup across the league, across all sports? They’re so high up there, so much money and power, they don’t have an idea of what it’s like down here. Unable to take a step back and remove yourself from the situation to get a dose of reality, the ownership plows ahead… their way… this is their right as owners, whether we like it or not. We just have to hope that “their way” hits every so often… it’s 36 years and counting since Super Bowl XX.

Yet, we ain’t going anywhere; us die hard Bears fans will be here until the bitter end. Some may have left along the way to jump on that bandwagon to the north; everybody has choices. I’m going to choose to stay positive, to give these next guys the benefit of the doubt. I’ll give them a chance, just like every GM and coach before them. You can’t hang them before they have a chance, although that’s what ends up happening to most of them anyways in time. There will be good times; there will be bad times. But this new start, provides new hope, regardless if the ownership stays the same. This new GM, this new coach, hopefully they will be allowed to do their jobs, to make the decisions necessary to get back on track, to get back to and to win the Super Bowl. It’s an important decision, no doubt. Will the Bears get it right? So far, I’m hearing a lot of names that I wouldn’t mind; I wouldn’t be mad at Harbaugh or Flores. I won’t act like I know who would be the best GM candidates, but I’m sure I’ll be reading a lot about both the possible coaches and GM choices over the next few weeks. I’m excited for the next chapter; nothing can change my mind about that. Bear Down!