The Bears introduced their new GM on Friday. They didn’t go with an ex-general manager. They didn’t go with someone who’s been in the business for 30 plus years. They robbed the cradle, and made Ryan Pace at the age of 37, the youngest GM in the NFL by naming him the new Bears general manager.
Pace. I think of Orlando Pace, HOF OL from the Rams/Ohio State. I think of Pace salsa… you know, the one where the cowboys around the campfire say “New York City?” when they find out where the competitor’s salsa is made. I think of moving at a snail’s pace, the Indiana Pacers, or even the Pace bus that runs in the Chicago suburbs. When the name of the Bears new GM was announced on Thursday afternoon, I was unfamiliar with the name Pace meaning anything other than that. From this point forward, Ryan Pace will be the name I associate most with Pace; hopefully I do it fondly.
So are you happy with the Bears choice? This is the question I’ve been asked multiple times since the announcement. My initial response is YES… but I’ll soon have a better idea. I mean, how much does an average fan, heck, even a die-hard fan like myself, know about prospective GM candidates? I know he’s the youngest GM in the NFL. I know he came from New Orleans, where he was employed when they captured their Super Bowl title. I know he gets high praise from his now ex-team. What does it all mean? When the Bears named their previously dispatched GM Phil Emery, I felt OK too.
Well, I’m happy that he’s the youngest GM. To me, I won’t look at the negative side of no previous GM experience, or 30 plus years in the league, but instead, I’ll look at someone with fresh, new ideas. I’ll see this as an opportunity to have one of the brightest, young minds in the NFL leading our team into the future. I’ll look at someone with a positive outlook… someone who hasn’t done this anywhere else before… someone who will make the Bears HIS team. I like the fact that he has a Super Bowl on his resume, of course. I like his involvement with the acquisition of Drew Brees, the franchise QB who led the Saints to that title. I like the story he told about it too… where they made a huge investment/risk to get him after shoulder surgery, and the first pass he threw in practice went 5 yards and skipped… funny stuff. I like that sense of humor. I like the dedication he’s already shown, by interviewing a head coach candidate the same day he was picked as GM. So far, so good… You only have one chance to make a first impression.
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The most important stuff is yet to come though. The decision ahead of naming a head coach is a critical one. Who do I want as head coach? I’ve mentioned some names… Rex Ryan, Jack Del Rio… both defensive minded coaches. I’m definitely leaning that side of the ball. I guess that would be one of my prerequisites, although having someone who commands respect, expects 110% effort, and holds players accountable is most important. If that means picking one of the current defensive coordinators out there, and giving them a shot, I’d be OK with that too. Big choice Ryan… important choice.
The next check on my list is Cutler. I… DO… NOT… WANT… Cutler anymore. Look, we’ve canned the GM, the coach… we’re starting fresh…. why would we keep the main reason these individuals lost their job? That’s what it comes down to for me. So who could we get that’s a better option? I really don’t fricking care. Anybody at this point. Anybody, which will give us a new look… a new face… a new “leader” of the Bears offense. There are guys out there. I’m sorry, I’m not a Mark Sanchez guy, but heck, I’d even take him. If someone is willing to take Jay’s contract, or even part of it, I want to rid us of this poison… don’t allow this coach killer to dig his claws in another staff. Turn the page. You have to see this Ryan.
So, stay tuned. The head coach, the QB, then the NFL combine, draft, free agency… it’s all coming quickly, and this is the Pace we need to move at. No jerking around. We’ve moved swiftly and decisively so far this offseason… we need to continue. Let’s dig in and work on turning this thing around ASAP. No, I don’t believe we have to wait years to compete again. We can compete next year, yeah, that’s right. I hope Ryan Pace can lead us through this transition. I hope he makes the right decisions. I hope he leads HIS team to many future successes. Good luck sir… we’ll be watching.
MK
Had no idea who this guy was so let’s hope he doesn’t have a middle initial of I…R.I.P. would b a bad sign. So after watching some of the press conference, he seems like the guy for the job…young, smart, and nothing but real good things said about him. But now, it is what he says and does for the Bears that matters. As he said, returning the Bears to greatness is his job. Making them into playoff contenders and beyond year after year is his job. But his number one job right now is to find a head coach. I liked what he said about that, too. It does not matter whether the guy is offensive or defenaive minded, character, charisma, discipline, and leadership are what RP is loooking for to go along with wanting the best man for the job. Those traits are what the Bears are lacking and need. I hope RP makes the right hire, and then does the right thing regarding jay. He did not make the mess, but he needs to clean it up. Trust in RP! BEAR DOWN!!!
nostradummass
Regarding Jay: If RP has true control of football operations, he should try to trade Jay for something worthwhile, maybe just to get rid of the remaining contract cap. If not, he should keep Jay on the team AND tell his new head coach that just because Jay gets paid a fortune does not mean that Jay must play at all. If necessary, let the new head coach decide whether Jay plays or whether David Fales plays or whether someone else plays QB. Optimize Jay (even if that means he is the backup QB), don’t just hate him.
Jay is certainly better than most backup QBs, so if they can’t get something decent in return such as a good draft choice, then keep him. But do not make Jay the albatross that he became for Trestman (since Emery gave Jay the big contract, Trestman had no choice but to use Cutler.) If my memory serves me correctly, someone in Seattle signed Matt Flynn to a big big contract while releasing Hasselback, and look who started at QB and won the Superbowl for them about two years later! Someone was smart enough to give Pete Carroll the green light to coach the team according to potential, not according to compensation levels. If RP does that, then we should all be happy.
MK
Agree. Mistake of giving jay all that money is done. Let’s not compound that by trading him just because or feeling forced to play him if he is not the best option. He needs a swift kick in his ass to shape up and play to potential after all these years or ride some pine, here or somewhere else.
JEFFK
He’s a cancer, period. No place on this team, period. Don’t care what our other option is, anybody but him. That ship has sailed. Don’t start the new regime with that problem still in a bears uniform. Find a way to get rid of him. Let him “optimize” elsewhere. Let’s reinvest that money into another QB or into the defense that needs it.