Report: Bears reached out to Bill Cowher
Posted by Anthony Stalter (11/30/2009 @ 4:30 pm)
According to 670 The Score’s Hub Arkush, the Bears reached out to Bill Cowher in order to gauge his interest in the team’s head-coaching job should Lovie Smith be fired at the end of the season.
On today’s pregame show on the Score, Hub clarified this point, saying that it wasn’t multiple free agent coaches but one in particular – former Steelers Head Coach Bill Cowher.
The Bears have denied the report, but Hub stands by the story and calls his source impeccable.
This is an interesting rumor because the Bears have highly been regarded as a cheap organization that refuses to open its wallet in order to attract high-profile coaching candidates. But considering the team traded away two first round draft picks in order to acquire quarterback Jay Cutler, maybe the front office finally realizes the need for a marquee head coach like “The Chin” in order for it to make another Super Bowl run.
Just a few weeks ago, it appeared that Smith’s job was safe for now and next season. But given the ass kicking Chicago received in Minnesota on Sunday (along with their general poor play throughout the year), maybe the Bears have realized that Smith is a lost cause.
Cowher has said that he won’t talk to any team until after the season, but if he thinks Chicago is a good fit for him, then maybe he’ll make an exception.
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Warner to test free agent market according to agent
Posted by Anthony Stalter (01/27/2009 @ 9:34 am)
Cardinals’ quarterback Kurt Warner is getting ready to face the Steelers in Super Bowl XLIII this week, but by next week he could be shopping himself around to other teams.
Following Sunday’s Super Bowl XLIII in Tampa, Warner becomes a free agent.
Meanwhile, here in Chicago, Mark Bartelstein is hatching an all-inclusive plan that would give other teams a chance to make an offer to his client.
“The Bears obviously have to figure out which direction they want to go with the quarterback thing,” Bartelstein said. “It has, obviously, been a point of contention for quite a while. We have to wait and see what they decide they want to do.”
The Cardinals will have to decide whether they want to commit to Warner while young first-round pick Matt Leinart sits in the wings.
“Look, Kurt has had a great time (with Arizona). He loves the coaching staff and the guys on the team. He has built great connections with his teammates. So certainly I think he would love to get something done,” Bartelstein said.
“My view with players is always that once you get to free agency, you have earned the right to find out about yourself. You would be silly not to have an open mind.”
With the way he played this season, Warner does deserve the right to test the free agent market. And considering Arizona still has Leinart in its back pocket, Warner might get offered more money elsewhere because the Cardinals do have another quarterback on the roster with (albeit limited) starting experience.
But Warner has had a multitude of success in two places: St. Louis and Arizona. And in both situations, he played indoors and in a passing offense. Not that he couldn’t succeed elsewhere (like Chicago), but maybe the devil you know is better than the devil you don’t. In other words, I think Kurt’s place is back with Arizona if the Cardinals make him a reasonable offer. (Regardless of what happens in the Super Bowl.) Arizona just seems like a good fit for Warner.
