OT: Chicago Bears fire Lovie Smith
NFL.com reporting it first.
Tough decision I bet as the Bears did go 10-6 but miss the playoffs.
EDIT: There are a good amount of MGo-Bears fans, so I think it may be appropriate to have a seperate thread.
December 31st, 2012 at 11:12 AM ^
If true, how can the Ford family justify keeping Schwartz?
December 31st, 2012 at 11:57 AM ^
Because paying him and a new head coach would cut into their profits?
December 31st, 2012 at 1:58 PM ^
Because despite having at least the second most talented team in the division the past few years, he has failed to make the playoffs since 2010, and has only make the playoffs once in over half a decade.
Schwartz has taken the absolute worst franchise in the league, coming off an 0-16 season to the playoffs with 3 years. This year was an obvious disappointment, but the Lions have been ahead of schedule under his watch.
So, in short, different expectations.
December 31st, 2012 at 2:08 PM ^
roster in the NFL when he took over. Until this year the Lions were making progress every year.
December 31st, 2012 at 2:31 PM ^
When he took over the Lions they were devoid of ANY talent (outside of Calvin). Just go back and look at the absolute non-entities that littered the Lions' 08 roster.
Daunte motherfucking Culpepper started 5 games for the Lions. Dan Orlovsky started 7 games and played in 10.
Rudi Johnson started the year off as our starting running back. For the love of god people, Rudi Johnson. He was replaced by Kevin Smith.
As a offense we had more interceptions than passing TDs, and over 3 times as many fumbles as rushing TDs.
Our second leading receiver was Shaun McDonald(!). Our 3rd wideout was Mike Furrey, oh, you know, the defensive back.
All I'll say about the defense is that they were so horrible, 4 years later and there is only one meaningful contributor from that team still playing (Cliff Avril).
A lot of Lions fan remark, "All of these other teams can completely turn things around in a year. Just look at the Colts or X team that went from last to first, why can't the Lions do that?" My response is, "OK, but the Colts' roster wasn't an absolute tire fire just a few years ago. We are talking about a franchise that was literally, and I mean literally in every sense of the word, devoid of talent."
Edit: You know what? I'm going to say more about that defense.
The starting members of the DLine were:
Jared DeVries
Chartric Darby
Cory Redding
DeWayne White
The starting members of the line backing corps were:
Ryan Nece
Paris Lennon
Ernie Sims
The starting defensive backs were:
Brian Kelly
Leigh Bodden
Daniel Bullocks
Kalvin Pearson
It's going to take longer than 4 years to replace that level of awfulness, and that's just the defense.
December 31st, 2012 at 11:14 AM ^
I'll take Lovie and a 10-6 record.
December 31st, 2012 at 11:14 AM ^
I'll take Lovie and a 10-6 record.
December 31st, 2012 at 11:17 AM ^
I am a Bears fan, but Lovie to Detroit makes sense. He will could shore up the D, and bring class to the locker room. Perfect fit for the Lions...if he brings in a decent OC.
December 31st, 2012 at 11:19 AM ^
10-6 is a pretty damn good season in the NFL. Expectations can be way too high for teams that have been spoiled with success (although maybe my expectations are just so low as a result of being a Lions fan?). I remember when people were calling for Tom Coughlin's head in New York before he won 2 super bowls.
December 31st, 2012 at 11:24 AM ^
December 31st, 2012 at 11:39 AM ^
December 31st, 2012 at 5:31 PM ^
December 31st, 2012 at 11:40 AM ^
Not 10-6. 7-1 followed by 3-5. The Bears went from having a comanding lead in the North to missing the playoffs, with two more losses to the Packers who have just owned them during Lovie's tenure. As a Bears fan, I can't say I'm sorry to see him go.
That said, the Bears were a lot like Michigan this year, in that they both had terrible interior line play that all but killed a formerly productive running game, and turned their QB into a heave and pray river boat gambler type who was just as likely to throw a pick as a big play pass. Forte couldn't find any holes just like Toussaint couldn't find any holes. The Bears became one dimensional as a result (Culter to Marshall), and when the unsustainable tunrover margin afforded by the D failed, so did the Bears. Firing Lovie won't fix that, but it can't make it any worse.
December 31st, 2012 at 11:59 AM ^
everyone seems to think the "collapse" down the stretch was a huge suprise. Their schedule before the season started was so predictable. The only games that went opposite of expected were the loss to SEA and game 16 @ DET.
What if they were 3-5 and then went 7-1? 10-6 is 10-6. They Bears are who we thought they were!!!
December 31st, 2012 at 12:34 PM ^
And missing the playoffs is missing the playoffs. Hell, I'd rather have Detroit's record if they were going to miss the playoffs so they could up their draft stock high enough to take Lewan.
December 31st, 2012 at 5:12 PM ^
going higher in the draft means nothing if you can't scout or develop players.
I bet SF is far happier with Alex Smith at #1 overall instead of A.Rodgers. And once that 1st round is over, your draft spot really becomes irrelevant since everyone has had a shot at every player available. That's where you really turn your team around if you can draft guys like L.Briggs, F.Gore, L.Tillman, T.Brady, J.Tuck, etc.
December 31st, 2012 at 12:40 PM ^
crap.
December 31st, 2012 at 12:46 PM ^
December 31st, 2012 at 11:41 AM ^
Lovie to Detroit please!
December 31st, 2012 at 11:52 AM ^
December 31st, 2012 at 12:52 PM ^
Well said, I said some of this is the other thread about coaching fires. It's time for his to go, he needs a new place to coach and we need a new coach. Long time in the making.
December 31st, 2012 at 1:03 PM ^
December 31st, 2012 at 1:09 PM ^
I can't answer that right now but Emery (new gm) was made to keep Lovie when he was fired. So this is a chance for Emery to get his guy in. We will hear a lot of rumors about ollege coaches and guys like Gruden, Reid, and others (Don't be surprised to see someone say Cowher, won't happen.) It all depends on what type of coach Emery wants, a young Cord, a good college coach, or a veteran proven HC.
December 31st, 2012 at 3:40 PM ^
December 31st, 2012 at 4:05 PM ^
You are right on that. Even though I'm happy that Lovie is leaving I realize he is a hell of a coach. However, every coach has their faults and Lovie's was a bad one. Lovie became to loyal to his players and coaches and it got in the way of improving the team as he would always say our players/coaches are good enough we don't need to add anyone. If it wasn't for this part of him I really think he could have done a 100x's better than what he did.
December 31st, 2012 at 3:18 PM ^
December 31st, 2012 at 12:11 PM ^
As a Packers fan (sorry everyone) I always liked Lovie Smith. He ran the Bears with class, and I felt bad that he was seemingly always on the hot seat while in Chicago. He's a good coach, and he'll find another head coaching job in the NFL.
December 31st, 2012 at 5:08 PM ^
As a fellow Packers fan, I'd fire Dom Capers tomorrow if we could get Lovie as DC. I don't know if he'd take the job, but hey, a man can dream.
December 31st, 2012 at 1:31 PM ^
After going 7-1, not making the playoffs was a kick I the under carriage. He flat out lost the team and deserves the axe.
Plus, after getting a new GM last year, we knew major changes were on their way.
December 31st, 2012 at 1:39 PM ^
December 31st, 2012 at 2:00 PM ^
Lovie, vs team's with winning records, was 19-40. He was also loyal too much. He would consitently say "WR's are good enough we don't need to add anyone" "Our OL is fine, we just need another year" "Jamarcus Webb has all the potential in world he will be good" "Kellen Davis is a great pass catcher" "Mike Tice can call plays". All of those Lovie has said at some point even though not a single one is true. Before BMarsh our WR core was pathetic, same for the OL. Webb can't block a damn brick wall and Davis can't catch even if it was handed to him.
December 31st, 2012 at 3:44 PM ^
December 31st, 2012 at 4:27 PM ^
Plus, he lacked passion and intensity and I think the Bears need some Ditka-esque fire.
December 31st, 2012 at 3:06 PM ^
Either way those 3 w end up together somewhere IMO....
December 31st, 2012 at 5:48 PM ^
The Bears started off 7-1, but only 1 win was against a playoff team. That just happened to be At Home against the Colts in Andrew Luck's first game. Furtermore, the Bears only beat one other playoff team the rest of the year (1-1 vs. Minnesota). In the end, Lovie's "biggest" wins were against 2 wild card teams, a 5th and 6th seed -- one of which ended up splitting the season series and taking the final playoff spot from the Bears.
Teams Lovie Beat 2 teams over.500 :
- Colts (11-5)
- Rams (7-8-1)
- Cowboys (8-8)
- Jaguars (2-14)
- Lions (4-12) [twice]
- Panthers (7-9)
- Titans (6-10)
- Vikings (10-6)
- Cardinals (5-10)
Farewell Lovie Lee "Poodle Killer" Smith. Good luck to you.
December 31st, 2012 at 8:41 PM ^
a better coach than most will say. Really, they haven't had a ton of talent in Chicago, they've just played very good D, and their D has scored a lot of points for them. They haven't had a QB forever, and have done some stupid things with running backs (ie: trading Jones) and receivers (Hester). If it weren't for the Lions discovering unbelievable ways to commit the NFL's most ridiculous rules violations, they would have beaten the Bears at least 2 - 3 more times in the last 3 years. Even when the Bears went to the Super Bowl against Indy a number of years ago, they were very lucky to even make the playoffs. Their D scored so many points and they were very lucky to win 4 or 5 games early in that season that it was literally a miracle for them to get as far as they did. Then it really showed it ugly head in the Super Bowl as they had their butts handed to them by Indy. Lovie is a good man and a good coach. Chicago just has nothing else and always thinks their football team should be in the Super Bowl.