Smith's agent says talks with Bears have broken down
Chris Mortenson, ESPN

Barring what Lovie Smith's agent calls an "unforseen breakthrough," the Chicago Bears coach expects to return for the 2007 season without a new contract.

Frank Bauer, Smith's agent, told ESPN's Chris Mortensen that talks between the team and coach were at a "stalemate."

"We're not close, we're not encouraged and based on where talks have gone recently, Lovie will be a free agent after next season," Bauer said on Wednesday night.

Smith has one year remaining on his original contract. He was the league's lowest-paid coach at $1.35 million in 2006 and will remain No. 32 on the paylist at $1.45 million in '07.

Smith suspended contract talks shortly before the playoffs when he led the Bears to their first Super Bowl appearance since 1985 after a 13-3 regular season. Negotiations picked up shortly after the Bears lost to the Colts in the championship game, but Bauer said there were significant gaps on the contract terms between management and the coach.

"It would take an unforseen breakthrough for this to get done," Bauer said. "And we are being more than reasonable in this market."

Coaches that have taken their teams to the Super Bowl, even in a losing effort, are making at least $5 million per year, such as Carolina's John Fox.

The Ravens just signed Brian Billick to a four-year extension. The deal, with one year left on his current contract, is valued at $28.5 million over the next five years, a league source said.


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I believe that the Bears are probably being cheap, and are probably offering something in the low $3 million range per season when they should be offering at least $4 million.

However, I'd still be shocked if there isn't a new deal within the next week or so - the Bears are raking in money, I have no idea why they'd want the negative PR of being called cheap over this, and I also think it was smart of Smith's agent to come out to the press, and force the Bear management's hand on this.

I wonder if the consolidation of power, the "firing" of Rivera and the fact that he has lost the last game in each of the last two seasons has anything to do with this?

I am not completely sold on Lovie and Maybe the Bears are not either.

_________________
We all have private ails. The troublemakers are they who need public cures for their private ails.- Eric Hoffer

I think the Bears are sold on Lovie as their coach, but they just don't want to pay (at least yet) the money he's asking for. As you said, they seem to have allowed him to fire Rivera, and Angelo/Phillips both said during Super Bowl week that Lovie warrants a long-term deal.

agreed

Perhaps you miss the D.Juron era? or maybe you crave Wanney ball? I know you want da coach to make a comeback.

Pay the man you cheap bastards.

I would have taken 2 first round picks for just about any coach, but since that isn't going to happen, get the guy signed.