If you can get by the "Mister" shit,not a bad column:
http://www.chicagobusiness.com/section/ ... z1Bzg0xyOu====================
Now that the weird, improbable season has come to an end, it's time to look ahead to what will be an eventful off-season for the Bears.
Love for Lovie: It will be a major surprise if the Bears don't give Lovie Smith a contract extension. Bears President Ted Phillips put the pressure on the coach to produce this year, and he did. With his contract set to expire after 2011, expect Mr. Smith to be extended through at least 2013. After all, the Sox just gave Ozzie Guillen job security through 2012.
Now the challenge is for Mr. Smith to keep winning. Only once since the Mike Ditka years have the Bears made back-to-back appearances in the playoffs: 2005 and 2006 under Mr. Smith. It's time for the Bears to be a perennial playoff team. That's not too much to ask.
However, the task won't be easy next year. It seems unlikely the Bears will be able to pick up three victories against teams playing third-string quarterbacks as they did in 2010. Also, you have to figure the Minnesota Vikings should rebound if new coach Leslie Frazier finds a quarterback. The Vikings have too much talent to stay at 6-10. The Detroit Lions also showed signs of life and could make a run if Matthew Stafford can stay healthy.
The Bears may have won this year, but Mr. Smith has yet to win over the town. He certainly got out-coached Sunday. He will be forever second-guessed on his decision to use Todd Collins, who looked like Betty White (Abe Vigoda?) in the Snickers commercial. And is nearly as old. And Mr. Smith's play-calling at the end of the game was suspect.
Yes, even though Mr. Smith might get some job security, the pressure still is on.
Getting older: For the first time since 2008, the Bears will have a No. 1 pick in the draft, assuming Jerry Angelo keeps it. At least the Bears won't have to overpay on a contract since a new rookie wage scale will be in place.
Mr. Angelo doesn't have a good track record with No. 1 picks (see Chris Williams). Now would be a good time to reverse the trend because these Bears aren't getting any younger. If everything remains the same, the Bears will go into 2011 with seven starters on defense over age 30. Even though he looked great on Sunday, you have to wonder how many years Brian Urlacher, who will be 33, has left.
Free agents: The Bears almost went to the Super Bowl with one of the worst offensive lines anyone has ever seen. Just as he did in signing Julius Peppers last year, Mr. Angelo needs to find some help up front either through trade or free agency. It's really a wonder Jay Cutler lasted as long as he did. A big-play receiver also would help.
Cutler question: It seems a bit sad that Mr. Cutler might need really bad news from today's MRI on his knee to vindicate himself. Questioning his physical toughness is absurd. Nobody took more of a pounding this year.
However, you can question Mr. Cutler's mental toughness, as in his ability to come through in the clutch. He looked terrible prior to the injury. He missed a couple of key throws that could have affected the game in the first half.
All in all, the day couldn't have been worse for Mr. Cutler. The whole thing reminded me of Scottie Pippen's migraine in Game 7 against Detroit in 1990 and his infamous 1.8-second sit-down strike in the playoffs against the Knicks. Mr. Pippen eventually reversed this town's perception of him by winning championships.
However, there's a difference. Mr. Cutler won't have a Michael Jordan to help him. It won't be an easy off-season for the quarterback.
Caleb Hanie: Oh to be Mr. Hanie's agent today. He went from an anonymous third-stringer to a cult star Sunday. Mr. Hanie should cash in during the off-season, making as many appearances as possible. Who knows how long this will last?
Kicked: Kicker Robbie Gould isn't often in the news, but he could be the most quoted Bear during the off-season. Mr. Gould is the Bears' player representative. He will be the spokesman during the upcoming labor tussle.
Usually, Halas Hall sees plenty of activity during the off-season. The facility, though, could be a lonely place if the owners lock out the players in the spring.
Packed: Assuming the season starts on time in September, here's one last thought. The Super Bowl champion traditionally hosts the Thursday night opener.
If Green Bay wins the big game, don't be surprised if the league taps a Bears-Packers opener. It won't be easy for the Bears to watch the title banner go up in Lambeau.
And now: We return to the basketball and hockey seasons already in progress.
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