This is an indictment against the Chicago Bears organization
Sept 19, 2023 7:53:03 GMT -6
AlexM, riczaj01, and 2 more like this
Post by dachuckster on Sept 19, 2023 7:53:03 GMT -6
I know there is a lot of dissatisfaction, anger, despair, depression, etc with what has gone on with the Bears. Most or all of it is deserved. But I feel that there needs to be a little more of a systematic look at where our focus really needs to be.
If you want to argue the acquisition of Claypool, for example, and talk about why he hasn't learned the playbook, I feel we need to try to see how it was possible that someone could be on the roster for nearly one full calendar year and not know the playbook. If we have plays where there seems to be no organization on what routes are being run by a number of receivers, we need to focus on why that is happening. The answers could be with the players themselves, but it also could be the system, coaches, etc.
I am not defending any player or trying to say that, for example, that Claypool is capable of being a legitimate star as an NFL WR at this point in his career. And I'm not interested in defending or promoting any other player (Fields, Davis, etc).
Personally, I would focus on the ownership, management, system, coaching staff, etc. Like the old adage says, "The fish rots from the head down". And an enormous amount of blame should be focused on Eberflus and Getsy. In my mind they should be more on the bubble than Fields is.
The focus on why the Bears are so dysfunctional needs to start all the way to the top. And then work down a couple of levels.
At the ownership level, there has only been two owners for the organization since the Decatur Staleys days. George Halas Sr and Virginia McCaskey. I have heard lots about the ineptitude/incompetence about the McCaskey family but as a really long term Bear fan, I can tell you it went all the way back to the Old Man. George Sr did a whole bunch of boneheaded and stupid decisions.
In the entire history of the organization, there have only been four people who have President and CEO of Football Operations, prior to Kevin Warren. George Halas Sr, George (Mugs) Halas Jr, Michael McCaskey, and Ted Philips. There was a time, immediately after the death of Mugs Halas, where Jim Finks was the effective CEO. And surprisingly that was the only time we won the Super Bowl (with the efforts of Finks and his short-term successor, Jerry Vanisi).
My point in all this is that the Halas/McCaskey ownership has never been responsible for a championship in the modern NFL era. Because, after the Finks/Vanisi management era (1974 - 1986) we have had a few winning teams but only one ill-fated trip to the Super Bowl.
The most recent President/CEO was Ted Philips. He was largely responsible for the hiring of GMs Jerry Angelo, Phil Emery and Ryan Pace. And was involved in all the Head Coach hirings.
Kevin Warren is the only President/CEO of the Bears (outside of the Finks/Vanisi era) who is not personally part of or associated with the Halas/McCaskey families.
I believe our only hope is that Warren is a competent professional sport executive. And that the McCaskey family (most specifically Geroge McCaskey) has brought him in to "right the ship". Since Poles was brought in before Warren got here and is somewhat suspect as a GM hire (meaning I do not trust any hiring where Philips had any impact). Like Ryan Pace, he was hired in as a first time GM from a successful NFL organization. I've looked at Pole' background and I believe he was much more ready to become a GM than Pace. The jury is still out on many of his personnel moves. But his handling of the draft has been nothing sort of masterful. I have rarely seen a GM who could get so many picks out the draft with such little investment. So, hopefully, he will continue and improve.
I don't feel that we will know how well Warren and Poles will do until the end of the season. If Warren in independent of the McCaskeys and their friends and if Poles has it in him to be a good GM, we will be OK, and any needed changes will be made. But, IMO, the rest of this season could be pretty painful to watch.
If you want to argue the acquisition of Claypool, for example, and talk about why he hasn't learned the playbook, I feel we need to try to see how it was possible that someone could be on the roster for nearly one full calendar year and not know the playbook. If we have plays where there seems to be no organization on what routes are being run by a number of receivers, we need to focus on why that is happening. The answers could be with the players themselves, but it also could be the system, coaches, etc.
I am not defending any player or trying to say that, for example, that Claypool is capable of being a legitimate star as an NFL WR at this point in his career. And I'm not interested in defending or promoting any other player (Fields, Davis, etc).
Personally, I would focus on the ownership, management, system, coaching staff, etc. Like the old adage says, "The fish rots from the head down". And an enormous amount of blame should be focused on Eberflus and Getsy. In my mind they should be more on the bubble than Fields is.
The focus on why the Bears are so dysfunctional needs to start all the way to the top. And then work down a couple of levels.
At the ownership level, there has only been two owners for the organization since the Decatur Staleys days. George Halas Sr and Virginia McCaskey. I have heard lots about the ineptitude/incompetence about the McCaskey family but as a really long term Bear fan, I can tell you it went all the way back to the Old Man. George Sr did a whole bunch of boneheaded and stupid decisions.
In the entire history of the organization, there have only been four people who have President and CEO of Football Operations, prior to Kevin Warren. George Halas Sr, George (Mugs) Halas Jr, Michael McCaskey, and Ted Philips. There was a time, immediately after the death of Mugs Halas, where Jim Finks was the effective CEO. And surprisingly that was the only time we won the Super Bowl (with the efforts of Finks and his short-term successor, Jerry Vanisi).
My point in all this is that the Halas/McCaskey ownership has never been responsible for a championship in the modern NFL era. Because, after the Finks/Vanisi management era (1974 - 1986) we have had a few winning teams but only one ill-fated trip to the Super Bowl.
The most recent President/CEO was Ted Philips. He was largely responsible for the hiring of GMs Jerry Angelo, Phil Emery and Ryan Pace. And was involved in all the Head Coach hirings.
Kevin Warren is the only President/CEO of the Bears (outside of the Finks/Vanisi era) who is not personally part of or associated with the Halas/McCaskey families.
I believe our only hope is that Warren is a competent professional sport executive. And that the McCaskey family (most specifically Geroge McCaskey) has brought him in to "right the ship". Since Poles was brought in before Warren got here and is somewhat suspect as a GM hire (meaning I do not trust any hiring where Philips had any impact). Like Ryan Pace, he was hired in as a first time GM from a successful NFL organization. I've looked at Pole' background and I believe he was much more ready to become a GM than Pace. The jury is still out on many of his personnel moves. But his handling of the draft has been nothing sort of masterful. I have rarely seen a GM who could get so many picks out the draft with such little investment. So, hopefully, he will continue and improve.
I don't feel that we will know how well Warren and Poles will do until the end of the season. If Warren in independent of the McCaskeys and their friends and if Poles has it in him to be a good GM, we will be OK, and any needed changes will be made. But, IMO, the rest of this season could be pretty painful to watch.
