Post by Deleted on Jan 1, 2017 1:38:22 GMT -6
As Bears limp toward woeful finish, all eyes shift to chairman's analysis
Whatever intrigue surrounds the Bears' season finale Sunday against the Vikings is confined to whether they can avoid the worst 16-game record in franchise history and where they land in the 2017 draft order.
After that final three-hour diversion, though, all eyes will turn to the top of the organization for clarity about its direction moving on from a season that has been a profound disappointment, even considering recent Bears' standards.
Chairman George McCaskey has opted to wait until the end of the regular season to speak publicly about the team, according to a club spokesman in response to a recent interview request.
The Bears are 3-12 and enter the finale with a 9-22 record in two seasons under general manager Ryan Pace and coach John Fox. They have missed the postseason for the sixth straight year and nine times in the 10 years since their last Super Bowl appearance.
After the 2014 season, McCaskey finalized the decision to fire general manager Phil Emery and coach Marc Trestman after the Bears went 13-19 in their two years together. While an element of dysfunction formed in 2014 and ultimately torpedoed that regime, this year's record appears to be more the product of failures on the field.
Restocking the roster with talent has not gone smoothly or quickly, especially because injuries this season have resulted in nine first stringers and several other contributors being placed on injured reserve.
It remains unknown when McCaskey will address the team's situation, but Pace and Fox are scheduled for a joint news conference at 11 a.m. Wednesday at Halas Hall. It will be Pace's first availability with the corps of beat reporters since training camp.
Fox, meanwhile, said again this week he plans to keep his staff intact.
"A lot of things change," he said Thursday. "Players will change, coaches change. It's not like I'm going to make changes. It's just the nature of the beast."
rcampbell@chicagotribune.com
Whatever intrigue surrounds the Bears' season finale Sunday against the Vikings is confined to whether they can avoid the worst 16-game record in franchise history and where they land in the 2017 draft order.
After that final three-hour diversion, though, all eyes will turn to the top of the organization for clarity about its direction moving on from a season that has been a profound disappointment, even considering recent Bears' standards.
Chairman George McCaskey has opted to wait until the end of the regular season to speak publicly about the team, according to a club spokesman in response to a recent interview request.
The Bears are 3-12 and enter the finale with a 9-22 record in two seasons under general manager Ryan Pace and coach John Fox. They have missed the postseason for the sixth straight year and nine times in the 10 years since their last Super Bowl appearance.
After the 2014 season, McCaskey finalized the decision to fire general manager Phil Emery and coach Marc Trestman after the Bears went 13-19 in their two years together. While an element of dysfunction formed in 2014 and ultimately torpedoed that regime, this year's record appears to be more the product of failures on the field.
Restocking the roster with talent has not gone smoothly or quickly, especially because injuries this season have resulted in nine first stringers and several other contributors being placed on injured reserve.
It remains unknown when McCaskey will address the team's situation, but Pace and Fox are scheduled for a joint news conference at 11 a.m. Wednesday at Halas Hall. It will be Pace's first availability with the corps of beat reporters since training camp.
Fox, meanwhile, said again this week he plans to keep his staff intact.
"A lot of things change," he said Thursday. "Players will change, coaches change. It's not like I'm going to make changes. It's just the nature of the beast."
rcampbell@chicagotribune.com