I think another issue we can put to rest is this ownership piece. Pace took responsibility on that front. Pace stated unequivocally that he is in charge of personnel - completely in charge - no Teddy or Georgy - PACE, so while the urge may be to throw sweat on Ted, Pace is taking the responsibility and I think as fans we need to accept that response as true and not dwell on conspiracy theory:
Pace: "That is how it is set up [I am in complete charge of football operations]. I'm confident in this coaching staff...going forward... [ON MISTAKES] I look at myself...Bears fans should know Ownership here gives us everything we need to win games. It's up us to put together a roster to win games."
I saw that too. At least now we know that Pace is "The Guy" running the show. That can be good too, if he does turn the team around with his hiring of Fox, and building the roster. He will get 100% of the credit if the team does turn this around in a big way. I'm really interested in watching Pace's moves this off-season. And I'm even more interested in seeing how the 2017 team performs. That will be 3 years in, on the rebuild. Three drafts. Three free-agency periods. And three years after Pace hired John Fox.
And you never will. Fox is not all that different than Teddy Bears in that both are "survivor" types who will always keep their heads down in a foxhole and let others get there's blown off.
I dunno. It's an expectations game and an interpretation of comments but here are the ones that stood out to me regarding Fox taking responsibility:
FOX: "3-13 is not acceptable...the buck stops here" FOX: "I'm looking hard at myself, all the coaches, everyone involved in football" FOX: "Our issue was consistency. It's about playing 4 quarters of sound football...Everything starts with us [the coaches] and how we're prepared.The buck stops here." Fox: "Talk is cheap. We need to make good decisions with [our third draft pick]. Again, the buck stops here." Fox: "This won't happen again."
I think another issue we can put to rest is this ownership piece. Pace took responsibility on that front. Pace stated unequivocally that he is in charge of personnel - completely in charge - no Teddy or Georgy - PACE, so while the urge may be to throw sweat on Ted, Pace is taking the responsibility and I think as fans we need to accept that response as true and not dwell on conspiracy theory: Pace: "That is how it is set up [I am in complete charge of football operations]. I'm confident in this coaching staff...going forward... [ON MISTAKES] I look at myself...Bears fans should know Ownership here gives us everything we need to win games. It's up us to put together a roster to win games."
I've never claimed Teddy Bears was "in charge" of personnel ever. Only in charge of the checkbook and the vault and that he does exert an influence on both the McCaskeys and team operations.
So based on that do I believe Ryan Pace it totally in charge of all football operations? No I don't. If I trusted in that and him to run the entire show I would not be in favor of hiring a VP of Football Ops at the very least or replacing Ted Phillips as the President/CEO completely.
I can't understand how anyone can see this team as being well run and well managed now or at any time since the McCaskeys took over and again I don't think I'm alone in that opinion. So words, no matter who delivers them, are not gonna change my mind. That will take actions and results. If or when I see them then I might reconsider.