[CBFF] Smith's agent says talks with Bears have broken down

[Steve Behrens]

Lowest paid head coach, after an 11-5 season with Orton at QB and then
taking them to the SB the next season is grossly underpaid in my book.
"Some pundits"????  Find me ONE pundit who thought Lovie was being paid his
worth last season.  Lovie wanted to renegotiate last off-season and would
have settled for what the bears are probably offering him now, which,
now, is not going to be nearly enough.  The Bears gambled and lost.  They
lost because they can't bring themselves to negotiate a fair contract for a
quality head coach.

The litmus test would be if the Bears let Lovie ride or cut him loose and
see how long he floats on the free market.  Even with what seems like every
team set for HC for the upcoming season, I would bet he'd get snapped up to
replace somebody. There would be no doubt id he rides out the rest of his
contract with teams *knowing* he'll be available and looking.  How much do
you think he'd sign for then?  I would stake my next paycheck that it would
be more than the Bears would ever be willing to sign him for.  You mention
the previous bust the Bears have endured for head coaching and getting
burned on renegotiating their contracts.  Sorry charlie, but that's the way
the game is played in the NFL today.  With valuable people, you have to
decide early, before a contract is up, whether or not you're going to bring
them back.  The Bears paid lovie probably one of the lowest salearys ever
for a guy who'd be coaching first time ever as a head coach, and
they're trying to low ball him on his renegotiation.

And why are we so concerned about McCaskiy's money anyway?  It's not like
it's coming out of the players pool and it's certainly not like the
ownership will be losing money with a mil or two extra.  Their rolling in
it.  Why all this worry about paying Lovie from us, from you?

This argument all boils down to whether or not you think Lovie is a quality
HC.  I happen to believe he is, and I also remember the amount of time it
took to actually find one and the typical seasons we had during those
years.  Are you ready to start all over again in the search for a good HC??
This team is peaking for the next 3 years if Angelo can keep it together.
Starting over with a new HC and coaching staff would, more than likely,
waste the impending golden opportunities.

Lovie's at least Top 7, salary wise, IMO.  If the Bears don't get it done,
or we'll be the laughing stock of the league.

-Behr


On 2/23/07, mactbone <mactbone0 at yahoo.com> wrote:
>
> What do you mean by top dollar? Should Lovie be paid as much as say Mike
> Holmgren or Mike Shanahan? Should he be paid like John Fox?
>
> BTW, I was in the camp of not wanting to have Lovie locked up before the
> season started. Remember the last Coach of the Year for the Bears? Remember
> when he got his new contract? Remember how well that worked out? Two years,
> and only one good one is not enough to pay a guy top dollar or even good
> money. Lovie was paid market value for a coach of his caliber the first two
> years of his deal and I would argue this past year he wasn't grossly
> underpaid as so many pundits were suggesting. This next year he needs to be
> paid more, but I don't think anyone should expect 8-10 million like the top
> coaches get. Lovie is in the John Fox, Jim Fassel area right now - pretty
> good, but not upper echelon.
> -Chris
>
>
> ----- Original Message ----
> From: Steve Behrens <steve.behrens at gmail.com>
> To: post at chicagobearsfanforum.com
> Sent: Thursday, February 22, 2007 6:43:53 PM
> Subject: Re: [CBFF] Smith's agent says talks with Bears have broken down
>
>
> The Bears just don't believe in paying top dollar for a coach.  It may be
> a
> carryover from all those years of not paying one red cent for a head coach
> because the Owner was the head coach.  The really stupid part in all this
> is
> that they *could* have had him wrapped up on the (relatively) cheap last
> offseason, when Lovie wanted to renegotiate.
>
> My guess?  Lovie plays out his contract and ends up coaching Dallas next
> year like his Momma foretold.
>
> -Behr
>
>
> On 2/22/07, Jerry Madsen <jerrywm at gmail.com> wrote:
> >
> > In spite of my so-so opinion of Lovie, I do believe he deserves
> > something in at least the $4M/yr range.  It's been laughable that he's
> > been the lowest paid head coach in the league.  If its true that the
> > Bears opening salvo was in the range of $3M/yr, that's pretty sad.
> > Whoseewhatzhisface of the Falcons has never coached a game in the NFL
> > and he's in the $4.5M/yr range.  Fair market value dictates that Lovie
> > should be paid at least as much.
> >
> > That said, when the alarm is being sounded by an agent, take it with a
> > grain of salt.
> >
> > Jerry
> >
> >
> > On 2/22/07, Jim Ferolie <ferolie at charter.net> wrote:
> > > I hope this is just a "power play" by the agent.
> > > Please, please, please.
> > >
> >
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