Lovie is a Battlefield: Why Bears Coach May Be Untouchable

Two Bears got axed - and I bet some (most?) fans wish there was a few more (Lovie & Ted Phillips ring a bell).

Whatever you do, Bears backers, don't hold your breath. Lovie is not going anywhere. In fact, I could see Lovie here for a couple more multi-year contracts.

Some reasons:

1. When the Bears top brass ridded themselves of Angelo as General Manager, they said that Lovie would have input over who was hired. You think he'll recommend someone who is likely to fire him?
2. He has two years left on his deal. Knowing Bears ownership, do you really think they'd fire him AND pay him?
3. His 3-3 playoff record may not mean much to you, but the Bears' brass loves his 71-57 and 3 division championships in his 8 seasons as coach. And outside his first year (5-11), he hasn't had any worse than a 7-9 record as coach. This is good enough for the Bears ownership - as long as their bottom line is being met.

Some might argue that having a bad year here and there (5-11 or worse) and getting some top-5 picks would benefit the organization, but the Bears' track record with drafts under Angelo makes me think it wouldn't have amounted to much.

The Bears have been just above mediocre for Lovie to avoid being fired many of the years, often taking a step up in the year that everyone in the media/public speculates could be Lovie's last, which is never the case.

Lovie will continue being coach, likely beyond 2013, unless the Bears just totally fall flat on their face (a la Dick Jauron). The McCaskey/Phillips group loves the guy and can justify keeping him if he leads them to a division title every 3 years or so (something previous coaches like Jauron & Wannstedt couldn't provide). However, I believe this to be a trying task in the next 5 years if the Packers continue to churn out talent the way they have. Rodgers is not going anywhere.

Perhaps those Lovie bashers get their wish if the Packers and Lions continually finish ahead of them in the NFC North (a possibility). The next Bears GM will have to ensure that he does a better job of finding talent that Lovie can develop.

The next Bears GM that.....yes....will be Lovie-recommended.

I wonder how the GM will feel having the coach, a man who in most organizations he'd be able to fire, as his boss.

Why the Bears give their coach this power, I have no clue. This kind of power makes me think he may be untouchable.

Just figured you should know, Lovie-haters, that he isn't going anywhere.

Happy New Year!