Black Monday: Bears Fire Marc Trestman and GM Phil Emery

The house cleaning for teams that did not make the NFL Playoffs continues with the Chicago Bears cleaning house in their top management.

Head Coach Marc Trestman and General Manager Phil Emery were let got Monday morning by the underachieving Bears who finished 2014 at 5-11 with lots of tension.

Trestman finished his second season in the Windy City on a real down note as reports of internal fights among teammates and the general lack of performance by high paid QB Jay Cutler ultimately undid the team.

Like all the others, the Bears will begin the search for replacements immediately. No telling which direction the team will go....

Jay Cutler and The Awkward Post Game Press Conference

As bad as Chicago Bears QB Jay Cutler has been the past few weeks, we kind of feel bad for him after his Monday Night Football post-game presser. The Bears were again hammered, this time by the New Orleans Saints 31-15.

Cutler, who usually speaks after Bears coach Marc Trestman, came to the podium first. And there was only one reporter in the room at the time.

Cutler took 3 questions...all from ESPN.com's Mike Sando before a quizzical look at the PR folks. He then left the room before all the reporters, in the locker room at the time could get there.

Having participated in this ritual for many years, the usual procedure for most teams is the coach speaks first, then the locker room is opened. The quarterback for most teams will also speak in the conference room. Team PR generally notifies reporters/camera crews when that is about to happen.

It's a bit of a scramble/dance. Often times during a loss, players will get out of the place as fast as they can. If you aren't there, you miss your opportunity.

In this case, blame the PR staff. Poor Cutler has been under siege from opposing defenses, fans, his own coaches and teammates. This time he did nothing wrong, it just looked silly and really, really awkward.

"We're Live? Oh, Snap!"

((HT: MyFoxChicago))

Tuesday is the traditional light day for NFL teams when it comes to practice and is, usually, the day they make public appearances tied to their various community service efforts.

Charles "Peanut" Tillman was doing the rounds at Fox Chicago when Tammie Souza helped him to do the weather forecast...

Except for that whole "live TV" thing...
FOX 32 News Chicago

Jay Cutler's Acting Debut

((HT: CSN Chicago))

The HQ knows what you're already thinking...

What do you mean "acting...???"

The Chicago Bears QB and his wife, Kristin Cavallari, appeared on the FXX Network show "The League."
Evidence below...


The main question the HQ has, more than anything, is how do all these athletes end up in the real lives of all these fantasy league worshipers...

The circles they travel in must be far wider than we realize...

FOSG Saved By Peanut

((HT: NFL on FOX))

There are those times where being a sideline reporter could or should carry a Surgeon General's Warning...

Like this incident today at the Bears game...


The HQ would like to thank Charles Tillman for saving Laura from getting run over...

Carry on...

Bears' Hurd To Plead Guilty In Drug Case

((HT: WLS-TV))

And this is because most of his co-defendants rolled over on him...

Former Chicago Bears WR Sam Hurd was going to be heading to trial very soon on his drug charges. Remember when he went to a cop and said that he wanted to purchase marijuana and cocaine so he could distribute it...???

According to his attorney, Hurd will enter a guilty plea to one count of conspiring to sell cocaine and marijuana. He went from the Dallas Cowboys to the Bears in his NFL travels and the feds were maintaining that he wanted to set up a drug network between the two cities...

It will be interesting to see just how much of the initial 10 years and US$10-million sentence gets put in Hurd's dossier when he gets sentenced over the summer...

Here's the I-team...

Chicago Bears hire Marc Trestman as next head coach

Trestman in Grey Cup form. (Photo coachmarctrestman.com)

CHICAGO - The Bears have found Lovie Smith's successor.

Early Wednesday morning, in a team press release, Chicago announced they have hired Marc Trestman as the 14th coach in team history. Trestman has spent the last eight years out of the NFL, and won back-to-back Grey Cups with the CFL's Montreal Alouettes in 2011 and 2012.

“The skill set that Marc has, being an offensive mind, and then his great relationships that he's had with quarterbacks historically in the NFL and the work he's done with them makes him a good fit for the job,” Alouettes general manager Jim Popp told the Chicago Tribune.

Funny thing is, when GM Phil Emery hired his new coach yesterday, he did it on Trestman's 57th birthday. That's pretty cool.

Trestman is known around the League as a quarterback guru, and was probably brought in to "fix" Jay Cutler. Trestman worked with the beleaguered Bears QB in 2006, preparing him for the NFL draft combine.

Trestman was San Francisco's offensive coordinator from 1995-1996, and worked with a QB many people should know - Hall of Famer Steve Young.

''The CFL is just a place where he's gotten to show that he's a dynamic leader,'' Young said in an interview on the ''Waddle & Silvy Show'' on WMVP-AM on Tuesday. ''He's a dynamic straight-shooter. He's a soft-spoken guy, but the Bears with their defensive history...this is going to be a great hire.[He'll hire a] great defensive coordinator. Keep that tradition up and watch the flowering of a great offense. Look what's happening in San Francisco. That's what the Bears could be. And I think that's what Marc Trestman can bring them.''

The Bears will officially announce the hire Wednesday afternoon.

Emery brought in a reported 13 candidates to interview for the head coaching position, including Trestman, Indianapolis OC Bruce Arians (who was the other finalist), and Seattle OC Darrell Bevell. The Bears were definitely looking for an offensive-minded coach.

I knew Trestman when he worked as offensive coordinator for Chuck Amato at North Carolina State University from 2005-2006. The team won the Meineke Car Care Bowl in 2005, defeating a good South Florida team 14-0.

Good luck, Marc.
His name won't immediately translate to the Bears fan base, so in the interim, here's proof of his successes in the last few years up north...
((HT: GoAlsGodotcom/TSN))

Early Reaction From Black Monday...Chicago, Buffalo, Kansas City (UPDATED)

Okay...

Here we go...

Here's Chicago...
((HT: WLS-TV))


Jay Cutler seems to have fallen on the sword a little bit, but admits change might be good for the long term...

According to Adam Schefter, Chicago and Arizona are asking for permission to talk to Denver Broncos OC Mike McCoy- and received it.

Here's the noon lead in Buffalo after the firing of Chan Gailey and his staff...
((HT: WGRZ-TV))
And, now, Kansas City and Crennel... ((HT: KSHB-TV Kansas City)) According to Bill Maas, Atlanta Falcons OC Dirk Koetter will be interviewing with the Chiefs tomorrow in Atlanta... and, at the same time, Clark Hunt is introducing a new structure where the new head coach reports directly to him and not to GM Scott Pioli. Apparently, Pioli is down with that for now... From Adam Teicher at the Kansas City Star: "That will really be my role, finding the right path for the Chiefs and helping them make decisions together."

"Mongo" McMichael to run for Mayor of Chicago Suburb

((ht: suntimes.com))

Please excuse us for finding this a bit amusing, but former Chicago Bear and Professional Wrestler Steve "Mongo" McMichael is running for mayor of Romeoville, Illinois.

And while he may very well be a rational, well-thought and efficient politician, it doesn't make the thought any less funny.

Mongo, according to the Chicago Sun-Times, will run against former mayor Fred Dewald (former cause he lost the job due to a DUI) and incumbent John Noak.

McMichael has settled in the community, with a Sports Bar bearing his name being one of the city's marquee attractions.

You'll recall, the former defensive lineman was one of the more visible members of the 1985, Super Bowl Champion Bears team. He also spent several years in WCW (World Championship Wrestling)

Here's Mongo, headlining in a match vs. WCW hero (and former NFL'er) Goldberg.

Enjoy your new mayor (haha)

Man arrested for selling counterfeit Titans tickets

The answer is: WHY?

Tony McKibben

The question? Why would a guy from Georgia try selling fake tickets to last weeks Titans/Bears game?

Did he not see the outcome? (Tennessee lost 51-20) Did he think people would want to pay $100 to see the Titans play? Are tickets for one of their games really going for $100?

All legitimate questions. And quite honestly, they are ones the 46-year old Tony McKibben now has to answer since he was arrested at Sunday's game and is now facing multiple charges.

And just to keep the Sports in this story, the now 3-6 Titans, facing threats from owner Bud Adams of a complete overhaul, head to Miami next week where we suspect tickets, might be a little harder to find.

Brandon Marshall and Warren Sapp feud gets nasty

Whoa now! Settle down boys.

It appears NFL Network analyst and former Pro Bowl defensive tackle Warren Sapp and Chicago Bears wide receiver Brandon Marshall don't like each other.

Apparently on Friday, Sapp went on the Dan Patrick show and tore into Marshall about comments allegedly made towards Shannon and Sterling Sharpe. Sapp accused Marshall of not respecting his elders (polite version) and called him several un-polite names in the process included "Retarded".

Marshall appears to have gotten wind of Sapp's comments. And was none too pleased. He voiced his thoughts on Mr. Sapp via YouTube. They were personal....and they were not very complementary.



Okay now.

Reports say Sapp is now aware of Marshall's rebuttal and is angry enough to threaten to kick Marshall's ass.

We are guessing that Sapp's employer, the NFL Network will not pleased about this. Nor should they be. Sapp is already on thin ice after wrongfully accusing Panthers TE Jeremy Shockey of being the NFL's imformant on the Saints NFL Bounty program.

In case you missed it: Brandon Marshall to Chicago but there is a catch

((ht: nypost.com))

Brandon Marshall

On the surface, it was a trade that made us ((well...ok...me)) say "Huh"? The Miami Dolphins trade their best receiver and one of the best in the NFL to the Chicago Bears for a couple of 3rd round picks.

Yes, Marshall has a somewhat "Shady" reputation due to multiple run-ins with the law.

And he has apparently added to that list.

Today's (Wed.) New York Post reports Marshall was involved in an altercation at a Chelsea (New York City) night club early Sunday morning.

The report says he is accused of hitting a woman in the eye.

This is an issue because he is already in trouble with the NFL for past indiscretions, most involving domestic violence with his wife.

The Post's story on the arrest is RIGHT HERE

Now...

Both the Dolphins and Bears claim they were aware of this incident. We and many other outlets don't necessarily believe that.

The incident opens Marshall up to suspension due to the NFL's Player Personal Conduct Policy since he is a repeat offender. That could mean the Bears would be without him for a few games. And if the Dolphins knew and the Bears didn't...well, we find that fairly amusing.

Bad week for GM's: Bears fire Jerry Angelo

Jerry Angelo

((ht: chicagotribune/biggs))

Thus far, it hasn't been a good week to be a front office executive at a losing NFL team. Monday it was the Colts dumping the Polian's.

Tuesday brings us the Bears making General Manager Jerry Angelo go away.

Angelo oversaw a team that got off to a great start this season before starting QB Jay Cutler got hurt as did star RB Matt Forte. Without Cutler and Forte, the Bears limped down the stretch, losing 5 of their last 6 games ending up 8-8. Angelo has been on the job since 2001.

Ironically, coach Lovie Smith told reporters on Monday he didn't think the Bears needed a complete overhaul.

They probably don't.

But now the question is: Who will run the show? Smith, while apparently safe in his job, isn't the GM type.

Here's early thoughts from our friends at NBCChicago...

View more videos at: http://nbcchicago.com.

Bears cut Sam Hurd who faces $100,000 bond for drug charges

((ht: chicagotribune.com))

Sam Hurd

Congratulations Sam Hurd, not only are you now facing federal drug charges, you are now unemployed.

The Chicago Bears cut the wide receiver just a day after he was charged with buying a kilo of cocaine from an undercover federal agent posing as a drug supplier.

Hurd and his lawyers are trying to quell rumors that he supplied drugs to other players and Bears teammates. 

The challenge now is the fact the judge told Hurd he must "Maintain or seek employment" while out on bond.

Read more from the Chicago Tribune RIGHT HERE

Well, there goes that idea. Not only have the Bears waived Hurd, it is HIGHLY unlikely that another team would even venture near the guy. Why would anyone employ someone facing the list of charges that he's facing.