Enjoy the last day of another crappy football season.

The Rod Marinelli hiring equates to one thing and one thing only: arrogance.  By promoting a coach from the staff of one of the worst defenses in the history of this organization, Lovie Smith has announced that the troubles of the 2009 campaign were not his own.  He is passing the buck of recent failures.  He has operated with the mix of stubborness and delusion that has come to define his tenure with the Chicago Bears.  This is not an unintelligent decision by a coach who has lost his way.  This is a deliberate, calculated maneuver by an individual desperate to stand behind media microphones for his "I told you so" moment.

Marinelli certainly earned a promotion, didn't he?  The rush defense was one of the league's ten worst and defensive line was about as intimidating as a pigeon on the yard at Riker's Island.  (With the definitive exception of Alex Brown, a man whose motor and intensity should be an inspiration to the other ten men on that side of the ball.)  I don't have the kind of job that takes place in an office and requires slacks but I can't imagine this is how promotions work.

The Bears offense struggled with turnovers from the quarterback and run blocking from the offensive line.  For those two issues - both specific player issues - the offensive coordinator was fired and a new system has been instituted.  The Bears defense - in scheme, play-calling and performance - was a disaster.  For those issues, a member of the staff has been rewarded.  Say this paragraph aloud and you'll be calling DirecTV to cancel before sundown. 

Lovie has his chance.  Sixteen games (most likely).  He's decided if he's going down swinging, he's going down with his friends at his side.  I just wish his friends were better football coaches.   

Bears fever! Catch it!

This spring DaBearsBlog is going to be launching a weekly, half-hour podcast.  It will feature a short interview with a local beat writer, my brothers and I picking games, the Reverend's Rant and it will also provide a chance for some of our readers (you) to literally have your voice heard.

I've come to terms with the hiring of Mike Martz as the Bears offensive coordinator.  As days have gone by, I've actually started liking the move.  But reading Jerry Angelo's comments on the hiring set me back a bit.

Will you have to change the roster to accommodate the type of players who excel in Martz's offense?

"No. We talked about that. Our roster is pretty well set. We don't have the first two picks in the draft. Free agency, potentially will be very limited. It's not like we won't look for players like we do every year but we're not going into this thinking we have to have an overhaul with our offense."

There are eleven positions on the offensive side of the ball.  The Bears are "set" at quarterback, running back, left tackle and one of the wide receiver spots.  They have a below-average fullback (especially for a running team).  They may lack a number on receiver, though DA certainly showed glimmers of greatness down the stretch.  But most importantly no one can make a convincing argument that the Bears have top tier players at either guard, right tackle or center. 

So if "our roster is pretty well set" then we should all be pretty well resigned to miss the postseason in 2010.

ADDENDUM: Sometimes comments earn their way up here.  Albert in Tuscon:

Did he say "pretty well set"?

June 25th, 1876 -
Captain: "Shouldn't we bring a few more men, sir?".
Lt. Col. George Armstrong Custer: "Nah. We're pretty well set."

He REALLY said "pretty well set."?

April 14, 1912:
1st Officer: "Maybe we should reduce our speed, Captain."
Edward J. Smith,Captain, RMS Titanic: "Nah. We're pretty well set."

Did I hear that right? "Pretty well set."?

December 6th, 1941 -
Port Commander: "Should be have the battleship squadron put to sea, sir?
Admiral Husband E. Kimmel, Commander US Pacific Fleet,
Pearl Harbor, Hawaii: "Nah. We're pretty well set."

PLEASE tell me he didn't say "Pretty well set." !

January 18, 2010-
Political Aide: "Shouldn't we be campaigning harder against this Scott Brown fellow, ma'am?"
Marth Coakley, Democrat candidate for
US Senate from Massachussetts: "Nah. We're pretty well set."

With news everywhere that Mike Martz has finally made his way into the hallowed halls of Halas, it got me thinking a lot about the Chicago Bears' offense.  (Note: Do not continue reading if you're expecting to be interested or enlightened.)

Maybe I'd like Mike Martz. 

Yes he was an awful head coach in St. Louis, losing a seemingly unlosable Super Bowl to a third-rate New England Patriots team.  Yes he didn't work out in either Detroit or San Francisco as an offensive coordinator.  Yes he is a notorious ego, attempting to use every job (including as a broadcaster) as a stepping stool back into the head coaching ranks.

But there's a few things to like about Martz, too.  He won't buy into Lovie's "off the bus running" philosophy, especially when the run game struggles early.  He has a terrific track records with quarterbacks ranging from the Hall of Famer (Warner) to the third tier guys (Alex Smith and Kitna).  He's capable of overseeing the entirety of the offensive operation and tough enough to challenge Lovie's archaic ideology.

But more than that.  He'll be entertaining as hell.  And right now, the way things are going, I'd sign up for 2010 being nothing more than entertaining. 

Brandon Marshall: Out in Denver?
BM is in great shape and preparing for this weekend's Pro Bowl to be the last game he plays in a Denver Broncos' helmet.  Marshall will be trade bait come early March and should fetch a sum that includes a number one draft pick.  While we'd all love to see the Bears get involved, there may just be too many competitive teams with a number one (Baltimore, Miami) for it to happen.  That begs the question: do the Bears have anybody on the roster that might interest Denver?

Jeremy Bates Salutes Jay
Vaughn McClure has some interesting and inspiring quotes from Jeremy Bates on Jay Cutler.  But the part that interested me is the conclusion:

Pressed about the Bears' situation, Bates refused to bite. He was scheduled to interview in Chicago until agreeing to remain with Carroll.
 
"I'm not going to get involved with what took place,'' he said. "I'm really excited about going to Seattle. Coach Carroll is a great coach, and he put together a great staff. I'm excited about going to work in Seattle.''

What did take place?  I was under the assumption that Bates never met with the Bears regarding the position.  Are there gaps that have yet to be filled in?

Three Quick Things...
(1) Pisa Tinoisamoa is coming back to Chicago next season and that's a good thing based on the flashes he showed early in the year.  (2) Olin Kreutz is having major surgery that will require a multi-month recovery.  I think it's time to let that ship sail.  (3) Wanna know why the Bears can't hire a coordinator.  Ask Neil Hayes:

"You've only got one year to get it right and sometimes it takes longer than that," said one longtime NFL assistant. What many perceived to be a tough 2010 schedule may also be making candidates wary. Besides playing the division-rival Vikings and Packers twice next season, the Bears will also play the Eagles, Patriots, Jets and Seahawks at home and the Cowboys, Giants, Dolphins and Panthers on the road."