Bears general manager Phil Emery and head coaching candidate Joe DeCamillis might have an interesting off-topic conversation during a scheduled interview in Dallas. DeCamillis, the Cowboys’ special teams coordinator, was part of a national story in May 2009 when storms caused the collapse of the team’s indoor practice facility, injuring De-Camillis and scouting assistant Rich Behm. Behm was permanently paralyzed from the waist down, while DeCamillis endured reconstructive surgery on his lower cervical and upper thoracic spine. DeCamillis, who reportedly won a $9.5 million settlement as a result of the accident, recently told a Dallasarea reporter that his neck is still in pain and he might have to undergo another procedure soon. Immediately after the incident, he used a bullhorn to bark out plays to his units. None of those factors, however, has kept DeCamillis from fulfilling his job obligations, and they shouldn’t hinder his duties if he becomes a head coach. DeCamillis, 47, just completed his 24th season as an NFL assistant. He spent 16 seasons as special teams coach for his father-in-law, Dan Reeves, with the Broncos (1988-92), Giants (1993-96) and Falcons (1997-2003 ) and continued on with the Falcons through 2006, overlapping with Emery when Emery was the Falcons’ director of college scouting (2004-08). Emery has done extensive work this week in his search to replace the fired Lovie Smith. He interviewed Falcons special teams coordinator Keith Armstrong, Buccaneers offensive coordinator Mike Sullivan and Saints offensive coordinator Pete Carmichael and secured interviews with Broncos offensive coordinator Mike McCoy, Packers offensive coordinator Tom Clements and Colts offensive coordinator Bruce Arians. McCoy will meet with Emery on Sunday in Denver, while Arians and Clements are scheduled to meet with Emery next week. The Bears can cross two names off the list - if there was any interest - with Andy Reid headed to the Chiefs and University of Oregon coach Chip Kelly reportedly close to a deal with the Browns. The Bills, meanwhile, confirmed they interviewed Smith on Friday. Hired hands The Bears signed receiver Brittan Golden to a reserve/future contract Friday. The undrafted rookie from West Texas A&M spent the preseason with the Bears and the last two weeks of the regular season on the Jaguars practice squad.
