OK, Hear Me Out. Maybe This Theory Makes Some Sense...

[CaptainAmerica]

...As I've mentioned several times I was told over 2 weeks ago that Parcells was out and Jerry "definitely" had a plan in place. I wasn't told what the plan was but that Parcells retirement announcement was coming after some time passed to give Parcells a "dignified exit". Keep in mind I was told this when all media outlets were saying that Parcells was working, making plans for attending the SR. Bowl practices, Parcells and Jerry were working on an extension to avoid the "lame duck" perception and most in the media were predicting that Parcells would be returning for one more year.


Since Parcells retired and that info proved accurate I've been critical of Jerry (if this was "his plan") because of the way Jerry seems to be getting the cart before the horse. But here is a theory that may explain what is going on in this search process...

What I haven't been able to figure out is the stories about Jason Garrett as OC or maybe even HC. It makes NO sense to hire Jason Garrett as HC. I don't care how smart Jason is or how many years he played back-up QB in the NFL you just don't hire a guy who has been in coaching 2 YEARS, for the HC job of the Dallas Cowboys. Come on, you just don't do that and even Jerry isn't that much of a wildcatter.

So, the question I keep asking myself is this...if the plan for a while was Norv or Wade Phillips why is that process dragging along and why weren't those guys contacted first? Sorry, but I don't buy the Miami deadline story for an explanation for why Norv and Wade weren't contacted early on, (as if Jerry was forced to move quickly on Jason and now that he has hired Jason he will get to the issue of looking for a HC). That isn't logical or sensible.


SO, I've listened and read everything I could find for clues as to what might really be going on here and I finally pick up on the fact that Mickey has now said at least twice, in response to the question of why has the HC part of this taken the slow track,"what if you haven't gotten official permission to talk with him yet?" Hmm...what does that mean?

Maybe I'm off base here, but it could be that there is more to the Lovie Smith story than we know and the Bears, despite their public posturing, are content to let him go to his hometown/life-long dream job since they aren't willing to pay the market rate for a HC that they believe they could replace with home town boy and former Chicago Bear, Ron Rivera, for half the price.


I may be wrong on this, but it's just a theory to discuss and debate regarding what, by any measure, has been a very strange coaching search/hire up until this point.

 

[Hostile]

The Bears will end up paying Lovie. Rivera is the only Coach from the Bears that will be available.

 

[4lifecowboy]

I like your theory, I was hoping the same thing.

 

[Woods]

The Bears will end up paying Lovie. Rivera is the only Coach from the Bears that will be available.

I think you're right.

It's been some time since the Bears have been back in the Super Bowl.

 

[demdcowboys#1]

I would love for us to get Rivera, i know for a fact that CHI will not let Lovie go. I mean comeon, in his first two seasons as Bears head coach, he has an 11 win season, and a playoff birth, then a 13 win season and a Super Bowl birth!!! The Bears would have to be idiots to let him leave. Rivera would be a nice option, or Rex Ryan.....

 

[CoCo]

I think its entirely possible that Jones will want to interview someone currently involved in the SB. That could be Lovie or Rivera or the OC at Indy...

But I don't think it necessarily has anything to do with the rest of the events as they appeared to happen or with all the cloak and dagger as you suggest.

People can believe whatever they want about Parcells departure. The fact is that Dallas now needs a new HC and seem to be lining up a variety of candidates to interview.

Not sure what is so mysterious about all that.

 

[4lifecowboy]

The Bears will end up paying Lovie. Rivera is the only Coach from the Bears that will be available.

I think Lovie holds all the cards. If he really wants to leave he can force their hand. After not getting a new contract after last season who would blame him?

 

[Bob Sacamano]

Jerry is waiting on someone

 

[CoCo]

Jerry is waiting on someone

It does appear that way.

 

[Aikbach]

The Bears will fire Lovie a few years down the road after a dismal season just like they did Ditka.

 

[pigskin fan]

The Bears only let Lovie go if they get walked on in the SB.

 

[Aikbach]

The Bears only let Lovie go if they get walked on in the SB.

Even then they won't.

 

[J-DOG]

The Bears have had chances to sign Lovie to a big contract and a contract for a lot less money than it would cost now. So I would not blame Lovie for at least making the Bears sweat for least a little bit before signing a contract.
This guy won the coach of the year award last season and they should have gotten it done then but they didn't, and they may end up regretting it.

 

[Chocolate Lab]

I was saying the same thing about Mickey's comments in another thread, CA.

I'm not saying Mickey knows anything, but he's just about the only one who has floated the theory that maybe Jerry has covertly been talking with a defensive-minded coach who has already approved the idea of Jason Garrett as OC.

Even if it's not Lovie, what if Jerry talked to Phillips weeks ago while SD was still favored by many to go to the Super Bowl? They may have wanted to keep that quiet in case Parcells *did* come back and/or so Phillips didn't appear to have his mind on anything other than his own team.

I keep thinking back to Mort claiming Phillips was Jerry's #1 choice in case Parcells quit... And that was back a week or so before Parcells unexpectedly retired. Mort got that information from somewhere. And it was in a DMN blog that Phillips said he'd love to work with Garrett and that he thought Jason was a great guy.

Or if it's one of the Chicago guys, that would be great. Who knows, the Bears are known cheapskates and Lovie is from just down the road in East Texas. Jerry may have put the word out to the grapevine that he'd be willing to pay Lovie big $$$ if he finished the year without a contract.

 

[KCWADE_LIVES]

Correct me if I'm wrong ... but when Mick said 'haven't gotten permission yet' , we hadn't gotten permission to talk to Norv yet either. I thought that was a pretty obvious reference to Norv.

 

[cleverusername]

Lovie does have strong ties to Texas (and the Cowboys) and wow, wouldn't this make for a good story if he came here.

I posted this yesterday, and others have mentioned it, but for those who haven't heard....

http://www.statesman.com/sports/cont...0/10lovie.html


......It was in his sophomore year at the University of Tulsa that Lovie's mother called to tell him about a dream she had just awakened from. In it, her son was coaching the Dallas Cowboys.

"Now, if anybody's got a direct line to God, it's my mother, but that was highly unlikely," Smith said. "I didn't think much about it, but every time I'd get a new job, moving up the coaching ladder, my mother would remind me of her dream."


:repost:

 

[CaptainAmerica]

I was saying the same thing about Mickey's comments in another thread, CA.

I'm not saying Mickey knows anything, but he's just about the only one who has floated the theory that maybe Jerry has covertly been talking with a defensive-minded coach who has already approved the idea of Jason Garrett as OC.

Even if it's not Lovie, what if Jerry talked to Phillips weeks ago while SD was still favored by many to go to the Super Bowl? They may have wanted to keep that quiet in case Parcells *did* come back and/or so Phillips didn't appear to have his mind on anything other than his own team.

I keep thinking back to Mort claiming Phillips was Jerry's #1 choice in case Parcells quit... And that was back a week or so before Parcells unexpectedly retired. Mort got that information from somewhere. And it was in a DMN blog that Phillips said he'd love to work with Garrett and that he thought Jason was a great guy.

Or if it's one of the Chicago guys, that would be great. Who knows, the Bears are known cheapskates and Lovie is from just down the road in East Texas. Jerry may have put the word out to the grapevine that he'd be willing to pay Lovie big $$$ if he finished the year without a contract.

CL,
Thanks for the input. I do remember you mentioning Mickey's comments, but for some reaon they didn't mean much to me at that time. I guess I was thinking he was talking about Norv or Wade. As some have said in this thread that's who they thought he was referring to. But what doesn't make sense about those two is Jerry could have gotten permission to talk to them as soon as Parcells retired. Maybe I'm way off base here, but if Jerry had Norv or Wade lined up as the replacement for Parcells it sure seems like he is dragging his feet.

As for Rivera or any other Coordinator working for a SB team, that news would be all over the place. SB coordinators are targeted almost every year and it's known in advance that they will be interviewing as soon as the season is finished.

I don't know. It's just a strange process to me.

 

[big dog cowboy]

I may be wrong on this, but it's just a theory to discuss and debate regarding what, by any measure, has been a very strange coaching search/hire up until this point.

Those who really know what is going on behind closed doors isn't talking. I hate to say anything is possible, but you get my drift.

 

[JohnnyHopkins]

This theory makes perfect sense, but that is not all of it. What if Jerry has secretly made a deal with Chunky Soup? Now that Chunky Soup is going to drop McNabb, they can go after a duo of TO and Lovie Smith (who would fit their commercials much better than a stuffy Turner or Phillips) and Chunky Soup will then Sponser the new Stadium. For the next thirty years, we will then get to hear "Live, from Chunky Soup Stadium...." for eight games a year.

 

[Chocolate Lab]

Hope I didn't sound like I thought you were stealing my idea, CA, because that's not what I meant at all...

But yeah, Mickey had that sound in his voice like he knew something. Maybe he doesn't and he was just covering for Jerry, but IMO he sounded like he knew something might be going on that people hadn't considered.