Coaching on the cheap

The Bears sent another position coaching packing as Linebackers coach Lloyd Lee got the pink slip on Tuesday.  For those keeping score at home, that notches all three major defensive position group coaches gone since the end of the season, as Lee joins Secondary coach Steves Wilks and Defensive Line coach Brick Haley on the outs at Halas Hall.

Let me see if I can put this in terms the geniuses in Lake Forest could understand.  Your car (Lovie Smith) has broken down.  You take it to a mechanic and he tells you the engine (Bob Babich) is shot.  Instead of just replacing the engine (Babich), you start replacing the spark plugs and valves (position coaches).

Most reasonable people either replace the engine or get a whole new car (new coach).  Why won’t the Bears do that?  It’s simple.  Follow the money.  The cheapskate McCaskeys are a car salesman’s worst nightmare.  They’re still making payments on the old car and refuse to replace it until it’s paid off.   Never mind that we’re making the payments in the form of ticket sales, PSL’s, merchandise, etc.  They will replace some cheap parts to keep the car running, but ultimately will drive it into the ground.

Think about this.  When the Bears let Defensive Coordinator Ron Rivera go after the 2006 season, he joined the Chargers as a Linebackers coach and actually got a raise.  Real organizations actually pay their staff and can attract real coaches.  The Bears  always go on the cheap and hire inexperienced, first-time head coaches.  See Mike Ditka, Dave Wannsted, Dick Jauron, and Lovie Smith in case you need concrete examples. 

Despite my plea to hire Bill Cowher, there is no way Mike McCaskey dusts off his wallet and spends his First Communion money on a proven head coach.    Better to just take the bus than get a new car.