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NFC Championship: Chicago Bears Angle

By Mike "Boomer" Burzawa

Jan 31, 2015; Phoenix, AZ, USA; General view of the George S. Halas Trophy, awarded to the winner of the NFC Championship game, on display at the NFL Experience at the Phoenix Convention Center. Mandatory Credit: Kirby Lee-USA TODAY Sports
Jan 31, 2015; Phoenix, AZ, USA; General view of the George S. Halas Trophy, awarded to the winner of the NFC Championship game, on display at the NFL Experience at the Phoenix Convention Center. Mandatory Credit: Kirby Lee-USA TODAY Sports /
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Jan 3, 2016; Glendale, AZ, USA; Arizona Cardinals head coach Bruce Arians looks on during the second half against the Seattle Seahawks at University of Phoenix Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Matt Kartozian-USA TODAY Sports
Jan 3, 2016; Glendale, AZ, USA; Arizona Cardinals head coach Bruce Arians looks on during the second half against the Seattle Seahawks at University of Phoenix Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Matt Kartozian-USA TODAY Sports /

The Arizona Cardinals represent what could have been for the Chicago Bears.  After then-GM Phil Emery ushered Lovie Smith out of town, the pressure was on the new GM to make his first head coaching selection.  Emery interviewed just about anyone who’d ever blown a whistle before, but narrowed his candidates down to Marc Trestman, Darrell Bevell and reigning Coach of the Year Bruce Arians.

As legend goes, the Bears wanted to keep Rod Marinelli as their defensive coordinator to keep continuity on the Bears defense that Lovie Smith had built up all those years.  The Bears wanted to select Arians, but he insisted on bringing Todd Bowles with him to serve as his DC.  When the Bears tried to push Marinelli on him, Arians walked.  As luck would have it, Marinelli split anyway and the Bears ended up with Marc Trestman.  We know how that ended up.  It’s a decision that probably cost Phil Emery his job.

Arians has gone on to coach the Arizona Cardinals to a 34-14 record and two playoff appearances over the last three seasons and has his team in position for a Super Bowl berth.  Arians has a no-nonesense approach that would have been ideal for the Chicago Bears.  Whenever I watch the Cardinals, I can’t help but think what might have been.

So who will I be rooting for?  My sense of nostalgia and desire to see Peanut Tillman, Greg Olsen and Chico Rivera win a ring has me rooting for the Panthers to hoist the Halas Trophy.

Who will you be rooting for???

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