Gene Honda Civic Posted January 27, 2004 Share Posted January 27, 2004 From the Trib, subscription needed, so I cut and pasted. A super mistake Bears coaches had Jake Delhomme ranked way ahead of Kordell Stewart last spring. GM Jerry Angelo didn't listen. Delhomme is in the Super Bowl; the coaching staff is gone By David Haugh Tribune staff reporter January 27, 2004 By the time Carolina quarterback Jake Delhomme answers the last question at Super Bowl media day Tuesday in Houston, America probably will know his favorite reality TV show, his boyhood idol and how often he flosses. Bears fans might have been introduced to such trivia last spring, as well as to Delhomme, if the previous coaching regime had prevailed over general manager Jerry Angelo. Coach Dick Jauron and his staff had Delhomme rated well ahead of Kordell Stewart among available free-agent quarterbacks, according to several former Bears assistant coaches who now work for other NFL teams. Bears coaches ranked Stewart the seventh-best quarterback on that list and discouraged Angelo from pursuing the former Steeler because of concerns over his suitability for the offense. The Bears said Angelo, who wanted experience, was unavailable Monday. Though Delhomme sent signals of interest to the Bears, Angelo targeted Stewart after Jake Plummer made it clear he planned to sign with Denver. One source with knowledge of staff discussions described Jauron as being "totally [upset]" when he learned of Angelo's intentions. Eventually Jauron acquiesced and vowed publicly and privately to make the best of the situation. He liked Stewart, whose affability helped matters, but feared the quarterback's history of indecision and inaccuracy would hurt an offense predicated on precision. And it did. Offensive coordinator John Shoop approached Jauron after the Bears' second loss of the season, to Minnesota, and concluded that the team couldn't win with Stewart as the quarterback, no matter how palpable the pressure from the front office to keep him in the lineup. Shoop and Stewart coexisted without confrontation, but Stewart considered Shoop too rigid for not allowing receivers to make the type of sight adjustments new offensive coordinator Terry Shea will encourage. Shoop deemed Stewart too undisciplined to effectively grasp the complexities of the offense. But Angelo and his staff never paid much attention to Shoop's evaluation of Stewart or any other quarterback. One former Bears assistant cited specific examples of Shoop and Angelo clashing on their opinions of Shane Matthews, Jim Miller, Henry Burris and Stewart, one example of how some members of the former staff viewed Angelo as a meddler who made them uncomfortable. A picture of life as a Bears assistant coach under Angelo has begun to emerge now that the out-of-work coaches have gained employment. On Angelo's first day on the job, sources who were in the meeting room say, the GM stated in his opening remarks to the team that "I will fire Dick Jauron." Coaches and players considered that inappropriate, and several later referred to those comments as the rallying cry for the Bears' 13-3 season in 2001. In retrospect, several assistants said they would have respected Angelo more had he fired Jauron and the staff after the 2001 season instead of extending their contracts. They understood any GM's desire to hire coaches with whom he was comfortable, and knew that was what Angelo always wanted. One ex-assistant didn't blame Angelo as much as team President Ted Phillips for the timing of the Angelo hiring. Angelo joined the Bears as general manager in June 2001, a time of year that made it awkward for Angelo, Jauron and the assistants. In essence, 2001 was a lame-duck season until 13 victories changed the context and complicated the future. Jauron's contract extension was announced Dec. 24, 2001, but he didn't sign the deal until the following spring as he and Angelo haggled over control of the 53-man roster. Shoop, who had upset Angelo by hiring agent Jimmy Sexton at Jauron's urging, became the last assistant to sign his extension and waited to do so until summer 2002. Shoop felt indebted to the owners, the McCaskey family. He had several supporters in the family, and a source said Virginia McCaskey's praise of Shoop played a role in Jauron promoting the 31-year-old in January 2001 to offensive coordinator. One former assistant said Shoop took his time in signing because he was concerned about the stability of the Bears with Angelo and Jauron so strikingly different. Jauron once confided that he considered Angelo "a frustrated coach." At least one ex-Bears offensive lineman wondered aloud "why Jerry was around so much." But the greatest divide always involved the evaluation of talent. Besides the Delhomme/Stewart misread, a decision last August involving former Bears wide receiver Edell Shepherd also rankled the offensive staff. Coaches consistently graded Shepherd high and considered him the team's second-best receiver in training camp behind Marty Booker. A source said the coaches favored keeping Shepherd and cutting David Terrell, but management preferred keeping Terrell in hopes the 2001 first-round draft pick would finally pay off. The day Shepherd left camp, the offensive staff's morale took a hit, several sources said. Jauron and his assistants also complained among themselves about players winding up on the injured list without their knowledge or being signed without their input. Once Jauron found out about a free-agent signee being added to the 53-man roster just minutes before meeting reporters, but he praised the player's potential from the podium. Grumbling from coaches who lose their jobs isn't unusual or unexpected. One said he felt compelled to speak out after seeing former defensive coordinator Greg Blache, popular with his colleagues, go into his final interview Jan. 13 expecting to discuss the head-coaching position, only to have Angelo inform him he wasn't a serious candidate. Loyalty was strong among the Bears' coaches, many of whom felt banded together against Angelo. To wit: In his final meeting, Jauron told the staff that if Angelo had ordered him to fire any of his assistants in order to keep his job, he would have responded, "Then fire me." The staff now being assembled shouldn't have such problems of disharmony. The marriage of Lovie Smith and Angelo is like Ozzie and Harriet, compared with the dysfunctional union of Angelo and Jauron. This winter the Bears will blissfully agree on what they need and whom they want. Last winter they didn't, and Delhomme's Super success serves as another reminder of how wide the communication gap used to be at Halas Hall. Just another one of those things that makes me think JA really was sabotaging the team so he could mold his own with Jauron gone. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SuperSteve Posted January 27, 2004 Share Posted January 27, 2004 What an asshole. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SnB Posted January 27, 2004 Share Posted January 27, 2004 yeah, but we would have been ripping on the bears so much if they had signed delhomme to be their starting qb before this season. Admit it Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
whitesoxfan99 Posted January 27, 2004 Share Posted January 27, 2004 yeah, but we would have been ripping on the bears so much if they had signed delhomme to be their starting qb before this season. Admit it I wouldn't have been. At least Delhomme would have given me some hope. I hated the Stewart signing from the beginning. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
southsider2k5 Posted January 27, 2004 Share Posted January 27, 2004 The front office had to choose either Jaron or Angelo, and they chose Angelo for better or for worse. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gene Honda Civic Posted January 27, 2004 Author Share Posted January 27, 2004 yeah, but we would have been ripping on the bears so much if they had signed delhomme to be their starting qb before this season. Admit it Agreed, I wouldn't have been impressed with the signing of Delhomme... i would have been more like :headshake :sleep But, I didn't want plummer or Kordell either... I thousht there was a reason niether of their respective teams wanted them... Plummer played alright. but there's no doubt anyone would have struggled with our offensive line... But having a gunslinger, Delhomme never seems to throw the same way twice in one game, as compared to Stewart, who thought a guys shoes would be a good place to throw the ball, would have better. Couple that signing, with the trade of Ted Washington, FOR A 4th-ROUND PICK!!!!. that's going to be practically a fifth rounder(it's one of the last 2 picks in the 4th). Washington was practically the starting NG in the New England Defense, and played in any important running situation. and we got about the 125th pick in the draft. Can you honestly say Angelo was trying to put a winning product on the field? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
baggio202 Posted January 28, 2004 Share Posted January 28, 2004 ive posted in other threads that i liked delhomme from the first time i saw him..now that i know jauron wanted and angelo didnt pisses me off...ive never been a fan of angelo ..he seems like a control freak that has to have his way.. i asked this question in another thread but this is an even better place for it...what head coach worth his salt would take a job knowing he had no control over who is gonna play for him???...he immediately has his authority undermined because the players know he has no say on whether they get relased , traded or whatever... delhomme deal is the perfect example...jauron doesnt get the QB he wants and then when the team loses he gets fired by the GM who made the personall mistake in the first place.. that's one thing that scares me about lovey..how much control does he really have?? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DBAHO Posted January 28, 2004 Share Posted January 28, 2004 Delhomme's another Kurt Warner pretty much. Guy who went to NFL Europe came back and is now startin successfully in the NFL. The thing I like about Delhomme is that he plays within himself. He's not goin to throw a 50 yard bullet down da field like otha QB's mite, but he's one of da smartest QB's in da game now. And if he didn't sign with Carolina, he would hav signed with da Cowboys. Don't think Parcells won't make that kind of mistake again if a guy like Mark Brunell is available. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mr. Showtime Posted January 28, 2004 Share Posted January 28, 2004 Here is what I enjoy.. The previous coaching staff couldn't the talented players ON THEIR OWN TEAM. So why should have Angelo trusted their decison making on Delhomme? I don't care for Angelo much myself, but Jaruon couldn't find Urlacher, took him half the season to locate Wade and Gage, stayed with White, couldn't find Azumah on special teams.. I'm sorry, I wouldn't have trusted that staff if they told me a Burger King was being built next door. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
WSoxShuf Posted January 28, 2004 Share Posted January 28, 2004 Who cares Rex is the future. I love it. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MurcieOne Posted January 28, 2004 Share Posted January 28, 2004 Delhomme was brought in for an interview.... and he chose a team where he was definitely going to get some PT..... The way i remember it was Delhomme didnt choose the bears... Delhomme isnt that good... and Jauron was a piece of s***. Bottom line I'll take Lovie and Rex any day of the week. Go Jerry! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MurcieOne Posted January 28, 2004 Share Posted January 28, 2004 THis story sounds like 90% hearsay..... Complete bulls*** to me. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
southsider2k5 Posted January 28, 2004 Share Posted January 28, 2004 Angelo rebutted the story in today's trib, but now half of the Bears news is on a pay site, so I can't put the story on here... :fyou greedy assed Bears Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
NUKE_CLEVELAND Posted January 28, 2004 Share Posted January 28, 2004 yeah, but we would have been ripping on the bears so much if they had signed delhomme to be their starting qb before this season. Admit it Yeah, but at least the critics would have had a nasty case of foot in mouth syndrome and the Bears would have been in the playoffs, instead they were spot on about s***ty Kordell Stewart. :fyou Angelo! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gene Honda Civic Posted January 28, 2004 Author Share Posted January 28, 2004 in the interest of fair and balanced posting... this link will take you to an excerpt of the angelo rebuttal. for the record Angelo is still a slimeball. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SoxAce Posted January 29, 2004 Share Posted January 29, 2004 Who cares Rex is the future. I love it. BINGO!!! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
C.Rector Posted January 29, 2004 Share Posted January 29, 2004 2 things: 1st: Grossman may be a lot better than the other Bears QB's of the Jauron Era, but he's still really not what you'd call a franchise QB. Also, the fact that he got injured so early after getting regular playing time indicates that he could be injury-prone. We need to get another QB in the draft for insurance. 2nd: Angelo is definitely a control freak and the way that Lovie acted at the press conference indicates that he's nothing but a subservient piece of Jello in Angelo's clutches. When you combine that with the fact that according to the new Offensive Coordinator, the team's new offense is so complicated that it could take a whole year for the team to learn it, you have a situation where at least next season could be a disaster. Angelo may not be Michael McCaskey, but he's just as incompetent. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SoxAce Posted January 29, 2004 Share Posted January 29, 2004 1st: Grossman may be a lot better than the other Bears QB's of the Jauron Era, but he's still really not what you'd call a franchise QB. Then what would you call a franchise QB? I don't think that anyone would have called Brett Farve a Francise QB ten years. ago if that other QB didn't get injured. He is the best we've got in a long time. I believe, and so do the bears, that he'll be a hell of a QB in the future. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gene Honda Civic Posted January 29, 2004 Author Share Posted January 29, 2004 Then what would you call a franchise QB? I don't think that anyone would have called Brett Farve a Francise QB ten years. ago if that other QB didn't get injured. He is the best we've got in a long time. I believe, and so do the bears, that he'll be a hell of a QB in the future. I'm not completely sold on Rex, though he did show last year that he was clearly the best in our stable of quarterback, which included one who QBed in a Superbowl and one who Qbed in Multiple AFC championship games... The key will be him learning the system for next year, if he's able to pick it up quickly, the bears may have a great team next year... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Elcaballo45 Posted January 29, 2004 Share Posted January 29, 2004 I heard about this story about 3 weeks ago when Carolina beat St. Louis that the bears passed on Jake. Delhomme is effienct, buts its not a qb i'd cry over not having. If if was a bears fan, i'd rather have grossman getting another year than delhomme at qb. Without Steven Davis/Foster and their offensive line, the Delhomme wouldnt even be a story right now... luckily Mr. 89, Steve Smith is on Jakes side as well.. Go panthers this week! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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