whitesoxfan101 Posted February 22, 2007 Share Posted February 22, 2007 http://sports.espn.go.com/nfl/news/story?id=2774459 Smith's agent says talks with Bears have broken down Barring what Lovie Smith's agent calls an "unforseen breakthrough," the Chicago Bears coach expects to return for the 2007 season without a new contract. Frank Bauer, Smith's agent, told ESPN's Chris Mortensen that talks between the team and coach were at a "stalemate." "We're not close, we're not encouraged and based on where talks have gone recently, Lovie will be a free agent after next season," Bauer said on Wednesday night. Smith has one year remaining on his original contract. He was the league's lowest-paid coach at $1.35 million in 2006 and will remain No. 32 on the paylist at $1.45 million in '07. Smith suspended contract talks shortly before the playoffs when he led the Bears to their first Super Bowl appearance since 1985 after a 13-3 regular season. Negotiations picked up shortly after the Bears lost to the Colts in the championship game, but Bauer said there were significant gaps on the contract terms between management and the coach. "It would take an unforseen breakthrough for this to get done," Bauer said. "And we are being more than reasonable in this market." Coaches that have taken their teams to the Super Bowl, even in a losing effort, are making at least $5 million per year, such as Carolina's John Fox. The Ravens just signed Brian Billick to a four-year extension. The deal, with one year left on his current contract, is valued at $28.5 million over the next five years, a league source said. Good to see the Bears still tossing around nickels like sewer covers, or w/e that saying is..... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
whitesoxfan101 Posted February 22, 2007 Author Share Posted February 22, 2007 QUOTE(Tony82087 @ Feb 22, 2007 -> 12:32 AM) It is true that coaches salary doesn't effect the Cap, correct? That is correct, and a big reason why coaches salaries are going through the roof. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
knightni Posted February 22, 2007 Share Posted February 22, 2007 The McCaskeys are broke, don't you know? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Texsox Posted February 22, 2007 Share Posted February 22, 2007 Coaches get too much credit and too much blame. I am certain Lovie believes he should vault over 30 coaches to top dollar status, and perhaps he is right. That is a tough check to start writing. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
southsider2k5 Posted February 22, 2007 Share Posted February 22, 2007 People want to call the White Sox cheap, or even the Blackhawks, but IMO the Bears take the cake. There is zero reason to be trying to pay a Super Bowl/Coach of the Year guy under market value. Plus its not just under market value, its millions of dollars per year low. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Texsox Posted February 22, 2007 Share Posted February 22, 2007 QUOTE(southsider2k5 @ Feb 22, 2007 -> 09:17 AM) People want to call the White Sox cheap, or even the Blackhawks, but IMO the Bears take the cake. There is zero reason to be trying to pay a Super Bowl/Coach of the Year guy under market value. Plus its not just under market value, its millions of dollars per year low. I haven't seen the numbers, would there offer put him in the top 16? That would be above market. If he is trying to go from worst to first, that may be tougher. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
thedoctor Posted February 22, 2007 Share Posted February 22, 2007 maybe i'm naive, but i'm not really worried at this point. i just think his agent is playing the game. imo, lovie will have a new contract by the beginning of next year. jmho but i would be shocked if that wasn't the case. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
southsider2k5 Posted February 22, 2007 Share Posted February 22, 2007 QUOTE(Texsox @ Feb 22, 2007 -> 09:23 AM) I haven't seen the numbers, would there offer put him in the top 16? That would be above market. If he is trying to go from worst to first, that may be tougher. Market value is directly related to your resume. A guy who is NFL coach of the Year and takes his team to a Super Bowl is worth more than a guy getting his first NFL coaching job. Petrino is taking over Atlanta with zero NFL headcoaching experience and is getting just under $5 million a year for 5 years. Lovie should be getting way more than a guy who hasn't proven anything. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Texsox Posted February 22, 2007 Share Posted February 22, 2007 QUOTE(southsider2k5 @ Feb 22, 2007 -> 09:28 AM) Market value is directly related to your resume. A guy who is NFL coach of the Year and takes his team to a Super Bowl is worth more than a guy getting his first NFL coaching job. Petrino is taking over Atlanta with zero NFL headcoaching experience and is getting just under $5 million a year for 5 years. Lovie should be getting way more than a guy who hasn't proven anything. Wait, are you talking about this year, or next? He agreed to this year and I doubt he would have refunded if he stunk up the joint. Live with this one. Next season, he should, and will, be a top 5 or 6, easily. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
WhiteSoxfan1986 Posted February 22, 2007 Share Posted February 22, 2007 Please don't screw this up. He doesn't deserve to be the highest paid coach, but damn he should be right up there. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
longshot7 Posted February 22, 2007 Share Posted February 22, 2007 Isn't it possible his agent is just posturing to drive his price up ala a training camp holdout? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Texsox Posted February 22, 2007 Share Posted February 22, 2007 It would seem he wants out of his current contract and into a new one with the Bears. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AssHatSoxFan Posted February 22, 2007 Share Posted February 22, 2007 QUOTE(longshot7 @ Feb 22, 2007 -> 01:18 PM) Isn't it possible his agent is just posturing to drive his price up ala a training camp holdout? sure his agent his posturing but this is the Bears and they are cheap so this wouldn't seem to help his cause; just read Rozner's column in the daily herald and it says it all Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
whitesoxfan101 Posted February 22, 2007 Author Share Posted February 22, 2007 QUOTE(Texsox @ Feb 22, 2007 -> 12:23 PM) It would seem he wants out of his current contract and into a new one with the Bears. I read 2 weeks ago that Lovie was offered 3.2 million by the Bears and was enraged at how disrespectful that offer is, on pro football talk online. It's possible he's posturing, but it's fact the Bears are offering 3.2 million a year to a coach with a market value about 2 million dollars a year higher than that. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Texsox Posted February 22, 2007 Share Posted February 22, 2007 QUOTE(whitesoxfan101 @ Feb 22, 2007 -> 01:03 PM) I read 2 weeks ago that Lovie was offered 3.2 million by the Bears and was enraged at how disrespectful that offer is, on pro football talk online. It's possible he's posturing, but it's fact the Bears are offering 3.2 million a year to a coach with a market value about 2 million dollars a year higher than that. I am always against someone wanting out of their contract. Work on the next one, but don't complain about the current one. He was happy to take the job, the Bears took a chance and won. How many times does the team take a chance and lose? Wanny wasn't returning any money. Now starting next year, make him a top paid coach and wrap him up for 5 or 6 years. He earned that. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kalapse Posted February 22, 2007 Share Posted February 22, 2007 QUOTE(Texsox @ Feb 22, 2007 -> 01:06 PM) I am always against someone wanting out of their contract. Work on the next one, but don't complain about the current one. He was happy to take the job, the Bears took a chance and won. How many times does the team take a chance and lose? Wanny wasn't returning any money. Now starting next year, make him a top paid coach and wrap him up for 5 or 6 years. He earned that. This isn't about the '07 season, he seems content with living out the final year of his deal but if he's not given an extension for '08 and beyond by the start of the '07 season he's going to hit free agency and the second the Bears lose exclusive negotiating rights with Lovie someone is going to swoop in and make them look terrible by giving him huge money which is something the Bears just refuse to do. They're not going to negotiate during the season next year, it's just too much of a distraction. According to reports the Bears are low balling the hell out of Smith right now and that is just sad. None of this is about '07, it's all about '08 and beyond and the Bears refuse to give Lovie any kind of money for the future. If they think they can wait until the end of the '07 season and re-sign him, they are gravely mistaken. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Soxbadger Posted February 22, 2007 Share Posted February 22, 2007 Maybe the Bears pull a Chargers and fire Smith now. I wouldnt die if next year Singletary and Rivera were the Head Coach and DC, ( I dont even mind which way those jobs are given). Just sucks that the Bears let Lovie push Rivera out the door, and now Lovie isnt going to even sign long term. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
knightni Posted February 23, 2007 Share Posted February 23, 2007 Lovie will probably never be as good as he was this past season. Other teams will catch up to the Cover Two and free agency losses will slow this franchise down. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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