Our next coach??

[SmootSmack]

Originally Posted by BigHairedAristocrat

The bears have also had horrible offenses under Lovie Smith and their defense has been regressing. The bears also made a very significant investment in Cutler (both in terms of dollars and the players and picks they traded to denver to get him) and they need to ensure that that investment pays dividends. Shanahan could get the most out of Cutler and build the appropriate offense around him. I don't think the Bears would fire Lovie without already having a secret agreement in place with Shanahan, but its extremely possible. The biggest obstacle to a deal being done would be Shanahan's contract. The Bears are pretty frugal and I don't know if they'd be willing to pay Shanahan what he'd demand.

The problem wouldn't so much be paying Shanahan. It would be paying Shanahan and Lovie Smith, who would still be under contract and due something like $5 million over each of the next two years