PLAYOFFS!!!

I'll keep this short and sweet since I've been a little under the weather. I read this today, and apparently someone still thought the Bears were alive in the playoff hunt up until yesterday. After reading that the Bears were no longer alive in the playoff hunt, I channeled my inner Jim Mora and screamed from the top of my lungs in my cubicle at work, "PLAYOFFS?!!?!?"

I don't think there was any Bear fan with a three digit I.Q. that thought this team had any chance of going to the playoffs this year, even WITH the mathematical chance they may have had. More importantly, it was speculated by this blog that yesterdays game actually did have some significance with regard to the future of Lovie Smith as Bears head coach. Not only did the team fail to cement Lovie's chances of returning, but if anything supplied even more evidence that wholesale changes need to take place in Lake Forest. If the season high of 13 penalties committed, the showcase of further impotence in both running game and run defense, and crucial turnovers weren't enough, the bizarre time out-THEN WASTE A CHALLENGE situation that took place was a nice cherry on the top of this turd we call the coaching staff. That is just flat out indefensible! That type of ineptitude is worthy of Dave Wannstedt and Lovie has nobody to blame but himself for that lack of decision making and leadership.

Aside from that debacle, there's the penalty situation. The Bears are the fourth most penalized team in the league, which normally wouldn't be as big a deal if they had the talent throughout the roster that could make up for it like say, Cincinnati, Baltimore, Philadelphia, and Green Bay which are the only other teams who have committed more penalties than the Bears. It's also not a coincidence the Bears have been beaten by three out of those four, and the Bears play the Ravens this weekend. Penalties come from a lack of discipline, and discipline starts with the Head Coach more than any other place, pure and simple.

It's clear to this observer that Lovie needs to go. He's made so many decisions ever since his arrogant, stuck-up little "trust me" speech after Super Bowl XLI that would justify eating the money he's owed, and bringing someone new to coach this team. Someone once tried to defend Lovie Smith to me by saying "Lovie Smith is the best coach the Bears have had since Ditka." While that may be true, that is not the equivalent of saying "Lovie Smith is a good NFL coach". Being the tallest midget, doesn't mean you are tall by definition. Rising slightly above mediocrity, is not the same thing as being good.

Let's hope Ted Phillips, if not Jerry Angelo understand this as much as anybody...