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Five New Year’s resolutions the Chicago Bears must make for 2017

By Carlos Nazario

Dec 24, 2016; Chicago, IL, USA; Chicago Bears fans hold a line of towels tied together during the first half against the Washington Redskins at Soldier Field. Mandatory Credit: Patrick Gorski-USA TODAY Sports
Dec 24, 2016; Chicago, IL, USA; Chicago Bears fans hold a line of towels tied together during the first half against the Washington Redskins at Soldier Field. Mandatory Credit: Patrick Gorski-USA TODAY Sports /
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Credit: Tim Fuller-USA TODAY Sports
Credit: Tim Fuller-USA TODAY Sports /

Fire John Fox

The Bears did a good job in hiring a bright, young mind in Ryan Pace as general manager. Then, fearing the young part, they complicated things by hiring John Fox.

Yes, Fox is a successful head coach who rebuilt some franchises. That was awhile ago, however. He gained success in Denver when Peyton Manning signed there. His NFC championship with the Carolina Panthers came 13 years ago.

Fox is more of an old school coach. He prefers a running attack and a great defense to help shorten a game. This is a pass-happy league, however. Teams need to score points in bunches.

Fox’s play-calling leaves something to be desired also. Take, for instance, the Green Bay game two weeks ago. The Bears made a fabulous comeback late and had the ball fourth-and-goal. At this point of the game, the Packers could not stop Jordan Howard. The Bears had a 3-10 record and on a path to nowhere. The Packers were playing for their playoff lives. Instead of playing for the win, Fox decided to go for the tie. Of course, Aaron Rodgers completes a 60-yard bomb and the Packers get a game-winning field goal.

Speaking of comebacks, the Bears made several over the course of Fox’s two years in Chicago. The problem with that is why is there a need for so many comebacks? Why are the Bears not prepared to start a game well then finish strong?

The Bears had a chance to get a good, young head coach in Adam Gase. First, they did not hire him as coach in favor of Fox. Second, they allowed him to bolt for Miami. Now Miami is a playoff contender in his first season there.

The purpose of having Fox at the helm is to make up for the Marc Trestman mess. Well, win or lose on Sunday, Fox’s record with the Bears is worse than Trestman’s.

There is also the track record with suspensions.

The league suspended six Bears players PED use. Fox dismisses any talk of a problem. “These guys understand all the parameters of the drug testing involved in our league,” Fox said. “I don’t think this is unique to the Bears. It’s an issue everywhere in the league.”

You are right, Mr. Fox, it is not a Bears problem. It is a John Fox problem. The six Bears players suspended are on top of six other suspensions the league handed out to Broncos players under Fox.Between the Broncos and Bears since 2012, there is a total of 59 games lost to PED suspensions under Fox.

That’s not to say that what Trestman did wasn’t bad, but Fox did not do his job. Use injuries as an excuse, but the results are not what the front office expected.

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