Chicago Bears: 5 big questions after press conference

Why won’t the Chicago Bears admit Ted Phillips is involved in football decisions?

Maybe the most infuriating thing to come out of yesterday’s press conference was George McCaskey’s impassioned defense of Ted Phillips. George began the press conference by heaping an endless amount of praise on Phillips, who has been the one constant in this disaster.

George also addressed the concern among fans and the media that he or Ted intervene or meddle in football decisions, dismissing the notion as ridiculous.

However, when asked about extensions for Ryan Pace, McCaskey deferred the question to Ted who has responsibility over that.

If you are confused by those two contradictory statements, you are not alone. It would appear the decision whether to extend a general manager is football related, but George told us all Ted has no role in those — so which is it George?

And if you accept George’s initial statement, and Ted is not involved in those, isn’t that a problem in and of itself? In other words, isn’t it a problem that your President of Football Operations cannot make football decisions? Wouldn’t you want someone with a football mind making football related decisions, even if it’s only to hire the people who will ultimately make the football decisions? While I understood George’s point that Pace makes those football decisions, he and Ted, with no football knowledge, are the ones who put Pace in the position to make those decisions.

They need another check and balance in their building, but it doesn’t look like that’ll happen anytime soon.