Why did Ron Rivera leave Chicago??

[skinsfan69]

Does anyone know why Chicago let this guy get away? Norv named him LB's coach today. Was this over $ ?

[hooskins]

Maybe it's too cold and windy...

[GTripp0012]

I think Jerry Angelo (Bears GM) feels his coaching staff is getting too much credit for building that defense. It sounds egotistical, but I agree with him. I think that Rivera probably wanted to be paid Grilliams type money, given his status as the minority candidate that teams go to to satisfy the Rooney Rule. I think Jerry Angelo believes that he can find a better coordinator at a cheaper price.

I do think he will extend Lovie Smith's contract, but the Bears believe all their coaches are expendable. That very well may be true, but at the very least Smith has earned his respect and his money.

[12thMan]

I mean the guy did interview for a few head coaching posts too. So that really sends a message.

[skinsfan69]

Interesting. They still have not given Smith a contract. That's ridicules. He's taken them to the playoffs and the SB in two years. Sounds like the GM and/or the Halas family are cheap.

[skinsfan69]

Originally Posted by 12thMan

I mean the guy did interview for a few head coaching posts too. So that really sends a message.

But what's he suppose to do? Not go?

[12thMan]

Originally Posted by skinsfan69

But what's he suppose to do? Not go?

Well, if you interviewed for six jobs and your employer knew about it, how would they feel if you were ready to punch the clock the next day?

[skinsfan69]

Originally Posted by 12thMan

Well, if you interviewed for six jobs and your employer knew about it, how would they feel if you were ready to punch the clock the next day?

True. But in the NFL this happens all the time. If he was interviewing for other DC jobs then it would be different. He's been getting interviewed for HC jobs which is a promotion.

[FRPLG]

I'll tell ya what sucks. To go from interviewing for HC jobs to taken a demotion from coordinator in the span of a few weeks.

How does this affect the Bears ability to hire good coaches now? I mean they show that they have less respect for coaches than most teams. What good coach would work there now?

[dmek25]

are all the head coaching jobs filled? maybe Rivera is tipping his hand. and being a successful coordinator doesn't = being a good head coach, i.e. norv

[That Guy]

the bears don't want to pay anyone. sucks for their fans.

[Master4Caster]

I suspect it was one of those "mutual decisions." There were hints in some of the departing statements. Smith said that he and Rivera were going in different directions regarding the defense. But he also said he did everything he (Smith) could to position Rivera as a HC candidate !!! (What?) Rivera was "gracious" in his departure, would not be baited into negative statements about the Bears or Smith, who let him coach thru the Super Bowl (helps his resume).

Read between the lines and you will see "you aren't incompetent and you haven't broke any rules. You just can't stay here." The Chicago papers say it was initiated by Smith. Technically, Rivera wasn't "fired" since he was at the end of his contract.

There's a mutual "decision lurking" in everyone's career. The timing is surprising, but Rivera's situation isn't much different than Russ Grimm. I think Riviera is still in play as a HC candidate next season.

[Misterbillysells]

ESPN.com - NFL - Chargers add Rivera to coaching staff

Rivera's the new linebackers coach of the chargers

[Sheriff Gonna Getcha]

Originally Posted by That Guy

the bears don't want to pay anyone. sucks for their fans.

Rivera was paid $450K last year and wanted a raise afater helping to field the league's 5th ranked defense and the #1 defense in terms of takeaways. To give people some perspective, $450K is the veteran minimum salary for a player with 3 years of experience or about 10% of what many starters are paid. I personally cannot believe that top-flight assistants are paid so little and, what is even more shocking, is that some owners actually balk when their assistants produce results and demand raises.

People criticize Snyder for paying guys like Gregg Williams and Al Saunders millions a year when they are "only" coordinators, but I personally applaud Snyder for such moves. Paying coaches top dollar is smart - it keeps them happy, their salaries don't count against the cap, and, in a league when the difference between winning and losing is so small, any advantage should be exploited.

[MTK]

Too bad we couldn't have brought him in to coach up our LBs!