Our Long National Nightmare May Be Returning

Big decisions are pending the outcome of the Bears' playoff game in two weeks. Ted Phillips leaked a rambling message on Sunday Night Football through Andrea Kremer. In a somewhat mixed message, Phillips said that he expects more from Lovie Smith in this years playoffs but that playoff success is not required for Lovie to earn a contract extension.

Well, with last years one-and-done, what the hell could "more" mean other than a win? At the least?

It's going to be very hard for the Bears to give Lovie a contract extension with another playoff meltdown on his resume. The Bears still have Lovie under contract for 2007 so thereis no burning need to get him extended now, is there?

Well, there is if you don't want to have a Lovie Baker situation in Lake Forest all next year. Even David Haugh was smart enough to see this brewing.

But there is another huge decision that will have to be made after next week. And that is the future of the Bears quarterback position. And THAT is going to be determined by people who have been arrogant in defending their past decisions.

Rex Grossman certainly looks like a guy you cannot count on from week to week. He's also approaching the end of his contract (it expires after next year). After Rex, the Bear QB cupboard is empty. Brian Griese is not a guy who you can plan an offense around and Kyle Orton is great if you need an upside down margarita at Iowa City's Sports Column.

If Rex lays a steamer on the Big Orange C in the middle of Soldier Field, the Bears are going to have to select a quarterback in the upcoming draft.

With the looming departure of Lance Briggs, the deterioration of Mike Brown, the uncertainty of Tommie Harris, and the aging of Brian Urlacher, 2006 looks to be the Bears last, best chance for a few years to do anything of note in the NFL.

Then again, the opposite occurs if Rex does well in two weeks. Good Rex means Lovie gets his dough. Rex gets an extension. The Bears plan for 2007 as a playoff year and not a transition. Briggs probably gets tagged. If not, Briggs goes. Rex starts while Troy Smith studies his playbook. And Lovie starts waxing rhapsodic about what he learned at Tulsa from Jim Finks and Bob St. Clair.

Anyone care to lay odds on which outcome will occur?