Bears

Defense

Chicago is one of our favorite defensive team picks. Lovie Smith defenses tend to rack up turnovers.

The deal is believed to be worth roughly $1 million per season, a high number for his position. Toub interviewed for the Dolphins’ head coaching vacancy early this month. Widely viewed as one of the league’s premier special teams coaches, Toub’s unit routinely excels not just in returns but also in coverage.

The Rams and Colts had already requested permission to interview DeCosta. NFL Network and the Chicago Sun-Times have both reported that DeCosta would have “strong interest” in the Bears job. The heir apparent to Ozzie Newsome in Baltimore, DeCosta has turned all offers in the past.

The Chicago Tribune, conversely, reports the Rams have asked for Telesco’s permission, but the Bears have not. Telesco is also an in-house option to be promoted to the GM role in Indy following the ouster of the Polians. Telesco and Ravens director of player personnel Eric DeCosta are the two candidates with Bears interview requests thus far. Falcons director of player personnel Les Snead and Packers director of football operations Reggie McKenzie should be next on the interview list.

“I have full control [of the roster],” Emery said, “but that’s not where my head is. My head is at working with coach Smith toward developing consistent championships.” The Chicago Sun Times points out that Emery “had no choice” but to accept Smith as his head coach this year. As these GM-hired-after-coach situations go, however, there will be no guarantees for Smith beyond 2012.

Despite firing GM Jerry Angelo Tuesday morning, the McCaskeys apparently have no plans to sack Smith or his staff. “Lovie Smith will remain as head coach and will continue to evaluate his coaching staff,” the Bears’ statement reads. Smith could emerge from the front-office change with increased decision-making power, and perhaps even have say in hiring Chicago’s next GM. As noted by Tom Silverstein of the Milwaukee Journal-Sentinel, Smith and Packers Director of Football Operations Reggie McKenzie are “very good friends.” McKenzie may rank high on the Bears’ list of Angelo successors.

The Bears announced Tuesday that head coach Lovie Smith will return for 2012 despite the firing of GM Jerry Angelo, but Fisher will reportedly “keep an eye on Halas Hall.” A Bears player from 1981-85, Fisher has remained close with ownership. According to a “source with knowledge of (Fisher’s) thinking,” Chicago is “the (coaching job) he’s always wanted.” However, Breer reports the most likely scenario remains Smith staying in Chicago and Fisher ending up in St. Louis.

Toub has been the Bears’ special teams coordinator since 2004, consistently churning out elite units in both the return and coverage game. However, he has no head coaching experience at the college or NFL level. The Bears continue to cast an extremely wide net in their search to replace Lovie Smith as they’ve been linked to Mike Singletary, Mike Priefer, Darrell Bevell, Rick Dennison, and Marc Trestman in the last few days alone. Overall, their known interest list stands at 13 candidates.

Singletary is in his second season as linebackers coach and special assistant to head coach Leslie Frazier. He flopped big time as the 49ers head coach from 2008-2010, going 18-22 before handing the reins over to Jim Harbaugh. Priefer is in his second season as the special teams coordinator. He held the same job with the Chiefs and Broncos in years past.

The Bears are rivaling the Eagles for the most expansive list of candidates, but it looks like there will no new names added to the search. The team will begin bringing in finalists this week. While Broncos OC Mike McCoy has emerged as the favorite in Arizona and Arians has been considered the Chargers’ top target, the Bears job appears to be wide open.