With 5-year contract, Emery ready to roll as new Bears GM
Comments (...)CHICAGO (MCT) — Those who have spoken up on Phil Emery’s behalf in the last few weeks as the Bears searched for a general manager describe him as a tireless and meticulous worker.
So it isn’t surprising Ted Phillips said it was the “depth of his plan” that made Emery the clear choice to become the fifth general manager in franchise history, replacing Jerry Angelo, a man Emery once worked under.
While Angelo’s introductory news conference 11½ years ago was full of one-liners, Emery was all business as he described a vision to have the Bears compete for multiple championships, a word he referred to often. The college scouting director for the Chiefs the last three seasons signed a five-year contract.
“He is going to get the best out of his staff and get the best possible talent here so we can go win championships,” chairman of the board George McCaskey said.
Phillips cited a talent deficit in the division when Angelo was fired Jan. 3 with two years remaining on his contract. Emery said the first order of business will be preparing for free agency as he sets out to close that gap with the Packers and Lions in the NFC North. The Bears have reached the postseason just once in the last five years.
“What we want to do is look at our team and add playmakers,” Emery said. “If we keep doing that, and primarily through the college draft, and fill in where we see strengths in pro free agency, then we’ll close the gap. And that’s what our focus is — find the right players for us and that gap will get closed.”
Emery said he has admired the work of coach Lovie Smith from afar and is excited to join forces with him. While Emery must work with Smith for the 2012 season, the fate of the coach is in his hands after that. Emery lauded the work of the Bears’ scouting department. All six college area scouts and three pro scouts are coming out of contract, but it sounds as if Emery is more focused on adding to the existing group than making wholesale changes.
Director of player personnel Tim Ruskell was relieved of his duties before Emery was introduced Monday afternoon, clearing up any questions of whether he would run a good ol’ boys network as Ruskell hired him as the Falcons’ college scouting director in 2004. Emery was clear he’s a fresh start from Angelo, the man he worked under for part of his 1998-2004 run as a Southeast area scout for the club.
“I’m a very different person than Jerry,” Emery said. “I worked for Jerry. I respect him. But we both come from different backgrounds as any two people would. My influences are different.”
Angelo also set out to make the Bears draft-driven and accomplished that for a time before his drafts crumbled, failing to produce many starters and much depth. Reading between the lines, the Bears might not be gearing up for a spending spree in free agency that could have happened under Angelo.
“History shows if you rely primarily on pro free agency, that’s not going to work,” McCaskey said. “You have to be draft-based. Phil was a draft-based guy and said depending on need, and the available free agents, he would look to free agency to fill out the roster.”
Emery inherits a team that is coming off an 8-8 season. The most significant free-agent decision involves running back Matt Forte, who will almost certainly be franchise tagged if a long-term deal cannot be brokered in the next five weeks.
He talked about wanting to have a balanced offense and that will require some work on the offensive line and at wide receiver. He praised new offensive coordinator Mike Tice, and said the interviewing process allowed him to get up to speed on the roster that he has control over.
“Believe me, there was some tape being grinded late at night,” Emery said. “So I had an opportunity to watch six or seven games going into the interview and I had an opportunity to watch even more before the second time.”
The Bears will leave for the scouting combine Feb. 22 and by then a plan for free agency will be in place. Emery said he already has a strong feel for this year’s draft class. He plans to bolster and restructure not only the scouting department but the system the Bears use to scout. That was part of the presentation that sold Phillips and ownership, but is something that will not take place until after the draft.
He’s ready to roll up his sleeves.
“I have a very good feel for where this team is at and a sense of timing of my involvement,” Emery said. “This team has a very good core of playmakers. Not only have I seen them like any fan on TV perform, but I’ve also done extensive research. My job moving forward is to continue to build this team so that we can be consistent winners and be consistently in the hunt to win championships.”
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