The Bernstein Brief: Ryan Pace, John Fox Undersell Bears
By Dan Bernstein--
CBSChicago.com senior columnist
(CBS) We should assume that Ryan Pace and John Fox know something we don't, as they'd better, being the general manager and coach of the Bears, respectively.
Their broad-yet-mild optimism upon arrival at training camp Wednesday can be interpreted in different ways then, with one possibility being an active attempt to suppress expectations in the second year of a considerable reconstruction project, and that explains the longer view and Pace's mention of the need to "keep putting good drafts together."
But Fox's usual string of stammering blandishments might also be masking confidence that his Bears can make the second-year jump that his teams historically have, just more evidence of his stated philosophy to under-promise and over-deliver.
Wednesday was certainly the former, with Pace admitting "the truth will be told as this plays out."
It was also difficult to decipher evidence of a different message internally. When guard Kyle Long claimed motivation due to "league-wide disrespect of the Chicago Bears," it seemed to indicate the presence of some lame and tired us-against-the-world silliness, but quarterback Jay Cutler then made clear the Bears didn't deserve any and shouldn't expect it after two bad seasons.
As Fox prefers, they've left it to the results and not to any outsized hype.
Dan Bernstein is a co-host of 670 The Score's "Boers and Bernstein Show" in afternoon drive. You can follow him on Twitter @dan_bernstein and read more of his columns here.