The Bernstein Brief: Time Now Critical For Bears
By Dan Bernstein-
(CBS) The quarterback doesn't matter right now for the Bears, and neither do the doomed coaches or the game against the Lions on Sunday.
Nothing is stopping the changes about to come at Halas Hall after this nightmare of a season, with the only question being how high the purges go. There's no time to lose in this game, one where the stakes are much higher than an individual outcome on a scoreboard.
Conversations have to already be occurring between the Bears' decision-makers and potential new football minds. If a new GM is coming, a short list of candidates has to be ready. Trusted advice should be solicited from friends in the league, wary of all tampering restrictions. Due diligence can't be hurried, so it needs to have begun.
A new football chief would need the opportunity to hire the best available coaches. Even if it's merely a new coach coming in, he too should be afforded chances as his top choices as assistants, and that's almost always a timing issue.
Coaches and executives have agents, with whom teams can talk freely -- if in coded hypotheticals -- about jobs. Talk to them.
Dithering is for losers. Get on with it.
Dan Bernstein is a co-host of 670 The Score's "Boers and Bernstein Show" in afternoon drive. Follow him on Twitter @dan_bernstein and read more of his columns here.