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Dick Jauron had the low-key temperament, an Ivy League education, a background as a former player and the respect of those in the front office and locker room.
What he didn't have enough of as head coach of the Chicago Bears was victories. And that's why general manager Jerry Angelo fired Jauron on Monday, ending his five-year coaching run.
``To achieve our ultimate goal -- winning a championship -- a new direction is needed. We need to demonstrate the ability to win on a more consistent basis, something that we haven't done here in quite some time,'' Angelo said.
Right after Angelo explained Monday why he'd fired Jauron with a year left on the coach's contract, CEO Ted Phillips announced that he and Angelo had been given contract extensions through 2008.
Angelo, who joined the Bears two years after Jauron was hired, will now get to hire his own coach.
``I don't think its about whether he has his own coach,'' Phillips said.
`` I think Dick and Jerry had a very good working relationship. I'd expect nothing less than that from a new head coach whoever he may be when Jerry makes that decision. It's important. It's critically important that they get along well, that they have the same philosophy.''
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Angelo said he'll work on a list of six to eight candidates and expects his
new coach to put together a more potent offense that will bring the Bears up
to date. He doesn't have a deadline for filling the spot.
Chicago spent most of this season near the bottom of the NFL in offense. And Jauron's five years were marked by inconsistency, mainly at quarterback where he was forced to juggle numerous starters because of injuries and ineffectiveness. He made 23 changes at starting quarterback and used three players this season: the struggling Kordell Stewart, veteran Chris Chandler and rookie Rex Grossman.
``We need to be able to score more points. It's something that we've not been able to do for various reasons. I'm not putting this all on a coach,'' Angelo said.
``Sometimes it's been injuries, sometimes it's been poor play; the attrition at the quarterback position has hurt us as well.''
Jauron, the NFL coach of the year two seasons ago, finished with four losing seasons in five years and a 35-46 overall record, including one playoff loss.
Since Mike Ditka was fired after the 1992 season, the Bears -- one of the NFL's pioneer franchises -- have had just three winning seasons and made only two playoff appearances.
Jauron's only winning season was 2001, when the Bears went 13-3 and won a division title, a performance that earned him a contract extension.
But that was followed by a 4-12 record a year ago when the Bears had to play home games in Champaign while Soldier Field was being overhauled. This season they finished 7-9, including a 31-3 loss to Kansas City on Sunday.
AP - Dec 29, 3:42 pm EST
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``I've loved every moment of it,'' Jauron said. ``I certainly wish it could
have turned out better, but I am not looking back. I am definitely looking forward.''
Punter Brad Maynard said Jauron wasn't overly upset when he spoke with the team Monday.
``I don't think even he'd say it was a raw deal. We had opportunities. He was here five years and the record is what it is,'' Maynard said. ``He did what he could with what he had.''
The Bears showed some promise this season as several rookies, most notably linebacker Lance Briggs, defensive back Charles Tillman, wide receiver Justin Gage and Grossman, made an impression.
But Chicago's running game behind a banged-up, ever-switching offensive line never got Anthony Thomas on a consistent track, and that made it even more difficult to have the balanced offense Angelo envisions.
Many players were unhappy with the play calling of offensive coordinator John Shoop. Wide receiver David Terrell said Monday that Shoop was the problem, not Jauron.
Angelo said the assistants under Jauron, all of whom have a year to go on their contracts, would have a chance to interview with the new coach if he sees fit.
``We want somebody to come
in that's a good fit for us,'' Angelo said. ``We're not going out looking for
a young Don Shula or Bill Parcells. I'm sure they're out there, but I'm not
na?ve enough to think that I have that kind of intuitive skill to find that
person. I think that the ultimate goal is to find a team-driven person and,
as I said, that shares our view and the commonalities that hopefully we'll have
together.''