How the Bears Can Keep Adam Gase
So you want to keep Adam Gase, don’t you? Of course you would, but it will be difficult because he will be a sexy interview once the NFL season is over, and why not! He helped Peyton Manning make a full recovery from his neck injury which saw him shipped out of Indianapolis.
But that was still Peyton freaking Manning, perhaps the most prolific passer of all-time (he did break the passing record).
More importantly, he fixed Jay Cutler. That is the impression he is giving off, the quarterback whisper that did the impossible, turned Jay Cutler’s potential into production.
If Gase can help coach Manning to his most prolific season — 55 TDs and averaged 349 yards per game in 2013 — then pad his resume by being the coach to crack Jay’s potential, why wouldn’t a team look to Gase to lead their team and help their quarterback?
When you read which NFL head coach might be on the hot seat, you see teams with underperforming quarterbacks. The Colts, Browns, 49ers, and Detroit. Wouldn’t a certified quarterback whisperer be attractive in any of those places? What could Andrew Luck do with his weapons under the tutelage of Gase? How about Matthew Stafford in Detroit? And could Gase get the most out of Johnny Manziel in Cleveland?
Long story short Gase will not have a lack of interviews this up coming off season. With the realization that there are only 32 of these jobs available, if a NFL team believes he is the right choice he just might be leaving Chicago.
But that’s not why you called…
Exactly how can the Bears keep Adam Gase as their offensive coordinator beyond the 2015 NFL season? How can we ensure that will continue to see this good Jay Cutler as opposed to the one that we’ve seen in the past?
Well it has to start with the Bears preparing and aggressive move before Gase has the opportunity to take his first interview. This is taking a page out of the Dallas Cowboys and owner Jerry Jones’ playbook.
In 2008, then Cowboys offensive coordinator Jason Garrett was the hottest possible NFL coaching candidate. The Cowboys, not wanting to lose him, decided to promote Garrett to offensive coordinator / assistant head coach and increasing his salary to $3 million dollars per season. Then head coach Wade Phillips was earning a similar salary, thus financially placing them as equals.
It is hard to wrap your mind around paying an assistant similar money as you pay your head coach, especially when that assistant has only been with your team for one season. As tough as it is to swallow that, that is the price of poker if you intend on retaining Adam Gase.
This offseason will mark the second consecutive season in which Adam will interview for a head coaching position in the league. While he may not receive an offer this year, his stock will continue to rise, and it will not be long before he does. The Bears need to answer the question, is the improved play from Cutler so important to us that they will make a huge financial commitment to a coordinator?
I know the old McCaskey way wouldn’t do it, but this is a new McCaskey leadership and you never know, they may pull out all stops to keep Adam Gase.
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