Bears GM Phil Emery has strong interview lineup
BY SEAN JENSEN sjensen@suntimes.com January 6, 2013 11:18PM
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Updated: January 7, 2013 10:14AM
Bears general manager Phil Emery will have a busy week.
He’s expected to interview three offensive coordinators whose teams are still contending for Super Bowl XLVII: Darrell Bevell of the Seahawks, Rick Dennison of the Texans and Tom Clements of the Packers.
Bevell is a former Wisconsin quarterback who also was an offensive coordinator for the Vikings.
Dennison is flattered by the Bears’ interest, but he doesn’t want to be distracted as his team prepares for a divisional playoff game at New England.
“The Bears have a great organization, and I know several members of their staff, as well as Jay [ Cutler] and Brandon [ Marshall],” Dennison told the Houston Chronicle. “I haven’t talked to them. . . . I’m focused on [the Patriots].”
Assistants on teams that won in the wild-card round are permitted to interview in their home city for head-coaching jobs before the divisional playoffs end. That means the Bears could interview him between Monday and Sunday evening.
Emery also is expected to meet with Colts offensive coordinator Bruce Arians , who’s available because his team lost to the Ravens.
Scouting report
Packers center Jeff Saturday has played for Arians and Clements. He said Arians has a “great sense with players.”
“Gets you excited about playing,’’ Saturday said. ‘‘He designs plays to make his players look the best. I have the utmost respect for him.”
Saturday said Aaron Rodgers has raved about Clements.
“He really trusts him and trusts his mind,” Saturday said. “He does a great job of getting us prepared.”
