Have fans lost all trust in Lovie?
If it wasn't clear after last week's loss to the Bengals, it should be clear now: Lovie Smith has lost the benefit of the doubt — the trust, if you will — of most Bears fans and media in this town. It's one thing to take a beating after a 45-10 loss, as they did last week. But Smith and his team were hammered from all angles after a 30-6 victory over the Browns at Soldier Field on Sunday.
Ex-Bears Doug Buffone and Ed O'Bradovich, whose post-game show on WSCR-AM is must-listen radio after a Bears loss, were in rare form after the unimpressive victory. And it was no better for Lovie & Co. in the local press, where even staunch supporters of Smith and his coaching staff acknowledged that the lopsided-looking victory was more an indictment of the pathetic Browns than a credit to the Bears.
(AP)
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We're a cynical bunch, but the response to this game is a turning point. It would not have been unusual for the Bears to get roughed up by the fans and media had they struggled to win by a touchdown or less against an opponent as inferior as the woeful Browns. But it was 30-6! That's an indication that most people saw last week's debacle against the Bengals as more than one loss and this week's game against the Browns as less than one victory.
I don't think there's any question the unusually harsh criticism is a direct rebuke of Smith's arrogant attitude in a press conference last week dripping with derision when questioned by reporters about possible personnel changes after the Bengals game.
"OK, I'm not going to talk about anything personnel-wise," he said. "To me, that's pretty clear. If that's all you want to talk about than there's nothing to talk about." Asked why he didn't want to talk about personnel, he said, "I just don't want to -- as simple as that. Don't want to give the opponent an advantage. We want them to wonder what we're going to do, like you are right now."
I'm not sure which is more offensive, his arrogance or his ignorance. If Smith really thinks he gained an advantage by having the Browns prepare for Frank Omiyale at left guard and then starting Josh Beekman, he'll find himself in Eric Mangini's shoes before he knows it.
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