Bears can't afford to stiff staff

Lots of negotiating ahead with coaches, front-office personnel

The Bears rode a wave of continuity to Super Bowl XLI, and the first question that faces the organization as it readies for the offseason is whether a fractured coaching staff and front office can be repaired for a return trip.

Coach Lovie Smith will get a contract extension; at what cost is the only question. Smith holds a tremendous amount of leverage after president Ted Phillips opted to take a wait-and-see approach that now has the league's lowest-paid head coach waiting to collect. One thing to keep an eye on is whether spending for Smith will translate into raises to keep the coaching staff together, or will it be one or the other?

After all, the only coach to guide the Bears to a Super Bowl championship, Mike Ditka, once said team ownership throws around nickels like manhole covers. We'll find out exactly how heavy those sewer caps are these days. Forbes estimated the Bears' operating income at $51.5 million for 2006 -- more than double the magazine's projection for the champion Indianapolis Colts -- and it's a safe bet that on a Friday afternoon sometime this spring, news of a ticket-price hike will come.

Also in the works is an extension for general manager Jerry Angelo to ensure that he and Smith are on the same timetable. Both are signed through 2007.

Others are coming up much sooner. The Bears retain exclusive negotiating rights with defensive coordinator Ron Rivera and special-teams coordinator Dave Toub through Feb. 20. College scouting director Greg Gabriel and pro personnel chief Bobby DePaul have contracts that expire May 31.

Then there's the matter of what to do with Pro Bowl weak-side linebacker Lance Briggs, who will be an unrestricted free agent March 2 unless the Bears slap a franchise tag on him before the Feb. 22 deadline. Briggs played for $721,600 this past season, and the tag represents 10 times that at $7.206 million.

It might not be as easy as that. Many players are turned off by the tag, seeing it as something that prevents them from realizing their fair market value. Angelo generally has been opposed to it, but he treats each case individually, and with $23 million in projected salary-cap room, he could fit in Briggs easily and deal with the repercussions.

''It's just not that simple,'' Briggs said Sunday night in the aftermath of the 29-17 loss to the Colts. ''But I'm not really concerned with it right now. A contract will be there for me.''

Paying the players has not been a problem, particularly since Angelo arrived six years ago. He is not controlling the contract talks with the coaches, though; that matter belongs to Phillips. The Bears' coaching staffs -- Dick Jauron's included -- consistently have been at or near the bottom of the league in salary. Ditto the support staff. Smith was easily the lowest-paid head coach this past season at $1.35 million, with a handful of coordinators earning considerably more.

Rivera is expected to meet with Dallas Cowboys owner Jerry Jones, perhaps today, to discuss the team's head-coaching vacancy. It's widely believed that San Francisco 49ers offensive coordinator Norv Turner, who has worked in Dallas previously, will get the job.

During their meeting, Jones no doubt will discuss Rivera's defensive philosophy. Jones has filled some positions on the coaching staff but not defensive coordinator, and Rivera will have the chance to sell him on the benefits of switching from the 3-4 scheme that the Cowboys employ to the 4-3 that Rivera prefers.

If all things are even -- or similar -- Rivera would return to the Bears. Jones is not bashful when it comes to spending big, though, and the Bears have a replacement on staff in linebackers coach Bob Babich, who was given the added title of assistant head coach at this time last year.

Toub is headed to Honolulu, where he has three players in the Pro Bowl. He stands to be a commodity on the open market with the Cowboys and Philadelphia Eagles seeking special-teams coaches.

''I expect to be back,'' said Toub, who previously worked for the Eagles and has had a professional relationship with Eagles coach Andy Reid for 20 years. ''I really hope so. We've got a lot of great players, great core guys -- great kicker, great punter, great long snapper, great returner. The best in the league. Why would I want to go anywhere else?''

His players feel the same way.

''I think Toub is going to come back because there is unfinished business in Chicago,'' Pro Bowl coverage specialist Brendon Ayanbadejo said. ''Had we won, then he would be more willing to take the highest offer. Since we lost, there is unfinished business here. Either way it goes, I can't blame him for what he does.

''He's the best special-teams coach in the league, and you've got to pay. If the organization respects Toub for what he has done, then there is no reason why he would leave because he would get the highest offer.''

Center Olin Kreutz said it's not as easy to keep a staff together when a team begins to win. That's when the rest of the league begins to take notice. There's already one vacancy as offensive quality-control coach Mike Bajakian is headed to Central Michigan to be the offensive coordinator.

''We'd love to keep everyone, but that's not the NFL,'' Kreutz said. ''You hope that we can keep them all, but I don't know how realistic that is.''

NOTE: As expected, Bears middle linebacker Brian Urlacher withdrew from Saturday's Pro Bowl in Honolulu and was replaced by the New York Giants' Antonio Pierce. Urlacher wants to rest the sprained left big toe that he played on through the second half of the season.

bbiggs@suntimes.com