Phil Emery (Photo via: Chicago Sun Times Bears Blog)

Emery and his team will have a lot of work to do in the coming week or so as the interview process begins to the find the new head coach of the Chicago Bears after letting Lovie Smith go after nine seasons. Here is a run down of FOUR of the names being thrown around for the position:

Mike McCoy

Mr. McCoy has had an interesting couple of seasons as an offense coordinator in Denver. Last year, he managed to take a Tebow-led team into the playoffs, which speaks immensely about his talent as an offensive leader for the team and being able to adjust to certain, difficult situations (yea, exactly what you think I’m saying). This year, his offense is led into the playoffs by future Hall-of-Famer Peyton Manning, which has obviously made things a little easier for him. But, like always, McCoy has been able to adjust to the changes and help the team into the playoffs. More recently, Manning, more or less, came out in support for McCoy getting offered a head coaching gig by saying he’s “ready” for the position.  McCoy is a huge favorite for the job, but because Black Monday took such a huge hit on many teams, the Bears will have to fight for him.

Tom Clements

The Bears have asked the Packers for permission to interview Clements as well—and I LOVE this. I don’t care what Bears fans say about him being a Packer, he has proven himself and I think he is perfect. Clements has been able to develop Rogers (God given talents aside) into one of the best quarterbacks in the league. He has also been able to have fairly consistent winning seasons back to back to back with an older set of wide receivers, keeping everyone on the same page. He is familiar with the die-hard characteristics that come with the fans and the organization (some Bears fans won’t want to be compared to Green Bay or their fans, but the passion that they both feel are similar, so it’s the truth). With an impressive resume going all the way back to college, I personally think Clements would be the best fit for our team. I think he truly understands what the Bears need and can come up with a plan to address it successfully.

Bruce Arians

Bruce Arians has had a busy few years. After being hired as the wide receivers coach in Pittsburgh in 2003, he then was the Offensive Coordinator in Pittsburgh for four years, gaining attention for working well with Ben Roethlisberger throughout multiple off-field hiccups and leading the Steelers to back to back winning seasons. More recently, Arians has done a spectacular job leading the Colts into the playoffs during Pagano’s absence and helping Andrew Luck develop into one of the more promising looking rookies in the league. Arians is another top pick for the job here in Chicago. I think he is fairly adaptable, similar to McCoy, and I think he is also familiar enough with strong defenses, a.k.a. I don’t think Arians will fix something that is not broken.

Pete Carmichael Jr.

Carmichael has been the offensive coordinator of the New Orleans Saints since 2009. He also had to resume play calling duties this year due to Payton’s suspension. And although the Saints struggled this season, their offense continued to shine.  I’m not sold on Carmichael as a head coach for the Bears, but Emery definitely wants someone who has proven themselves recently with their offense which Pete has. I know of Carmichael more from the past year and not much before; what he managed to do, while not doing at the same time, is pretty impressive. Not one of my favorite picks.

There are several more names being thrown around for the HC job- this was just an intro of some of the top names. We will readdress this tomorrow.

The Bears signed Lance Briggs to a one-year extension Wednesday.  This comes just a year after the linebacker requested a trade from Chicago if the team could not accommodate a boost in his 2011 and 2012 base salaries. 

Briggs is an integral piece of the Bears defense, racking up seven consecutive Pro Bowl nominations.  The eight-year veteran proved his 31-year-old body can still be a dominant force by leading his team in tackles in 2011.

Now that he’s locked up until 2014, it appears he will finish his career in the Windy City.

“My dream is to retire a Bear. And I know that I will retire a Bear,” Briggs said Wednesday, according to the Chicago Sun-Times.

While the extension of Briggs is a step forward in the Phil Emery era, the looming question of Matt Forte’s contract situation remains a pressing issue.  It’s nice to know Briggs will likely be a Bear for life, but it would be even better if Forte were to don the Bears blue and orange for many years to come.

Matt Forte’s future in Chicago is speckled with question marks, but one possibility that can be ruled out is free agency.  Bears president and CEO Ted Phillips said Tuesday that he will not allow the running back to test the free agent waters.

Matt Forte played in his first Pro Bowl Sunday (Photot Courtesy of Perry Knotts/NFL).

Phillips also expressed his desire to sign the Pro Bowler to a long-term contract in an interview on ESPN 1000.  However, he did not eliminate the option of utilizing the franchise tag.

General manager Phil Emery will sit down with Matt Forte to discuss the team’s plans for him before the February 20 franchise tag date, according to Phillips.  Forte is not fond of the idea of being franchised, though.  He has discussed the possibility of holding out if the tag is placed on him.

In January, Forte voiced his displeasure on ESPN 1000 saying, “I wouldn’t say holdout, but people probably wouldn’t know where I was.”

Matt, we Bears fans want to know where you are…at all times during the season.  Please.  You belong on the field, blowing through defenders, carrying the offense, being a Pro Bowl caliber running back.  Where you don’t belong is sitting on your couch on Sundays, fuming because the Bears dissatisfied you.

Chicago simply cannot afford to lose the talent embodied by Forte.  The Bears need to give the man what he wants.  As fans proclaimed throughout the 2011 season, “pay the man.”

Phil Emery featured some fashionable frames in his introduction as the Bears new GM (Photo Courtesy of Phil Velasquez, Chicago Tribune).

Change is coming in Chicago.  Yesterday began the Emery Era as new general manager Phil Emery was introduced at Halas Hall with a five-year contract.  As he walked in, director of player personnel Tim Ruskell walked out.

Emery arose as the winner of the Bears GM race in which Ruskell was also a competitor.  On Monday, it was reported that Ruskell and the team “mutually agreed to part ways.”  Just hours later, Emery stepped up to the podium to speak about his new position.

As the fifth general manager in franchise history, Emery is faced with an uphill battle.  He inherits a team that has only reached the playoffs once in the last five seasons.  The Bears’ NFC North rivals have upgraded their talent levels in recent years while Chicago has taken the back seat.  Emery will look to reverse that trend.

According to Ted Phillips, Emery was chosen because of the “depth of his plan.”  The first step in his plan is preparing for free agency.  Emery also stressed that adding “playmakers” through the college draft is a priority.

But no matter what additions or subtractions he makes this year, Love Smith is the head coach for 2012.  Emery expressed admiration for Smith as well as excitement for the opportunity to work with him.

Lovie Smith is not the focus of 2012, however.  The hot topic will be Matt Forte’s future.  The Pro Bowler is a free-agent, and deciding whether to franchise tag him or sign him to a long-term deal is certainly a pressing issue.  Emery is not revealing his strategy, though.

He explained, “when it comes time to publicly assess our needs or… players that we have targeted, we will not do that.”  He believes that sharing the team’s internal needs with the public is a “competitive disadvantage.”

Emery did address his desire for a balanced offense and the need for improvement on the offensive line and at the wide receiver position.  He is eying improvement in the Bears’ scouting department as well.

2012 has already brought about significant change for the Bears, and it’s just the beginning.  Phil Emery is a man with a plan…a plan to win championships.

The Bears have chosen Phil Emery as their new general manager. The former regional scout for Chicago, spent time as the director of college scouting for the Atlanta Falcons and the Kansas City Chiefs before being named Jerry Angelo’s replacement.

His drafting history is promising as he assisted in the selection of high quality players such as Brian Urlacher, Matt Ryan, and Roddy White.

His expertise extends beyond the drafting process, though. Before testing the NFL waters, he was a college strength coach.

Excellent draft picks + strength and conditioning = the right choice (at least in my mind). This equation should result in an improved atmosphere in the Bears’ front office that hopefully includes winning.

Welcome to Chicago, Mr. Emery.

There are just two candidates remaining in the race for Bears general manger: Chiefs director of college scouting Phil Emery and Patriots director of pro scouting Jason Licht.

The pair will go through a second round of interviews this week.  This means that Jimmy Raye of the Chargers, Marc Ross of the Giants, and Tim Ruskell have been eliminated from the search.

This is getting intense, Bears fans.

Reports that swirled earlier about the Bears offering Phil Emery the GM job are now being denied by a source. Emery is still considered one of the leading candidates, however.

According to the Chicago Tribune, the team is unlikely to name Jerry Angelo’s replacement this week.  After speaking with five candidates last week, it appears that Bears President Ted Phillips may want to take a second look at his options.

Those who were interviewed include Patriots director of pro personnel Jason Licht, Chargers personnel director Jimmy Raye, Giants college scouting director Marc Ross, Bears personnel director Tim Ruskell, and Phil Emery.  The only man who is reportedly out of the running is Marc Ross.

Just when it looked like things were progressing, the Bears pull a typical “Bear-move” and go back to square one.  Shocking, I know.

The Bears GM search is finally showing progress. Kansas City Director of College Scouting Phil Emery has been offered the position, according to Comcast SportsNet Chicago’s Kip Lewis.

This morning, Emery was declared a “slight favorite” by CSN’s John Mullin. Now it’s clear that the Bears want him to fill the job that was vacated when Jerry Angelo got the boot.

Before joining the Chiefs in 2009 as Director of College Scouting, Emery held the same role with the Atlanta Falcons for five years.

Emery does have a connection to the Bears as he acted as an area scout for the the team from 1998-2004.

His experience extends beyond the NFL.  From 1991-1998, Emery was Director of Strength and Conditioning Services and as an Associate Professor at the U.S. Naval Academy.

He also spent time in various coaching capacities at the collegiate level for Tennessee, Saginaw Valley State, Georgetown College, Western New Mexico, Western Michigan and Central Michigan.

Overall, he has dedicated 31 years to football.  That kind of experience would be happily welcomed at Halas Hall.