Looks like there's bad blood between Rivera and Lovie Smith

[jks85]

b/t this and the peppers thread some of you should seek employment w/the tabloids lol

[Bruce]

wasn't "fired" contract ran out. lovie went another direction with a guy he knew playing a type of defense he felt better about. he didn't hire rivera...he inherited him. lovie came from the tony dungy/tampa2 school. rivera came from the more aggressive jim johnson school.

just business.

i'm sure he really wants a win going back there and i'm sure he wishes that he could have spent more time there, but as far as bad blood...meh...whatever.

pretty sure it was just business.....that phase has been used many times in truth. the other side of that truth, you didn't want me. "I will make it my life's business to prove you wrong".....here's to Rivera on Sunday :cheers2:

[Snake]

I heard that after being dismissed Rivera slapped Lovie's wife and called her a *****....

Or at least thats what I got out of the context.

[Kevin Greene]

The Bears were coming off a Super Bowl appearance. Chico's contract was up. He had interviewed for a large number of HC jobs that year and the year prior. Lovie didn't renew his contract so he could have his own guy (he didn't hire Chico) run the D (though Babich was horrible as DC). Not bad blood. He just wanted his own guy in there.

Some historical insight for those who don't follow the Bears as closely.

Dimbee, didn't Rivera also want huge money to stay and that is one reason he ended up as a LB coach in SD?

Chicago FO, Lovie or whoever didn't think he was worth it?

Hence the butthurt on Rivera's side.

[PiratePanther189]

Read the thread. I've added plenty to the topic. Your post isn't even remotely related to the topic.

1. I was speaking about that specific post and how you went of your way to be rude for no apparent reason.

2. Was relating my reply back to the original post and was referencing the fact that Lovie shouldn't even be the coach of the Bears right now to begin with, much less be commenting on an overall better coach as if he's superior. The only reason Lovie has EVER had success in Chicago is because he was at the right place at the right time, whenever he is faced with adversity within the team as a coach, they fail.

Is that enough for you?

[mav1234]

The Bears were coming off a Super Bowl appearance. Chico's contract was up. He had interviewed for a large number of HC jobs that year and the year prior. Lovie didn't renew his contract so he could have his own guy (he didn't hire Chico) run the D (though Babich was horrible as DC). Not bad blood. He just wanted his own guy in there.

Some historical insight for those who don't follow the Bears as closely.

This all was repeatedly mentioned during the HC search, because some people were like "MAN RIVERA GOT FIRED IN CHICAGO OH GOD WHY DID WE PICK HIM"... but I guess a lot of posters here weren't around for that or didn't see those threads. For a lot of them, what you're saying is the first they've heard of it likely.

Wouldn't be surprised if Rivera was pretty disappointed that he didn't get an extension but honestly I doubt he really is all that upset about it at this point. doesn't seem like the kind of guy to me that would turn that into a grudge.

[CatMan72]

It sounded to me as if Lovie wasn't 100% behind the idea of trading Olsen away.

His responses to the Rivera questions sounded more like annoyance with having to discuss something that is ancient history at this point vs. bad blood with anybody.

At the end of the day, Lovie and Rivera came from two totally different schools of thought in terms of defensive schemes, so I believe Lovie when he said it wasn't personal... it was philosophical.

[CatMan72]

I think this game is important to Rivera because he spent a lot of time around the Bears organization, not because he has any ill will towards them.

He wants to come back to where it all started and show them that he made good.

[mav1234]

Both would have been fired. They didn't have to be fired b/c of contract situations.

that's simply not something you can be sure of

Fox, maybe. Rivera? No, he wasn't going to get fired.

Lovie wanted to get his own guy but was forced to take on Rivera. He wasn't going to take on management by firing him but he knew once Rivera's contract expired he could get his own guy.

Saying he was going to fire Rivera is presumptuous. Unless you know something the majority of us are unaware of, there's nothing to substantiate it.

[Jangler]

Another Ditka? :lol: I think Chico will be better than Ditka

Another HC that rode on the waveof his genius Defensive Coordinator (Buddy Ryan)? If anything, Lovie is a bizarro world Ditka without a genius Offensive Coordinator but not with the requisite talent like the 85 Bears D had

So you don't think that is what is starting stories like this? Lovie felt some competition and saw a way to move him along.

[dimbee]

2. Was relating my reply back to the original post and was referencing the fact that Lovie shouldn't even be the coach of the Bears right now to begin with, much less be commenting on an overall better coach as if he's superior. The only reason Lovie has EVER had success in Chicago is because he was at the right place at the right time, whenever he is faced with adversity within the team as a coach, they fail.

All I'll say is: Thank goodness your opinion means so much. :D

[rayzor]

It sounded to me as if Lovie wasn't 100% behind the idea of trading Olsen away.

His responses to the Rivera questions sounded more like annoyance with having to discuss something that is ancient history at this point vs. bad blood with anybody.

At the end of the day, Lovie and Rivera came from two totally different schools of thought in terms of defensive schemes, so I believe Lovie when he said it wasn't personal... it was philosophical.

I think this game is important to Rivera because he spent a lot of time around the Bears organization, not because he has any ill will towards them.

He wants to come back to where it all started and show them that he made good.

agreed on all points.

[Epistaxis]

lol @ professionals and "bad blood".

Try "pride" instead.

We are talking about high achievers with big egos and a desire to win.

You are getting your emotions wrong.

But if it makes you feel like part of the team, then roll with it, I guess.

[dimbee]

For cereal!!