Kazu2324
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I know people have issues with Hub's articles, but thought it was cool to see how Accorsi viewed the whole process and his thoughts on Pace.
Ernie Accorsi thrilled with Chicago Bears' management search
Ernie Accorsi grew up as a bit of a closet Bears fan.
“I grew up in the ‘50’s and, as a Colts fan, I was not an Eagles fan and you know that division, I lived and died with every game from radio. Most of the games were blacked out. But you know the Bears-Colts rivalry was unbelievable. There were so many games that were historic that I always had this feeling toward the Bears.”
He also shared a special relationship with George Halas and Brian Piccolo, but it’s impossible to tell both stories – Accorsi’s relationship with the Bears and his role in bringing Ryan Pace and John Fox to town – in one sitting, so I’ll deal with the Bears' new general manager and head coach here, then invite you back for Part II later.
Accorsi became a candidate to help the Bears through the NFL league office.
“I’m on this career advisory panel," Accorsi said. "It’s got eight people. Three coaches, (John) Madden, (Tony) Dungy and Denny Green and five general managers: Bill Polian, Charley Casserly, Ron Wolf, Carl Peterson and I. We put a lot of work in, we have levels, we have people we’re identifying that should be considered to be head coaches and the same for GMs.”
It seems Accorsi has had his eye on Pace for some time.
“Two years ago, when I did the Carolina thing, I had Ryan on my list, high to interview. They (New Orleans) couldn’t deny permission but he turned the interview down. He was going to stay. But I’ve tracked him ever since."
Accorsi had a prototype for Pace.
“When I started this I looked at teams that have talent and I looked at teams that have players winning that were picked in the fourth, fifth and sixth rounds like Pittsburgh," Accorsi said. "They keep winning, they keep losing players and they keep replacing them with draft choices. Kevin Colbert’s one of the best, and I look at who’s picking players for him.
“So, this time I called Ryan’s agent and said 'You know, I don’t want to go through that again if he’s not interested, and it wasn’t that he wasn’t interested, they (New Orleans) didn’t want to lose him.
“So that’s how he (Pace) got my attention early. When this came up, he was very high on my list but I’d never met him. I talked to him on the telephone a couple times before his interview, and then he came in for his interview and we, all three of us (George McCaskey and Ted Phillips), really liked him.
“You could see he was ready. I look at him and you know I probably couldn’t do the job today, there’s too much technology that leaves me behind. He’s very modern, cutting edge, and the way they use computers and everything, but the one thing I noticed about him is he’s got a throwback soul to him. He cares about tradition, he cares about history and those are rare things today.”
Accorsi’s connection to John Fox is well known, but if you’re a conspiracy theorist, forget it. Asked if he expected Fox would be available, he said absolutely not.
“No. I heard rumors but I did not (believe them), actually," Accorsi said. "When I was watching the (Colts) game, I never thought 'Gee, I’m glad they lost, maybe he’s going to get fired.' That never entered my mind.”
Accorsi agrees with Pace that it wasn’t hard to jump once Fox hit the market.
“I saw Ryan’s comment, which was very accurate. When he became available, that was a game-changer for us.”
Still, Accorsi says Fox getting the job was no sure thing.
“When he became available, there were six jobs open," Accorsi said. "I knew it was going to be very competitive. There was no question in my mind I’d recommend him, but the other three people didn’t know him.
“When he came in, it clicked with Ryan right away, and George and Ted liked him too. Of course, it was the old John Fox to me, his office (Giants) was right next to mine, so I knew him very, very well. But they had to feel comfortable with him. Then Ryan went out himself for a second interview in Denver and that’s when they pretty much had a conviction.”
The one subject Accorsi won’t address is Jay Cutler.
“You know, I never got into that and here’s why it’s not fair for me to say much. I always felt that, with any player but particularly with a quarterback, that you’ve got to put your hands on him. By that I mean I can’t evaluate him from the couch.
“They don’t know yet. They both feel there’s talent there but they’ve got to make that decision. You know, I’ve been in the quarterback business my whole career. I didn’t always have the top quarterback available when I took a job, but you’ve got to have somebody like that (Cutler) who can play.”
Accorsi can’t be more grateful for being allowed to help put this new Bears management team together.
“I told those guys 'Thanks for making me a Bear, I’m going to be a Bear for life now.'”
Source: http://chicagofootball.com/2015/01/...with-chicago-bears-management-search/ak3eg4c/
Ernie Accorsi thrilled with Chicago Bears' management search
Ernie Accorsi grew up as a bit of a closet Bears fan.
“I grew up in the ‘50’s and, as a Colts fan, I was not an Eagles fan and you know that division, I lived and died with every game from radio. Most of the games were blacked out. But you know the Bears-Colts rivalry was unbelievable. There were so many games that were historic that I always had this feeling toward the Bears.”
He also shared a special relationship with George Halas and Brian Piccolo, but it’s impossible to tell both stories – Accorsi’s relationship with the Bears and his role in bringing Ryan Pace and John Fox to town – in one sitting, so I’ll deal with the Bears' new general manager and head coach here, then invite you back for Part II later.
Accorsi became a candidate to help the Bears through the NFL league office.
“I’m on this career advisory panel," Accorsi said. "It’s got eight people. Three coaches, (John) Madden, (Tony) Dungy and Denny Green and five general managers: Bill Polian, Charley Casserly, Ron Wolf, Carl Peterson and I. We put a lot of work in, we have levels, we have people we’re identifying that should be considered to be head coaches and the same for GMs.”
It seems Accorsi has had his eye on Pace for some time.
“Two years ago, when I did the Carolina thing, I had Ryan on my list, high to interview. They (New Orleans) couldn’t deny permission but he turned the interview down. He was going to stay. But I’ve tracked him ever since."
Accorsi had a prototype for Pace.
“When I started this I looked at teams that have talent and I looked at teams that have players winning that were picked in the fourth, fifth and sixth rounds like Pittsburgh," Accorsi said. "They keep winning, they keep losing players and they keep replacing them with draft choices. Kevin Colbert’s one of the best, and I look at who’s picking players for him.
“So, this time I called Ryan’s agent and said 'You know, I don’t want to go through that again if he’s not interested, and it wasn’t that he wasn’t interested, they (New Orleans) didn’t want to lose him.
“So that’s how he (Pace) got my attention early. When this came up, he was very high on my list but I’d never met him. I talked to him on the telephone a couple times before his interview, and then he came in for his interview and we, all three of us (George McCaskey and Ted Phillips), really liked him.
“You could see he was ready. I look at him and you know I probably couldn’t do the job today, there’s too much technology that leaves me behind. He’s very modern, cutting edge, and the way they use computers and everything, but the one thing I noticed about him is he’s got a throwback soul to him. He cares about tradition, he cares about history and those are rare things today.”
Accorsi’s connection to John Fox is well known, but if you’re a conspiracy theorist, forget it. Asked if he expected Fox would be available, he said absolutely not.
“No. I heard rumors but I did not (believe them), actually," Accorsi said. "When I was watching the (Colts) game, I never thought 'Gee, I’m glad they lost, maybe he’s going to get fired.' That never entered my mind.”
Accorsi agrees with Pace that it wasn’t hard to jump once Fox hit the market.
“I saw Ryan’s comment, which was very accurate. When he became available, that was a game-changer for us.”
Still, Accorsi says Fox getting the job was no sure thing.
“When he became available, there were six jobs open," Accorsi said. "I knew it was going to be very competitive. There was no question in my mind I’d recommend him, but the other three people didn’t know him.
“When he came in, it clicked with Ryan right away, and George and Ted liked him too. Of course, it was the old John Fox to me, his office (Giants) was right next to mine, so I knew him very, very well. But they had to feel comfortable with him. Then Ryan went out himself for a second interview in Denver and that’s when they pretty much had a conviction.”
The one subject Accorsi won’t address is Jay Cutler.
“You know, I never got into that and here’s why it’s not fair for me to say much. I always felt that, with any player but particularly with a quarterback, that you’ve got to put your hands on him. By that I mean I can’t evaluate him from the couch.
“They don’t know yet. They both feel there’s talent there but they’ve got to make that decision. You know, I’ve been in the quarterback business my whole career. I didn’t always have the top quarterback available when I took a job, but you’ve got to have somebody like that (Cutler) who can play.”
Accorsi can’t be more grateful for being allowed to help put this new Bears management team together.
“I told those guys 'Thanks for making me a Bear, I’m going to be a Bear for life now.'”
Source: http://chicagofootball.com/2015/01/...with-chicago-bears-management-search/ak3eg4c/
