Chicago Bears coach Lovie Smith wanted to extend his contract at the beginning of the season. The Bears decided they would rather wait. Now it's really going to cost them.
Smith is the lowest paid coach in the league, yet the Bears are in the Super Bowl. I'm not fond of the Bears, but I do like there coach. Even with a name like Lovie, Smith could coach the Green Bay Packers any time as far as I'm concerned.
Smith's salary is around $1.35-million a season. It was a great deal for the Bears when they signed it. But Smith has long surpassed that type of a figure and deserves a huge raise. Given the going rate for coaches these days, Lovie Smith should be in store for quite an increase. In fact, Smith could see that figure quadruple at the very least.
When Smith didn't get his deal at the start of the season, he went out and proved that he could coach and win without the security of a long term contract. Now it's time the Bears pony up and I just have the feeling that the only say they'll have in these talks will be "yes" Lovie.