Q&A with Bears Chairman George McCaskey

Bears chairman weighs in on Urlacher's future, Cutler's contract status, having a Super Bowl in Chicago

March 17, 2013|By Dan Pompei, Chicago Tribune reporter
  • From left: Ted Phillips, George McCaskey and Phil Emery.
From left: Ted Phillips, George McCaskey and Phil Emery. (John J. Kim / Chicago Tribune)

PHOENIX — NFL meetings are getting to be routine for George McCaskey, who is in his second year as Bears chairman.

He now is a member of five NFL committees and is very involved with the operation and evolution of the Bears.

He sat down with the Tribune at the league's annual meeting at the Arizona Biltmore to discuss the pressing issues of the day, including Brian Urlacher's future, Jay Cutler's contract status and a Super Bowl in Chicago.

How do you feel about the possibility that Brian Urlacher has played his last down as a Bear?

I can't answer that as just the chairman or as just a fan. As a fan, I would be ... heartbroken. But as the chairman, I have to leave those player personnel decisions in the hands of the pros. Bears fans should be very reassured that I don't involve myself in player personnel decisions unless there is a question of character. There is no question of character in Brian's case. He has been an outstanding player for us, a great team leader, the face of the franchise. He's going to be inducted in the Hall of Fame. In a perfect world, he would wear a Bears uniform until he's finished playing. But unfortunately that's not the way it always is today.

Late in the season Urlacher, in a response to a question about fan criticism of Lovie Smith, said he didn't care about fans, and that they don't know what they are talking about. What did you think about that?

I thought it was a player sticking up for his coach and speaking out of frustration. I think Brian will tell you if he had to do it all over again he would say it differently. I don't want to speak for Brian, but we all know how important the fans are. If it weren't for the fans, we wouldn't be here.

Did you talk to him about it?


You have said Israel Idonije is your favorite player. Why is that, and are you concerned about the possibility of him leaving the team as a free agent?

I love him because not only does he give you everything he has on the field, he's terrific in the locker room, he's terrific walking down the hall. Every time I see him he has a smile on his face. He's happy to be wherever he is. He's outstanding in the community. I think the world of him. You get emotional attachments, and you see what outstanding individuals some of these guys are. That's why you need a pro to make the player personnel decisions.

How do you feel about Jay Cutler going into the last year of his contract without an extension?

I've heard people compare it to Joe Flacco's situation. If it turns out like it did for Joe Flacco, I'll be the happiest guy on the face of the planet. And very happy for Jay.

Do you view it as a way to give Cutler more motivation to play well?

I don't think he needs that as motivation. I think he's highly motivated and the money has nothing to do with it. Jay is an outstanding competitor. He wants to be great. He wants to do what is necessary to be great. He wants his favorite team from his childhood to win it all.

You have compared Cutler to your grandfather George Halas. How are they similar?

It's the competitive nature of both of them, doing the preparation that's necessary to succeed, doing anything that needs to be done on the field to succeed. There was a game against the Lions, he could have easily gone out of bounds. Instead he went for the pylon and got creamed. That's what Jay is all about, and that's one of the things I love about him.

How will the Bears vote on the crown-of-the-helmet rule proposal that would prohibit ball carriers from lowering their head and making contact with defenders outside the tackle box?

(General manager) Phil (Emery) and (coach) Marc (Trestman) and (team President) Ted Phillips and I talked about the crown-of-the-helmet rule. We like the spirit of the rule. I would like to talk to them one more time before I say how I'll vote. But anything that promotes player safety, I'm generally in favor of.

You are on the NFL's Super Bowl committee and had a meeting Sunday. Do you see any way a Super Bowl ever could be held in Chicago?

It will depend on what happens in New York/New Jersey in 2014. If it is 30 below, it might be the last we hear about a northern city, open-air Super Bowl in quite awhile. We would have to make some modifications to Soldier Field to address the capacity issue at least. But it's the greatest city in the world. We have the hotels. We have the cultural life. We have the attractions. We have the buzz and the excitement.

Do you believe Soldier Field could be expanded to satisfy minimum seat requirements for a Super Bowl?

You'd have to look into it. The capacity right now is insufficient by the league standards. You would need 7,500 more seats because the minimum is 70,000. I don't know if you could do that. You'd have to look at the feasibility and the cost.

You also are on the workplace diversity committee, which is in the process of examining the Rooney Rule. What are your thoughts on how the Rooney Rule is working?

We want to make sure the spirit of the rule continues to be employed. I know there was disappointment that out of 15 head coach and general manager openings, there wasn't a minority hired, but I don't think you can say it's not working after one year. Every team should try to abide by the spirit of the rule. In the end, you make the decision that's best for your team. That's what we did in 2004. That's what we did in 2013. We need to make sure candidates are properly prepared for the interview process, and know how to interview. We need to make sure teams know about available and qualified minority candidates. It's not just strictly enforcing the rule but education and information.


Twitter @danpompei