Incomplete pass

Oh, Bears.

Jeremy Bates, the 33-year old rising star who was the quarterbacks coach for Jay Cutler in Denver and last season the offensive coordinator for the USC Trojans, has opted not to take over the Bears offensive play calling, reportedly because the chance to join Slippery Pete Carroll's staff in Seattle provides more stability than signing on to a likely one-and-done regime in Chicago.

That was the guy I wanted. He was also the guy that our franchise QB wanted. And if we'd have gotten rid of Lovie Smith for, say, Bill Cowher, we would have had him (although, in fairness, Cowher may have opted to bring in one of his own guys like a Chan Gailey).

But I was also interested in Tom Clements, the Green Bay Packer's quarterbacks coach who has worked wonders with Aaron Rodgers and worked with Favre before that.

Well, the Packers, who have Clements under contract, denied the Bears' request to allow them to speak with him, reportedly because they didn't want him calling plays for an NFC North rival. Now I don't feel bad for taking so much glee in their fall to the Cardinals.

It's looking more and more like Martz. And maybe I'm crazy, but he's the last guy I want. Well, not the LAST. That would be Mike Tice, who's reportedly being considered for some kind of position on the staff (please say it's offensive line coach, at best).

The one guy who's still out there that I really like is Bill Musgrave, quarterbacks coach from the Atlanta Falcons. The guy has done wonders with Matt Ryan and Matt Schaub (while at University of Virginia). Musgrave also has been an offensive coordinator in this league, and he's well generally well regarded.

One other name being tossed around that I find intriguing is Jedd Fisch, currently the offensive coordinator for the Minnesota Golden Gophers, who coached wide receivers when Cutler was in Denver. But there are rumors that Shanahan might come calling on him. And I never liked anyone named Jedd.