Angelo calls Lovie’s extension a priority
General manager Jerry Angelo said signing head coach Lovie Smith to a contract extension is a priority, but he could not offer a timetable for a new agreement. Smith’s contract is up after next season, but Angelo does not foresee going into the 2011 season without a new deal in place.
“We very much want to extend Lovie (for) the job that he’s done and his staff,” Angelo said this afternoon at Halas Hall.
“So our focus, our intent is to extend Lovie. “We wanted to wait until the (2010) season’s over. The season is officially over for us, and that will be part of the business at hand in these next several weeks.”
Angelo did not say how long of an extension Smith would be offered.
“We’re fine; we’ll get into that (later),” Angelo said. “Right now, the first thing I did when I got up this morning — it was hard to sleep last night, as well it should be - but that (a contract extension for Smith) was not on my mind. We have a number of things on the agenda, and when there’s something to announce, we’ll announce it. It’s that simple.”
In 2007, Smith was scheduled to make $1.45 million on his original contract, a year after he was the lowest paid coach in the league at $1.35 million in ’06 but took the Bears to the Super Bowl.
But in March of ’07, Smith signed a four-year, $22 million extension, which paid him $2 million more in ’07.
Awards go to:
Return specialist Devin Hester and defensive end Julius Peppers were named to the Associated Press’ NFL all-pro team. The Bears were the only team in the NFC with more than one player on the team.
Sign ’em up:
Six players were signed Monday to reserve/future contracts: guard Johan Asiata, cornerback K.J. Gerard, offensive tackle Levi Horn, linebackers Chris Johnson and Patrick Trahan and fullback Eddie Williams.