Bears didn't need to extend Lovie's deal

There are so many reasons why the Bears shouldn't have extended Lovie Smith's contract for two more years Friday, but if you only need one memory to keep you warm during these next three winters, it's this:

With 8:50 left in the third quarter of the NFC title game and down only 14-0, Smith put Todd Collins on an NFL field and allowed him to play the position of quarterback for the Chicago Bears.

Collins' 6 plays netted 3 yards, while he went 0-for-4 on what you might generously describe as “pass attempts.''

Yes, this was in the game that decided which team would represent the NFC in that other game called the Super Bowl.

So, yeah, kind of an important moment right there.

Yet, Smith was either the only person on the planet who didn't know Collins was finished as an NFL quarterback, or he's so stubborn that in the face of all others — especially you, the fan — saying Collins couldn't possibly be his No. 2, Smith had to make Collins his No. 2 QB.

You are wrong, he is right, and shame on you after all his success here for not trusting someone with such a spectacular track record.

He does, after all, have three whole playoff victories in seven years, if you count the win over 8-10 Seattle as a playoff victory. You better because that's his only postseason win in the last four years.

Lest you think this is an overreaction, there was no call here for Smith to be fired. He earned the right to finish his deal. There was just no reason to extend him with a year left on his contract.

It couldn't possibly be called lame duck because no coach in the history of this galaxy or any other known to science has ever been so entirely loved by his players, and they could only play harder for him under those circumstances.

If he had a great year in 2011, he would have cashed in again and the Bears would have happily paid to keep him.

So why a new deal? He lucked into an 11-5 regular season and bless him for it, but there was not a single reason to extend him unless you're Jerry Angelo or Ted Phillips, who believe it makes them look better.

By the way, the first Phillips sighting in quite some time came Friday when season ticket holders got the message from Ted that their ticket prices were increased after the memorable 2010 season.

Thanks, fans, for all you've done — and payment is due in full by April 7. Refunds on games canceled due to the lockout will be sent in the month known as, “Whenever We Feel Like It.''

Nice to sit on that interest, though, for at least the next five months.

So everyone's giddy in Lake Forest, including ownership, which many hoped might look different now, but sounds not the least bit different with the news on Smith.

You probably have your own favorites regarding Smith, like allowing Mike Martz to get Jay Cutler pounded for the first seven games before doing his job as head coach and setting Martz straight, the greatest example of Smith's inability or unwillingness to adjust.

Or failing to clearly identify Cutler's injury after the last game so as to properly make Cutler look like a skulking, sulking fool before an entire nation.

Or his use of timeouts, challenge flags, personnel and coaching staff.

The list is so long that I'll defer — oops, there's that word — to you on this one.

The wonderful news is we all have at least three more years to discuss it at length.

brozner@dailyherald.com