Thibs deserves an extension from Bulls

It appears the set up for Tom Thibodeau's departure is being orchestrated.

With Derrick Rose injured and out for the third year in a row, the Chicago Bulls are looking for someone to blame.

What a joke. Everyone had an opinion on Rose during his recovery process, including Jerry Reinsdorf, John Paxson, Gar Forman, the medical staff, Rose's handlers and Rose himself, but now we are supposed to believe it's all Thibs' fault.

Sorry, but that's just a bunch of bull.

I wrote in Friday's column that it doesn't make sense to point fingers. Nothing the Bulls have done could have changed the outcome because ultimately it boils down to Rose and his body. It simply failed him.

But if you need to cast blame, how can you pin it on the coach when the chain of command goes much higher?

Thibodeau wasn't the coach when Reinsdorf and Bulls management told Michael Jordan to sit for longer than he did after his foot injury in 1985. No, it was the medical staff, and the management including Jerry Krause, were all wrong because Jordan came back and was fine.

And now it's just plain wrong to blame Thibodeau for Rose.

The Bulls are talking tough now, saying Rose will return after only 4 to 6 weeks. What is Forman trying to accomplish since we know everyone involved was so cautious before?

Listen, Bulls fans: It's over. Rose will never be the player he once was. He will never play a full season of 82 games again. The Bulls' title chances are now gone.

I heard Joakim Noah say on TV that the team needs Derrick. These poor guys played their hearts out for two years waiting for him. Sad.

Was it Thibodeau's fault that Rose sat on his butt during the games after doing pre- game shoot arounds? No, but the Bulls need a scapegoat and Thibs is their man.

It always has to be someone's fault and it's usually someone who is expendable. It's been a three-year saga for Rose's return, and it just hasn't worked out.

Even the media is setting things up for Thibodeau's fall, which is totally unfair and classless.

So let me repeat myself if you didn't read it the first time: Rose is brittle. Period.

And there is nothing the Bulls or anyone else could have done.

So if you are looking to blame the head coach, sorry it just won't happen here.

The coach has been hamstrung for three years and still put together a very good and competitive team.

Many reports suggest Fred Hoiberg, head coach at Iowa State University, is on the Bulls' radar.

How sad. Thibs deserves an extension, not goat horns.

Program notes:

Follow me on Twitter@ north2north, and listen to Fox Sports Daybreak with Andy Furman and myself from 5-8 a.m. Monday through Friday on Fox Sports radio, and check me out on iHeart radio or Foxsportsradio.com.

• North's column appears each Tuesday and Friday in the Daily Herald, and his video commentary can be found Monday, Wednesday and Thursday at dailyherald.com. For more, visit northtonorth.com.