Bears talk with Giants' Ross

For a Bears team that has struggled to get consistent production from its first-round draft picks, Marc Ross seems like a logical choice as the next general manager, given his track record.

The 38-year-old Ross, the Giants' director of college scouting for the last five years, on Wednesday became the third candidate to interview for the Bears' G.M. job that has been vacant since Jerry Angelo was fired on Jan. 3.

Patriots director of pro personnel Jason Licht interviewed Monday, and Chargers director of player personnel Jimmy Raye III talked to the Bears Tuesday. Chiefs director of college scouting Phil Emery, a former Bears scout, is expected to interview this week. Bears director of player personnel Tim Ruskell remains an internal candidate.

Ross has run the Giants' draft for the last four years. Although not one of his 2011 picks is currently a starter, his previous three No. 1 picks — SS Kenny Phillips (2008), receiver Hakeem Nicks (2009) and DE Jason Pierre-Paul (2010) — are major contributors.

Nicks caught 76 passes for 1,192 yards and 7 touchdowns in the regular season, and he has been even better in the postseason with 13 receptions for 280 yards and 4 touchdowns. Pierre-Paul was fourth in the NFL with 16 ½ sacks this season, and Phillips had 4 interceptions.

In the 2011 regular-season finale, the only Bears' first-round pick on the active roster was linebacker Brian Urlacher, who was drafted in 2000. First-round offensive linemen Gabe Carimi (2011) and Chris Williams (2008) were on injured reserve, while tight end Greg Olsen (2007), running back Cedric Benson (2005), defensive tackle Tommie Harris (2004), QB Rex Grossman (2003) and offensive tackle Marc Colombo (2002) were all playing for other teams.

Of the Giants' eight 2011 draft picks, seven are contributing in backup roles for the team that plays Sunday against the 49ers in San Francisco for the NFC title. Second-round defensive end Marvin Austin is on injured reserve.

Ross joined the Giants on May 18, 2007 and ran his first draft the next year, when New York selected Phillips, cornerback Terrell Thomas and wide receiver Mario Manningham.

Ross came to the Giants from the Buffalo Bills, where he spent three seasons as a national college scout (2004-06). Before then, he was the Eagles' Eastern regional scout from 1997 until 2000. The Eagles than promoted him, at age 27, to become the NFL's youngest college scouting director (2001-03).

Ross was an all-Ivy League wide receiver at Princeton in 1993 and '94. He holds five school records, including one as a receiver (a 20.2-yard average per catch in 1993) and four as a punt returner (most career returns, 74; most career return yards, 696; most returns in a season, 32 in 1994 and most yards in a game, 161 on six returns vs. Cornell in 1994).

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