Fox, Pace to work together on shaping Bears roster
When it comes to evaluating the Bears' personnel, head coach John Fox knows the discussion begins with quarterback Jay Cutler.
"I'm looking forward to getting to know Jay," Fox said. "He did text me, welcoming me to Chicago. He was very excited that I was coming here, which I thought was a nice move.
"I just reminded him that this game is only fun when we win, and we will, and that I was looking forward to getting to see him face to face, and we're going to start that relationship and that process."
In his six seasons with the Bears, Cutler has continually underachieved, at least in regards to his contract, which calls for him to make a guaranteed $15.5 million this season. He was 5-10 in 15 starts in 2014 and tied for worst in the NFL with 18 interceptions. His 24 turnovers were the most in the league.
Asked what attributes he looks for in a quarterback Fox said: "One that wins. I've had different ones. They're just like any other position, from the standpoint of what you're looking for: decision-making, executing their job, what to do, how to do it and execute it under pressure. And that translates to every position."
Fox downplayed the question of how much control he would have over the 53-man roster, although it would be a shock if he didn't have final say. But he seems to prefer and anticipate a consensus among all interested parties.
"If we have a building full of good evaluators, if we work at it very hard - I've been places where we never even had in writing what and who and all that - typically you come to the same agreement. I predict that's the way it's going to be here moving forward."
General manager Ryan Pace looks forward to a productive give-and-take collaboration with Fox on the roster.
"I know that sounds like a generic answer, but that's going to be special about our relationship, making those decisions together," Pace said. "We've got a lot of respect for each other, so that's going to be part of it."
Fox also expressed a strong desire to rebuild or improve connections to former Bears, including eight-time Pro Bowl linebacker Brian Urlacher, who left the team on bad terms.
"It's looking forward," Fox said. "I've not talked to Brian in awhile. Our experience has been to reach out. I'm going to reach out to Mike Ditka. Mike's a friend I haven't talked to in a while. Banged into him every once in awhile in Florida.
"But he understands Chicago, at this point, way better than I do. I'd be crazy not to. With ex-players, I think it's important to build that relationship. I just know that Ryan (Pace) and I are going to reach out (to Urlacher) and spend some time."
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