Thread: Titans have interest in Bears OL coach Tice

NFL assistants to unionize?

By Michael C. Wright
ESPNChicago.com
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The NFL's assistant coaches have long considered unionizing, and they're reportedly planning to meet at the NFL Combine in Indianapolis to gauge interest in moving forward with the endeavor. And a situation like Mike Tice's could come into play.

Concerns about pensions, benefits and potential pay cuts -- most coaches have lockout clauses in their contracts calling for drastic salary reductions if there's a work stoppage -- are at the heart of the NFL Coaches Association's decision to consider unionizing.

But an AFC source said Tice, who just completed his first season as the Chicago Bears' offensive line coach, was somewhat disappointed that the Bears denied the Tennessee Titans permission to interview him for their offensive coordinator's position.


In recent weeks, several coaches around the league have been denied permission to interview with teams in part because of the league's restrictive rules on interviewing assistants. NFL rules require teams to allow assistants to interview for head coaching positions, but they're not mandated to allow assistants to interview for coordinator positions -- an issue likely to be addressed by the NFL Coaches Association when it meets about possibly unionizing.


Undoubtedly, the Bears' decision to prevent Tice from interviewing in Tennessee was best for the team. But it also raises bigger issues regarding the league's rules about hiring assistant coaches, who have lost pension benefits recently, and have no voice in the ongoing labor dispute between players and ownership, yet stand to suffer drastic salary cuts if there's a work stoppage.


Bears general manager Jerry Angelo and coach Lovie Smith have been complimentary of Tice's efforts in developing a patchwork offensive line that resulted in the Bears giving up a league-high 56 sacks. Smith indicated that he wouldn't stand in the way of assistants pursuing opportunities, while expressing a desire to keep the club's staff in place.

"When you have a successful year, you do some good things, people look at your staff [to possibly hire]," Smith said after the season. "I wouldn't be surprised. I'm hoping we'll be able to keep our same staff in place, but it seems that never happens. I'm hopeful we'll be able to keep everyone around."


Former special teams assistant Chris Tabor left the Bears staff recently to become the special teams coordinator in Cleveland, and Eric Washington left in a lateral move to become the defensive line coach for the Carolina Panthers.


The Bears obviously deemed Tice too valuable to open the door to his possible departure. A former assistant head coach with the Jaguars, Tice doesn't appear to be in line for a promotion to that title with the Bears, considering defensive coordinator Rod Marinelli already holds a post as an assistant head coach under Smith.

The team also hasn't divulged whether it plans to sign Tice to a new contract or offer the coach a raise.
Michael C. Wright covers the Bears for ESPNChicago.com.

Source: Bears' refusal disappoints Tice

Chicago Bears offensive line coach Mike Tice was somewhat disappointed in the team's decision to deny the Tennessee Titans permission to interview him for their vacant offensive coordinator position, an AFC source told ESPNChicago.com's Michael Wright on Tuesday.

Newly hired head coach Mike Munchak fired offensive coordinator Mike Heimerdinger along with two other assistants last week. Tennessee gave Munchak the freedom to keep or hire anyone he wants. On Tuesday, the Titans announced that they gave the coordinator's job to longtime NFL assistant Chris Palmer.

The source said that while Tice never has been responsible for play-calling duties in the NFL, "going through that process" of talking to the Titans would have been beneficial for Tice. The source added that although he'd rather not have Tice serving as an offensive coordinator in the conference, "Mike would be good because I think he is a heck of a coach."


Tice, a former tight end who played 13 seasons in the NFL, just completed his first season with the Bears and is signed through 2011. He spent the previous three seasons with the Jacksonville Jaguars.


Tice also coached the Minnesota Vikings' offensive line from 1997 until the last game of the 2001 season when he took over as interim coach after Dennis Green was fired. He went 32-33 in five-plus seasons with the Vikings before being let go after the 2005 season.

The Titans' offense struggled in 2010, ranking 27th in the NFL in total yards per game (302.1) and 25th in yards passing (194.2). Tennessee also ranked last in time of possession, holding the ball just 25 minutes, 54 seconds per game. The Titans were limited by injuries at quarterback, including the season-ending thumb injury to Vince Young on Nov. 21.

The Chicago Tribune first reported the Bears refused the Titans' request.
ESPNChicago.com Bears reporter Michael C. Wright and The Associated Press contributed to this report.

BradBiggs Brad Biggs



#Bears announce contract of O-line coach Mike Tice has been extended 1 year thru 2012 after they denied #Titans permission to talk to him.


BradBiggs Brad Biggs



#Bears also announce assistants Tim Spencer, Bob Babich & Jon Hoke have signed contract extensions.

classy, glad they extended him( and likely gave him a bump also) and this will take the sting out of not allowing him to move. And wanted to see Toub the one signing a contract- don't care about the rest,,

Originally Posted by thekmann

BradBiggs Brad Biggs



#Bears announce contract of O-line coach Mike Tice has been extended 1 year thru 2012 after they denied #Titans permission to talk to him.


BradBiggs Brad Biggs



#Bears also announce assistants Tim Spencer, Bob Babich & Jon Hoke have signed contract extensions.

How unhappy could any employee who's under contract be if his employer insists he honor his contract and then despite not be required to do so extends that contract with a probable raise to show their appreciation for his value to the company. We should all be so lucky.

Kudos for signing most of the others as well (Babich being the exception) but I'm with 54. We need to get Toub's name on the dotted line too.

Yeah, agree about Toub and surprised he hasn't been extended. What I find interesting is the fact that no one is getting an extension beyond Lovie's 2012 or Angelo's 2013 contracts which can lead one to believe there is still not enough confidence by ownership in the current staff even after the 2010 season. Could be the CBA that has ownerships priority, but I'm more inclined to believe they are taking a wait and lets see what you do in 2011 and 2012 and as Lovie says we will go from there.....

So you want Cutler to learn his fifth different offense in five years?

Originally Posted by thekmann

Yeah, agree about Toub and surprised he hasn't been extended. What I find interesting is the fact that no one is getting an extension beyond Lovie's 2012 or Angelo's 2013 contracts which can lead one to believe there is still not enough confidence by ownership in the current staff even after the 2010 season. Could be the CBA that has ownerships priority, but I'm more inclined to believe they are taking a wait and lets see what you do in 2011 and 2012 and as Lovie says we will go from there.....

Good call an think its a "combo" of both, the CBA has all owners( not just chicago) on edge and coaches contracts guaranteed even if no games played, so you would rather be conservative than pay more or extend coaches when may not be football and by having all ob same year of within 1, if decide to change, much easier and less costly and if they do well , just extend longer