NFL Chicago Bears

Mel Tucker Will Be the Scapegoat For Chicago Bears’ Management

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Mel Tucker Chicago Bears

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Mel Tucker will be fired, and he deserves to be — the only question is when. Firing the defensive coordinator of the worst defense in franchise history is to be expected, but he’s also going to be the scapegoat for all that has befallen the Chicago Bears over the past two seasons.

Bears fans everywhere are calling for the heads of not only Tucker, but head coach Mark Trestman. That’s simply not going to happen, unfortunately. The images of Jay Cutler jerseys being burned are being shared in hopes that management has been embarrassed enough to end the waiting for Cutler to become the franchise quarterback they envisioned. But just months after inking Cutler to a mega contract, there is no way the Bears can afford to cut him and absorb his guaranteed salary. Fans have little choice but to sit back and take in at least two more years of Smokin’ Jay before there is a change at quarterback.

The only option that doesn’t financially cripple the Bears is to fire Tucker and start preaching a well-crafted marketing spin that fixing the defense will turn things around. The only satisfaction fans will receive this year is one pink slip to accompany smoke and mirrors in an effort to deflect attention from the destruction of a proud franchise. The reality that won’t be addressed is the long list of bad decisions that led to the rapid demise of the Bears.

Focusing on Tucker, his embarrassment of a defense in Chicago should come as no surprise. Tucker’s resume contains the same results everywhere he has coached in the NFL. In seven seasons as a defensive coordinator, including one with the Cleveland Browns, four with the Jacksonville Jaguars and two with the Bears, Tucker’s defenses have ranked 23rd or lower in yards allowed in all but one season — the 2011 Jaguars ranked sixth. In five of Tucker’s seven seasons, his defenses also ranked 24th or worse in points allowed — the exception being two mediocre seasons in 2008 and 2011 when his teams ranked 16th and 11th.

Tucker’s career of failure should have been a red flag, not a glowing reference during his job interview. Somehow, leading bad defenses was not a deterrent for Bears management. Prior to joining the Bears, Tucker helped Cleveland and Jacksonville amass a 26-54 record. Now that we can add the Bears to his list of failures, his career record as a defensive coordinator is an uninspiring 37-68.

Proud and loyal Bears fans are waiting for the axe to drop, and while firing one coach won’t make things instantly better, it may stop things from getting worse.

Paul Kakert is an NFL and Chicago Bears writer for www.RantSports.com. Follow him on Twitter, Facebook or add him to your network on Google.

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