Point well taken, and thanks for making it. I’m not saying that the Bears ought to rehire ol’ Chaps for 2010 — I’m just saying that it’d be infinitely preferable, if I must watch my team lose, to be able to keep my head high than be embarrassed by the team’s behavior. With Jauron, we’d get the former; with Smith, we’ve been getting the latter as of late.

Consider, too, that Jauron may not have been as bad as it seemed. SI’s Jim Trotter (http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/2009/writers/jim_trotter/11/17/Bills.Jauron/index.html) and Ross Tucker (second-to-last question: http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/2009/writers/ross_tucker/11/20/games/index.html) seem to agree with me. He’s a defensive guy — imagine if he’d had a remotely decent offense while in Chicago or Buffalo. TO wasn’t the answer this year for the Bills, nor was starting a Harvard QB because of injuries. He’s not all the bad, and certainly not “Cheerio Chaps.”

With that said, bring on Mike Shanahan, Leslie Frazier, et al.!

“Cheerio Chaps” fits him perfectly. (I am a Bears fan but also cheered on Buffalo during the Kelly days. 0-4 Superbowls but at least they got there.)