Bears extend Lovie for 2 years

[emperorjones]

http://sports.espn.go.com/chicago/nfl/news/story?id=6157599

The Chicago Bears rewarded coach Lovie Smith with a two-year contract extension Friday following an 11-5 regular-season record and a trip to the NFC Championship Game.
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Smith, who had one year left on an existing deal signed following the Bears' Super Bowl appearance in the 2006 season, is under contract through 2013. Financial terms were not disclosed.

Bears general manager Jerry Angelo let it be known the organization wanted to extend Smith's deal the day after the Bears lost to the Green Bay Packers 21-14 in the conference championship game.

"We very much want to extend Lovie, and the job that he's done and the staff. Our focus, our intent is to extend Lovie," Angelo said at the time. "We wanted to wait until the season is over. That will be part of the business at hand in the next several weeks."

Since coming to Chicago in 2004, Smith has won three NFC North titles and posted three seasons with double-digit wins (2005, 2006, 2010).

Smith has a regular-season coaching record of 63-49 and is 3-3 in the postseason. His 66 wins are third-most in franchise history, trailing only George Halas and Mike Ditka.

Smith is scheduled to address the media at the NFL combine at 9 a.m. CT in Indianapolis.

[WEFFPIM]

One of the worst game managers in football, but he has his players' respect.

Don't like the move, should have seen what happened next season.

[Nolan]

Not happy about him being back. But the players love him and the team did well last year, so it would've be tough to not give him an extension.