5 THINGS WE LEARNED

The dish on Fox and more as players cleaned out their lockers

1 John Fox’ s firing was met with sadness.

Most players weren’t surprised by the news, but Fox’s final address to the team still was emotional. “It was difficult,” nose tackle Eddie Goldman said. “Everybody was sad,” linebacker Leonard Floyd added. The mood still wasn’t the same as when coach Lovie Smith was fired after the 2012 season. In that case, a shaken Devin Hester held back tears when speaking to reporters. But it was apparent some players were close with Fox. Many posted messages on social media. “Coach Fox is a great man,” Floyd said. “I love him to death.” What was Fox’s final message? “He was just saying it’s part of this [ business],” linebacker Lamarr Houston said. “He’s expecting us all to do big things, here or somewhere else.”

2 Corner back Kyle Fuller sounds excited about testing free agency.

After Fuller missed all of last season following routine arthroscopic surgery on his knee, the Bears rightfully didn’t pick up his fifth- year option.

But Fuller, the Bears’ firstround pick in 2014, is now looking at a big payday after rebounding this season. He had two interceptions and 22 pass breakups.

The window to use the franchise tag on a player is Feb. 20 to March 6. Putting the franchise tag on Fuller could cost the Bears asmuch as $ 15 million.

“I was drafted here — I like it here— but it’s my first time ever in free agency,” Fuller said. “I have to talk to my agents, my family, and just see how that stuff works out. We’ll see. I understand it’s a business. So I’ll be looking forward to whatever it brings.”

3 Receiver Cam Meredith plans towork out with quarter back Mitch Trubisky.

Meredith is four months into his rehab after surgery to repair a torn anterior cruciate ligament in his left knee, and his plan is to be ready by training camp this summer.

Meredith, a restricted free agent, said he talked to Trubisky about getting together as much as possible during the offseason.

“Try and make up for the lost time,” Meredith said. “I’m excited to just to get in rhythm with him come practice time. He’s got a whole year under his belt. He’s not a rookie anymore. I know he knows what he can do, and we’re excited about that part, too.”

4 The Bears’ young players are optimistic about their future.

There will be lot of changes to the Bears’ roster. Many veterans — including quarterback Mike Glennon, safety Quintin Demps, guard Josh Sitton, receiver Markus Wheaton and outside linebackers Pernell McPhee and Willie Young — are likely to be released.

But the players believe a young core has been established, particularly on defense with Floyd, Goldman, linebacker Nick Kwiatkoski and safeties Eddie Jackson and Adrian Amos. They all played roles in the Bears having the 10th- ranked defense.

“We’re headed in a good direction,” Floyd said. “We’ve got a young team. We’re going to keep building.”

Added Goldman: “We could be as good as we want.”

5 Defensive coordinator Vic Fangio has fans in the Bears’ locker room.

General manager Ryan Pace wouldn’t say whether Fangio is a candidate to replace Fox, but several defensive players vouched for him.

Fangio isn’t under contract, so the Bears can’t protect him from other teams, but it wouldn’t be surprising if there was a push to keep him as defensive coordinator.

“I feel like he’s a mastermind, one of the smartest DCs, most- detailed DCs I’ve been around,” cornerback Prince Amukamara said. “It’s hard to make him smile, but when he smiles, you know it’s a good thing. Guys love him. We respect him. If I was here, I’d hope he stays.”