NFL notes: Bears have faith in Fox, GM Pace.
The chairman of the Chicago Bears insisted Wednesday he still has faith in coach John Fox and general manager Ryan Pace, even after the team’s worst season in several decades.
Chairman George McCaskey said he is “pleased” with the job Pace has done the past two years.
“I’m not a patient person but I promised (Pace) that I would be patient,” McCaskey said. “With all the adversity that we’ve had, I like the steady hand that he and John have had on the team.”
The Bears went 3-13, matching their lowest win total in a non-strike season since the 1973 team finished 3-11. They also tied the franchise record for losses set in 1969 and wound up last in the NFC North for the third straight year.
Pace said no decision has been made about quarterback Jay Cutler’s future. Fox, meanwhile, indicated defensive coordinator Vic Fangio and offensive coordinator Dowell Loggains will be back.
The Bears are 9-23 in two seasons since Pace and Fox replaced the fired GM Phil Emery and coach Marc Trestman.
Caldwell to return: The Detroit Lions silenced questions about Jim Caldwell’s future with the team, announcing he has been retained to coach them during the 2017 season.
Caldwell refused to talk much about it other than to say he appreciated the move made by general manager Bob Quinn and team owner Martha Firestone Ford.
Caldwell declined to answer any questions related to him, deflecting the conversation toward an NFC wild-card matchup with sixth-seeded Detroit playing third-seeded Seattle on the road Saturday night.
Rookie to start: The Oakland Raiders are going with rookie Connor Cook at quarterback in their wild-card game against the Texans.
Oakland coach Jack Del Rio announced the decision in a conference call with reporters in Houston on Wednesday.
Cook gets the nod with Pro Bowl player Derek Carr out with a broken leg and backup Matt McGloin nursing a shoulder injury that could make it tough for him to practice enough before Saturday’s game at Houston. Cook will be the first quarterback ever to make his first career start in the postseason.
Tannehill sits: Quarterback Ryan Tannehill sat out the Miami Dolphins’ practice Wednesday, making it unlikely he’ll return from a left knee injury for the team’s playoff game Sunday at Pittsburgh.