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PHOENIX — Chicago Bears Chairman George McCaskey had a lot to address when he met with reporters at the end of the annual NFL meetings this week at the Arizona Biltmore resort.
The possibility of a new stadium. The organization’s new president. And a team in the middle of a crucial offseason.
Along with his update on the stadium process, here are four things we heard from McCaskey.
A couple of times McCaskey found himself walking and chatting with the Bears new president and CEO around the Biltmore when Warren veered off to talk to someone — “renewing acquaintances,” McCaskey said.
Warren is finishing up his post as Big Ten commissioner, his job the last three years. Before that, he worked in the NFL for 21 years, most notably as the Minnesota Vikings Chief Operating Officer.
Warren doesn’t officially start with the Bears until April 17, but the team thought it was important for him to be in Arizona.
“One thing I learned very early on is Kevin needs no introduction,” McCaskey said. “He knows everybody and everybody knows him.
“The connections are important, but I think more important is the experience. He’s done all that is asked of a president and CEO in the day-to-day management of a team. There’s no learning curve there. His connections will be helpful, but there has to be substance behind those connections. There has to be trust. Communication. And he brings all of that to the table.”
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McCaskey said he has also watched Warren and Bears general manager Ryan Poles develop a quick rapport. Poles will report to Warren rather than McCaskey, and McCaskey noted Warren already already asked better questions than he had.
“Quite frankly in terms of working with the general manager, I think we’ve made an improvement at the position,” McCaskey said.
McCaskey said it will be “unusual” not immediately turning to Phillips for counsel. The Bears president since 1999, Phillips’ last official day will be April 14, but he has agreed to stay on as a consultant, McCaskey said.
“It’s just him being available to Kevin primarily and to me secondarily if we have any questions or concerns,” McCaskey said. “Just drawing on his 40 years of experience. I’m very grateful that resource is available.”
Phillips and Warren have had transition meetings the last two months as Warren gets up to speed on everything Bears, with the Arlington Heights stadium project at the top of the list. McCaskey said the meetings have been “productive” and “wide-ranging” and thinks it will be valuable to have Warren lend his experience after helping to drive the Vikings’ U.S. Bank Stadium project.
“He knows there are ebbs and flows, ups and downs (building a stadium). It’s much like a football game,” McCaskey said. “The pace, the momentum can go back and forth many times. So you just have to keep a long view and just like in a football game, not get too rattled by the setbacks and not get too over your skis about any victories.”
McCaskey said Poles told him earlier in the offseason about a number of possible scenarios for trading the No. 1 pick. McCaskey responded, “Hey, when you get the deal you like, pull the trigger.”
“I’m very excited to get DJ Moore and the number of picks and the quality of the picks,” McCaskey said of the trade with the Carolina Panthers in mid-March. “But now we’ve got to make hay with the picks.”
The trade also solidified the Bears’ commitment to quarterback Justin Fields, and while McCaskey declined to provide a football evaluation, he called Fields “an outstanding young man.”
“He’s a leader,” McCaskey said. “He’s tough. His teammates like him. He’s a classic first-in-the-building, last-to-leave. He seems, to me, to be mature beyond his years, and he understands what it means to be the starting quarterback of the Chicago Bears.”
McCaskey then was asked what it was like watching Fields take off on some of his electric runs on the way to 1,143 rushing yards.
“Usually when he takes off, I’m yelling, ‘Get down,’ but you saw it so many times where he looked like he was hopelessly trapped and he’d turn around and 60 yards later he’s in the end zone,” McCaskey said.
“Very exciting player, very dynamic player, a threat, somebody who worries defenses and an accomplished passer also. So you put all those together, you give him some help and hope for continued development and see what happens.”
The Bears have never been on “Hard Knocks,” HBO’s documentary that follows a team during training camp. There have been two in-seasons series as well.
The NFL can tell a team to be on the show if they don’t have a first-year head coach, haven’t been to the playoffs in the last two seasons and haven’t the show in the previous 10 years. That makes the Bears eligible.
“We feel there are a number of teams that have compelling stories to tell on ‘Hard Knocks,’” McCaskey said when asked about his stance on the show.
But not the Bears?
“31 others,” he said.
Warren didn’t give an opinion on being on the show when asked, simply saying it would have to be an internal conversation.
“Speaking for me, I’m sure there’s going to be a list of things that are on my desk that I’ll have to deal with when I walk in there on the 17th,” he said.
