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From: paveleck@ihldt.UUCP (Bob Paveleck)
Newsgroups: net.sport.football
Subject: Will Buddy Ryan Stay with the Bears?
Message-ID: <2690@ihldt.UUCP>
Date: Thu, 17-Jan-85 13:51:59 EST
Article-I.D.: ihldt.2690
Posted: Thu Jan 17 13:51:59 1985
Date-Received: Fri, 18-Jan-85 02:50:21 EST
Organization: AT&T Bell Labs, Naperville, IL
Lines: 28

I was just reading an article in the Chicago Tribune today which
stated that Buddy Ryan, the Chicago Bears' defensive coordinator,
is one of 4 finalists for the position of head coach of the
Indianapolis Colts.  Up to this time, I had heard rumors that he
might consider a head-coaching job, but all the stories I've read
seemed to downplay these rumors.

My question is this: WHY HAVEN'T THE BEARS BENT OVER BACKWARDS TO KEEP
RYAN AS THEIR DEFENSIVE COORDINATOR?!  Buddy Ryan's "46" defense was
a MAJOR factor (if not the ONLY factor) in the Bears' success this
past season. The Bear brain-trust waited until the midst of the
playoffs to announce the re-hiring of head coach Mike Ditka, apparently
to heighten the tension felt by Bear fans (not to mention Ditka).
So far, I haven't heard ONE WORD about the Bears' making Ryan any offers
to remain with the team!  If these are the same tension-raising
tactics they used with Ditka, the fans must all be guzzling Maalox
by now!  I can't believe they'd let the author of the
top-ranked defense in the NFL (at least, until the '49ers pounded on
it in the NFC Championship game) get away without a fight!  It seems
like keeping Ryan would be one of the Bears' top priorities for next
season, especially with the hopes of a healthy Jim McMahon returning.

Did I miss something along the line or is Buddy Ryan likely to walk
away from Chicago without so much as a pat on the back from the Bear
brain-trust?  I'm sure a lot of fans are hoping that he'll stay.

Bob Paveleck
..ihldt!paveleck