Bears general manager sees team headed in right direction

“We’re going to continue to build the offense around him”. Part of the confidence the Bears have in Cutler exists because they owe him $10 million guaranteed. With a 6-10 record, the Bears now own the 11th pick in the 2016 draft, which takes place April 28-30 here in Chicago.

“In regard to the draft, and I honestly mean this, it’s always going to be best player available”.

“If it’s a quarterback, it’s a quarterback”, Pace said.

“That’s not all on me”, Cutler said.

In his first year under head coach John Fox and offensive coordinator Adam Gase, Cutler looked well.

Fox was asked how far along he was with contingency plans if his offensive coordinator position becomes vacant. Because the Bears are out of the playoffs, the Eagles could interview Gase anytime.

“It’s never really that personal for me”, Cutler said.

Now entering his second off-season as general manager of the Bears, Pace is not only willing to comment on Cutler but he has high praise for the quarterback.

“Our systems are our systems, they’re not any individual’s systems”. You tweak and you grow and you adjust, you have to do that in this league because it’s a fluid league. Gase is perhaps the hottest name on the coaching market this year. Halfway through the 2015 season, it was clear that Cutler was going to be the Bears’ starting quarterback in 2016.

“He’d still be very involved in the quarterback room”, Cutler said.

Pace also noted how valuable Fox’s leaguewide network can be as a safety net when coaches leave.

“But we have a ton of confidence in him and, guys, he played well this year”. Bears players are prepared for the possibility that Forte moves on.

As Forte cleaned out his locker Monday, he knew yet another series of farewell questions was coming. The Bears only scored more than 23 points three times all year.

“Everybody’s acting like it’s a going-away party, like a funeral or something”, he told media members on Monday. But no decisions have been made yet. “He’s earned this. This isn’t something I’m mad about or anybody’s hoping he wants to come back”. 22 was on the back and above the numbering, it stated one word.

“All my hard work, blood, sweat and tears are in this shirt”, Forte said.

Pace danced around questions about Forte’s future.

“But I don’t like to put all our eggs in one basket in free agency”. And the Bears will have to decide what niche Forte could fit. I don’t think anyone, when we started the season, would have pegged them as our four at the end of the season. The veteran running back could have a completely different view next season.