For the second time in 12 months, Bears General Manager Jerry Angelo shot down rumors of a pending retirement.
Sunday morning before the Bears arrived at Sports Authority Field to take on the Broncos, Jason LaConfora tweeted a report citing NFL scouts talking about Angelo possibly retiring at the end of the Bears season.
"I don't know where those come from" Angelo claimed to a gathering of reporters. Angelo didn't say he would not retire at the end of the season, but like last January, he reminisced about how lucky he has been to be in the NFL since joining the Dallas Cowboys as a scout in the 1980-81 season.
"You get to a point in your career the thought's always going to come up" Angelo said, "I enjoy what I do very much; I am very fortunate. I work for a great organization, great people."
Angelo admits the thought has crossed his mind after 31 years, but says he has one goal in mind.
"I want to make a run at this."
But would he retire if the Bears won the Super Bowl?
Chicago Bears
"That would be a good question ... I would like for that situation to happen," he said with a laugh.
Angelo joined the Bears after 14 years with Tampa Bay. In 2010 he brought in Tim Ruskell as Director of Player Personnel to oversee both the college and pro scouting departments. Prior to that, Angelo's biggest personnel move was hiring current Bears head coach Lovie Smith in 2004. He oversaw the signing of free agent Julius Peppers, traded for Jay Cutler and drafted Matt Forte and Devin Hester. Angelo is 62 years old, retirement he says is a natural thing, but not a story while the Bears are trying to make a run this season.
"I'm embarrassed!" he said. "It's not a big deal, who cares?"
NOTES: Here’s Angelo on the state of some Bears:
- On Jay Cutler returning by Jan. 1st? "I'm not going to rule it out … surgery went well, rehab’s going well ... just have to be patient. Everybody deals with it a little bit differently, he's a thrower, a quarterback, so you have to be a little more sensitive based on his position. But I wouldn't rule anything out."
- On Matt Forte's return? "We'll know more next week, see how he's feeling ... we haven't set a definite timetable ... we'll know more next week."
- Will Forte's injury affect his future with Bears? "No. His agent asked us that, we told him no ... it would not change anything in negotiations." Angelo added the team has the ability to franchise tag Forte after the season. "I'll address that at the appropriate time."
- On Mike Martz job rumors? "We had many a coach go into his last year, like Mike, without a contract ... That will be addressed at the end of the season. Our focus right now is on today's game and next week's game, and business will take care of itself."
