Back in 2004, Lovie Smith had one of the most memorable opening statements to a press conference in Chicago Bears history. Usually, when a coach states what his primary mission is for the team, it’s obvious. Win the Super Bowl. However, Smith went in a different direction by stating his first order of business was to beat the Green Bay Packers. Something that had become incredibly difficult for the Bears the previous decade. Now it seems new GM Ryan Poles took a page from that playbook.
The man gave his thanks to many people from God, to his family, to several members of the Kansas City Chiefs organization and at Boston College. It was when he got into his philosophies and plans for the Bears organization that the competitor came out. Not to mention the man who actually spent a summer with the team as an undrafted free agent in 2008. Poles plans to build this team through the draft, seeking fast and physical players. The team will relentlessly seek ways to fix team weaknesses and never lose sight of who they are.
Most importantly though, his mission is to knock the crown off Green Bay’s head.
The conviction with which he said the words was noticeable. This isn’t just some flashy statement for the cameras. It is something he believes in. Never a bad thing. When the GM recognizes the Packers for the dominant presence they truly are, it sets the tone for what follows. Ryan Poles isn’t dumb. He recognizes that Green Bay is the standard in this division and has been for many years. If this team wants to win a Super Bowl, then they’ll have to get by them first.
Not something that will be easy. Chicago has loads of questions that need answering. Especially on offense. The Packers still have Aaron Rodgers and figure to be a threat again in 2022 until something significant changes. So Poles has a lot of work to do and seems more than eager for the challenge.
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