As the afternoon crests here in Chicago, there doesn’t appear to be any immediate hiring going on for either the offensive or defensive coordinator spots for the Bears. Perry Fewell (who keeps reminding me of Perry Farrell), the reported Bears’ favorite for the DC job, still has some other interviews to attend to.

And the offensive job doesn’t appear as if it will be filled today. Yet, ESPN’s Adam Schefter reported this morning that USC offensive coordinator Jeremy Bates has already been contacted by the Bears. I know I’m repeating this for the millionth time, but Bates, as we all know, worked with Cutler in Denver as his quarterbacks coach. USC had a down year by its standards this season, so there is some pause here. But that might have been more about not being comfortable with the college game than anything else.

Cutler, by all accounts, really wants Bates to come in and take over as offensive coordinator. According to Schefter, a big reason why Cutler wanted to be traded out of Denver was because Bates’ job became uncertain after Mike Shanahan was let go.

Michael Lombardi thinks Bates’ toughness and ability to coach Cutler instead of coddling him is key.

I’ve thought all along that what Cutler wants is what the Bears should probably try and swing here. Obviously, if he asked for his high school coach or something, that would be a bit silly. But if Bates is qualified, is respected and is comfortable with Cutler and Cutler is comfortable with him, I don’t think the Bears really need to look much farther here, right?