Jeremy Bates was a leading candidate to replace Ron Turner as Bears offensive coordinator before he chose to work with Pete Carroll and Matt Hasselbeck in Seattle rather than Jay Cutler, whom he coached while both were in Denver.
Mike Martz ended up taking the Bears job, of course. The rest is history.
"He's open to ideas and open to change but he's also got some things he firmly believes in," Hasselbeck said of Bates. "It's been fun to work with him. It's been refreshing."
Under Bates, Hasselbeck is the 29th-rated passer in the league at 70.7 and the Seahawks offense is ranked 31st in total yards. Cutler, meanwhile, is ranked fifth at 102.2 and Chicago 22nd.
Despite reports that his once-close relationship with Bates has cooled considerably, Cutler said he would say hello to Bates if he happened across him.
"I don't know if they come out before and throw and what he's up to," Cutler said. "But if I see him, maybe."
Neil! Garza is getting surgery and Williams is practicing at LG. Dude lets go. Who cares about Bates?