Six-time Pro Bowl center Jeff Saturday, one of the league's more thoughtful players, provided me some insight on two of the coordinators the Bears are expected to interview this week.
Saturday played under Bruce Arians and Tom Clements. 
Here's what he told me about both:
* On Bruce Arians: "He's terrific. He's one of the better offensive coordinators in the league. Great leader. Fun guy to play for. He's got a great sense with players. He gets you excited about playing. He designs plays to make his players look the best. I have the utmost respect for him. I hope he has a shot to take his own team over, because he's been in this league a long time and done a lot of winning.
* On how Arians handled Indianapolis Colts this season as interim head coach: "You would never want what happened to happen. But he's a guy you want to play hard for. He's got that way about him. Even when I talked to him before I came here, he's one of those guys who has a great spirit about him. You just enjoy playing for him."
* On his style: "From our standpoint, he was a great coach to be with. If you had bad plays, he'll call you out. He's one of those guys. But he does it in the right way. He encourages you to be better, he holds guys accountable. Then he holds himself accountable. As a player, you want someone who will hold himself accountable. I think that's what makes players want to go out and perform for him."
* On Clements: "He's a fantastic coach. He's been instrumental for Aaron [Rodgers]. Him and I talked about him, and he couldn't say enough good things about him. He really trusts him, and trusts his mind. He does a great job of getting us prepared."
And Arians is 60 years old and didn't make the playoff game because he was taken to the hospital. Sorry, but the Bears don't need this bag of trouble. He did a great job filling in this season as head coach, but the Bears would be better off hiring someone much younger. Whatever was wrong with Arians might not be serious, but at his age, why take a chance?
Agree with Wrigleys comment on Arians...I think the Bears need a HC that use to be an OC..also one that will be around hopefully for 10 yrs and bring some stability to that side of the ball for the good of the team as well as to see if Cutler can finally be an elite quarterback.
It was the flu... And you think 60 is too old to be a head coach?
I do Sean, in general. I think 60 is borderline and think the Marv Levy's of the world are the exception. Especially your first go round as a HC. Given the hours/demands I think a younger person in their 40s or 50s would perhaps be better suited for the grind of it all. Having said that you can not argue with the man's success and clearly by what some of the players have said he is well liked. I'd be surprised if Emery went this route and think McCoy seems to be the one,
It's not that 60's too old to be a head coach, but I wouldn't hire one who's already 60 unless I couldn't find anyone else good. Like DaBearsk said, you want someone who can be around for ten years, and you can't count on someone coaching til he's 70. Not to mention the toll that the stress and long hours will take on an older guy, which asks for trouble hiring him at that age. At 60 he should be thinking of retiring soon, not beginning his head coaching career.
60 is a bit of a late bloomer, but it all depends on the coach. I mean your not going to get a Levy like career out of the guy. Most head coaches seem to get their first pro head coaching gigs in their 40's to late 40's. Walsh, Belichick, Levy, Parcells. Harbaugh, Coughlin and so on. I honestly can't think of who was the last first time head coach who got the job at 60 years of age. 60 tends to be towards the end of a career not the begining. But agaiin it depends. Look at Saban the guy looks 50.
You think someone would have discovered him after so long if he is that good.
Right. Because getting the flu or having an inner-ear infection clearly is a "bag of trouble" that the Bears can't handle. #meatball
I don't understand Dabearsk. You said you don't want Arians because you want a head coach that has been an offensive coordinator before? Bruce Arians is currently the Colts' OC and served as the OC for the Steelers for several years before that.
You guys realize Pete Carroll is 61 right? As is Nick Saban. Many great coaches 60 or over.
John, I didn't say that. It's obvious Arians is a very good OC. The only question I was raising was with respect to his age. I think 60 is a bit old for a first time HC, that's all...I get what Brad was saying but this is Pete Carroll''s second go round. Not too mention Saban has been a HC for anumber of years. Arians just wouldn't be my first choice that's all. But like I said above he is very accomplished.
I have nothing against his age, but better choices are out there. I am leaning toward McCoy as well, even though I do not care for DeBearsk's comment. Anyone who can make Tebow, and Orton look good and who has Peyton's endorsement has to have enough versatility to polish up Cutler.
I'm tired of the McCoy talk. He doesn't run the offense in Denver this year. Manning and Brees are the brilliant minds behind both of those offenses. And tebow hardly looked good last year! They were winning 13-10 every week. I like 1. Bruce Arians 2. Seattle o coordinator 3. CFL guy
Sorry, Kevin. I do not like any of your top three. Luckliy you and I are not on the selection committee. I do rather wish the whole thing would get resolved and wonder if these interviews are smok and screens, ewith the choice already having been made.
He won with Tebow, that says a lot, Orton had a great year with him. Tebow couldn't even get on the field this year, that's how bad he is. This guy got wins with him as his starting QB. The offense put 29 on Pitt, 35 on the vikings and 38 on the raiders. He had the number 1 ranked rushing offense in the nfl. With Orton he had the 7th ranked passing offense.
To be honest none of these guys are really standing out, it's bunch of decent guys but nobody is a standout. Oh and Payton runs that offense in NO not Brees, just look at this year without him.
Emery's search is becoming a bigger and bigger waste of time for me. Pick your guy, put the coaching staff together, figure out what offense your going to run, and start doing your actual job, start scouting. You got mountains of game film to go through,