Before the body of Ron Rivera had a chance to get cold, the Chicago Bears took a big step in moving on with their lives without him. The Bears tabbed linebacker coach Bob Babich as Rivera’s successor to end an upheaval that lasted about as long as the invasion of Grenada.

Babich is credited with developing the skills of Lance Briggs and Hunter Hillenmeyer, but his ties to Lovie Smith seem to be the biggest reason that he had the inside track on the gig. Babich has been one of Lovie’s guys for years. The pair spent time working together in Tulsa and St. Louis on top of the last 4 seasons here in Chicago.

I am not saying that Babich is not qualified for his new post, but this is clearly a case of Lovie surrounding himself with his people. Rivera may not have gotten along with Smith and/or Babich, but you can’t question the results that Rivera’s defenses produced.

There are no two ways about it; the Bears defense will be directed by another guy in 2007. And Chicagoans will embrace Babich… unless the Bears lose.

Just goes to show you... who you know is as important as what you know, even if you oversee a defense that led a team to the Super Bowl a month ago.

mike_m@chitowndailynews.org