Fewell chose Giants over Bears, does not go into reasoning
Giants defensive coordinator Perry Fewell observes practice during Day Two of the NFL team's three day minicamp held at the team's training facility named the Timex Performance Center. (June 16, 2010) Credit: James A. Escher
Perry Fewell had a decision to make. The Giants or the Bears. Tom Coughlin or Lovie Smith.
We know which way he went. But for a time it was up in the air. He flew to both Chicago and New York to meet with two of his former employers about their defensive coordinator openings, and as much as he tried to sell himself he listened to what they were selling him. For about a week or so after those meetings he spent time with his family, prayed, investigated, and then came to a conclusion.
He was asked today to talk about that decision, since the team he joined is playing the team he spurned.
"I choose not to," Fewell said to that request. "It was a personal thing, and I choose not to."
Coughlin said he was aware that Fewell was weighing options when he met with the Giants.
"You always know who your competition is and you just present the facts the way they are and present your team," Coughlin said. "Perry had been with Lovie and he had been with us. So he had to make a choice. He gathered all of the information, and here he is."
Earlier in the week, Lovie Smith was asked about Fewell.
"Perry did a super job when he was here, in St. Louis when we worked together and of course when he was our secondary coach here," Smith said. "Sometimes you work with someone in one place and if it doesn’t work out you don’t work with them in another, but that wasn’t the case. For us to work together two different places says exactly what I think of him. He’s a great coach. He does a super job. He’s bright. Great future ahead of him and they’ve done a good job with their defense."
Asked if he thought for a time that Fewell would be the Bears' defensive coordinator this season, Smith danced around the subject.
"We have a defensive coordinator here that we’re very pleased with and he’s done a super job with our guys here," he said. "Everybody ends up in the place that they belong. I truly believe that. Perry is in a great place up there with the Giants."
How great? He may get more clarity to that question after Sunday night's game.
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