"There was a lot of talk about let's go in a different direction as far as people who have been affiliated with the organization," Gabriel told "The Boers and Bernstein Show" on WSCR-AM (670), a few hours after Pace's hiring was announced. "I'm hearing that may have played into it.



"Chris may have scared them a little bit. Chris knows the problems that are within the organization and had ideas on how to clean them up, and I'm hearing that they didn't necessarily like hearing that."



Gabriel had offered his endorsement of Ballard on the same station Tuesday.



With Pace in place, Gabriel said he expects significant turnover in the Bears' personnel department, including perhaps a new director of pro and college scouting. These moves likely won't be made until after April's NFL draft, where the Bears hold the No. 7 overall pick.



Ballard declined the opportunity to become the Tampa Bay Buccaneers' general manager last offseason, and passed on interviews with the New York Jets and Philadelphia Eagles this week. According to Gabriel, who worked with him from 2001-10, Ballard will continue holding out for what he believes is the right situation.



"Chris worked here in Chicago a number of years, so he's obviously got an opinion of how things are done," Gabriel said. "Not necessarily talking about the structure of the roster, but just the organization as a whole. Chris has a very strong mindset. If he wasn't going to have things exactly the way he wanted them, he's not going to put himself in a situation where he's going to fall. He doesn't want to go into a situation and be like Phil Emery and two years later be fired."



Gabriel added that Ballard "probably wasn't offered the job."