Among other things evident in their 5-11 season, the Bears clearly have an image problem. As we bid adieu to 2014, you know it has been a remarkable year in Chicago sports when the Cubs are viewed as a baseball Shangri-la and the Bears are perceived as a football toxic-waste site. Much of the negativity surrounds Phillips, the team president since 1999 who has survived 16 seasons of mediocrity defined by the 129-127 overall record during his tenure. As recently as last week, McCaskey considered reassigning Phillips to a business-only role — a decision he should revisit — but ultimately decided the institutional knowledge and league contacts of a man who has spent 31 years with the franchise outweighed any potential PR fallout. Consider that a bigger gamble than giving up on Trestman or Emery.