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Defensive coordinator Greg Blache was one of several candidates who interviewed for the head-coaching position with the Houston franchise, which will begin play in 2002, but the job went to Jacksonville Jaguars defensive coordinator Dom Capers.
"It's like getting asked to the prom and you don't get to go," said Blache, who is nevertheless looking forward to his 14th year of coaching in the NFL. "Getting called and asked to come down for the interview and not getting the job, it's bittersweet. But that's history. That's behind us.
"Right now I'm looking forward to the season, getting ready to try and put this defense together. I had mixed emotions when the call came initially because we're so close (here). You're building something, you start to see it grow up, you don't want to run off and let somebody else enjoy the benefits of what you put into it."
Blache's defense was 27th in yards allowed after 10 weeks last season before jumping all the way to 16th four weeks later and finished the season in that slot. An impact lineman either inside or outside in unrestricted free agency or through the draft could be the key ingredient for the 2001 defense.
"I wanted to put this defense together and have it be something special," Blache said. "I think we're right on the edge of getting that done. Brian (Urlacher) and Mike Brown were big additions, and we have a couple more pieces we need to add.
"We'd like to add a big lineman to it. If we can get a tackle to come in or an end to come in and help contribute up front, a big-bodied person that can help us in the run game, put some pressure on the quarterback and get our guys to perform like they did the second half of the season, yes, I think we're close.
"Coming down the stretch I think we made some believers out of some folks that weren't."
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Searching for No. 1: Any team coming off a 5-11 season has more than a few question marks, but personnel chief Mark Hatley has no doubt what the biggest concern is for next season.
"The quarterback situation is probably the one that I'm concerned the most with," Hatley said. "We've got to see where we are with Jim (Miller) coming off the (ruptured) Achilles' tendon and Shane (Matthews) being unrestricted with a broken thumb and Cade not having a good year."
Miller is still a couple of months away from running and isn't likely to be 100 percent at the start of training camp. Matthews isn't due to start throwing until the end of April, and he wants an opportunity to be more than a No. 3, which he would be in Chicago.
It's doubtful the Bears would seek quarterback help in the draft, but they have not ruled out bringing in a veteran unrestricted free agent to compete for the job.
"We're looking at veteran quarterbacks who are out there," coach Dick Jauron said. "We may need to go out and find a veteran quarterback who can compete for the job."
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What's the question? With the eighth pick in the draft, the Bears could have their choice of the top two running backs in the draft - Mississippi's Deuce McAllister or TCU's LaDainian Tomlinson - but they are likely to pass on both.
"I think James Allen is an answer," coach Dick Jauron said. "I thought he was an answer last year. He wasn't the reason we struggled."
Allen rushed for 1,120 yards, the most by a Bear since 1989, but he scored just 2 touchdowns and had a long run of 29 yards.
"James had a good year," personnel VP Mark Hatley said. "I think James is a good runner. He's got to improve on some areas like scoring touchdowns and short-yardage stuff. We feel that we can get him stronger and that we can get him a little faster. How much difference that's going to make, I don't know. But I was pleased with what he did this year."