Marc Trestman used to sound like a guy who could find something positive from a red light because it should turn green soon enough, and he would describe it as a “process” and he would embrace that idea.
These days, Trestman sounds like a guy talking through the motions. Like the only process remaining is an exit interview.
For example, Trestman was asked Monday about Jay Cutler’s pass that should’ve been intercepted by Minnesota’s Captain Munnerlyn in the end zone in the fourth quarter of a game in which the Bears inexplicably held just a four-point lead over the Vikings.
“The fact of the matter is it went incomplete,” Trestman said, then focused on the Bears’ ability to score on the next play.
There was a follow-up question centering on Cutler’s decision on the near-interception, to which Trestman said he wasn’t “going to talk about each and every play.”
He used to want to talk about each and every play, didn’t he? Yes. Yes, he did. In glorious detail, in fact. Even plays that might be critical of his quarterback. Maybe that didn’t go down well in the quarterbacks room.
Speaking of the quarterbacks room, Trestman didn’t want to comment on what he missed most about Josh McCown, last year’s backup who will quarterback the Buccaneers on Sunday at Soldier Field. Trestman called McCown a “great teammate,” but that was about it.
And speaking of the Bucs, Trestman said he has respect for Lovie Smith, but didn’t want to talk about taking over Smith’s program.
Maybe Trestman didn’t want to step on any McCown-Smith landmines in advance of this week’s game, a reasonable approach.
Even before Monday, though, something seemed to have changed in Trestman’s public self. He has been turning more measured in his answers. Losing can do that to a guy.
In fact, during Monday’s drive-through news conference, Trestman sounded as deflated as he did after the three previous losses. Perfunctory answers. Generalities, not specifics.
You know when it really seemed to take hold, this weirder Trestman? After Brandon Marshall’s “unacceptable” rant that followed an embarrassing home loss to the Dolphins. That game was marked by Trestman’s offense being unprepared to play the first half, a crash landing for a unit he was supposed to fix but has been ineffective and undisciplined for most of this dreadful season.
Trestman offered some gobbledygook about not hearing Marshall’s rant — he heard about it, and heard some of it, but he hadn’t heard all of it, and let’s all have a group hug because everyone gets the chance to express himself, even fake leaders.
Previously, Trestman had been criticized, if not also mocked, for backtracking on criticism that Marshall ran the wrong route in consecutive weeks. Like he was afraid of Marshall, and don’t even ask about the coach’s addressing the wide receiver’s offer to fight a Twitter follower, if the coach actually did address the wide receiver. But the Dolphins game seemed to be when Trestman started becoming less detailed.
Then came a historically bad first half against the Patriots, which prompted calls for Trestman’s firing. (Raising my hand.)
The next day, when Phil Emery joined Trestman for the post-mortem during the off-week, there was more criticism because obviously and unfortunately, Emery and Trestman had kept their jobs. (Raising my hand again.)
Then came an even more historically bad first half against the Packers, and I wanted Trestman fired at halftime. Like things could get worse without him?
Trestman’s decision to skip his usual extended opening statement and shorten his answers became more pronounced in recent weeks. When he sounded the same after the victory over the Vikings, it sounded weird, even for Trestman.
It might be that Trestman thinks his previous willingness to give in-depth answers on almost everything has been twisted. Maybe he thinks it’s worthless to provide much explanation because it will be thrown back at him in some negative way. Maybe it has had an effect on his family.
Or completely unrelated to the vagaries of football, it’s also possible Trestman has had a head cold for weeks. Maybe a sinus infection. Those are killers. Whatever, he sounds stuffed up. Nasally. So, it could be that.
But the more I hear him, the more I think I was right last week when I wrote my conspiracy theory: Trestman sounds like a guy who knows he already has lost too much to save his job.
