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2-5 with a 4.08 ERA and 16 saves for the Rockies
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LAKE FOREST, Ill. Lucas Patrick Jersey . -- Several years ago when Marc Trestman was out of work, Sean Payton came through with an assist. For that, the Bears coach is grateful. There probably wont be much reminiscing when Chicago takes on New Orleans at Soldier Field this week, but Trestman did take some time to reflect on Thursday. "No. 1, it was more about a friendship between Sean and myself," he said. Trestman had just been fired after a two-year run as offensive co-ordinator at North Carolina State and was on a sort of sabbatical when he was hired as a consultant to Payton, the Saints coach, for the 2007 season. They werent close friends at the time, but they knew each other from symposiums, back when Payton was an assistant in the league. They had attended symposiums and talked football over lunch a few times. For Trestman, the consulting job was "an opportunity to have some dignity in my career." Five years as the head coach of the Montreal Alouettes and two CFL championships later, Trestman is leading an NFL team for the first time. And hes off to a good start with the Bears at 3-1. Chicago is trying to pick itself up after losing to Detroit and knock the Saints (4-0) from the ranks of the unbeaten. The Bears are tied with the Lions for the NFC North lead. Their offence appears to be a better fit for the personnel, even if things have been a bit shaky at times, and it looks as if Trestman has connected with quarterback Jay Cutler. Thats something previous offensive co-ordinators Ron Turner, Mike Martz and Mike Tice could not do. And its a big reason why he is getting this opportunity, even though he seemed to vanish from the NFL radar. Trestman spent several decades coaching at the college and NFL levels under men such as Bud Grant, Howard Schnellenberger and Bill Walsh. He developed a reputation as a quarterback guru for his work with Bernie Kosar, Rich Gannon and Steve Young, but by the time he took the job with New Orleans, he was in a sort of limbo. "I had just been let go at N.C. State, I wasnt doing anything, I was sitting the year out, I had two years left on a contract," Trestman said. "He invited me down and really showed professional respect. ... It was a great learning time for me and it was also a good time to watch Sean be a head coach and see how he worked on a daily basis and see how he handled the success and the adversity." Payton called Trestman "a proven winner." But he was also a big question mark. There was a knock that Trestman didnt relate well, didnt get along with other assistants, and that explains why hes a first-time head coach in the NFL at age 57. He seems to be relating just fine now. Defensive co-ordinator Mel Tucker was quickly sold. The two had never worked together. But when he interviewed with Trestman in January, Tucker realized how alike they were. "We have very similar trains of thought about the game, how to treat people, what coaching is all about, how to develop football teams and players, what is coaching and things like that," Tucker said. A law school graduate with dark-rimmed glasses, Trestman looks and sounds more like an attorney or corporate CEO than most guys carrying a whistle and a clipboard. His answers are thoughtful and detailed. And theres a quirkiness to him. Trestman probably was the first coach to address the physics subject of "string theory and different dimensions" with Cutler. "Im kind of reading a book right now," the quarterback said. "I dont even know what half the words are in the book, though. We just kind of kick it around." Cutler wasnt sure of the books title. And he couldnt really explain the theory, which has to do with the idea that extra dimensions exist. Its just one example of Trestman connecting with a player, one of his most important players. Backup quarterback Josh McCown mentions the lunch room. Theres Trestman pushing in his chair and cleaning up his area and encouraging the players to do the same. He just wants players to be aware. "He just makes a point to say thats a way that you can serve the people around you," McCown said. "Its just a good example of the little things that you can do that maybe helps out somebody thats working back there in the kitchen, that doesnt have time to wipe up after you. The cool thing is theres never anything thats mandated. Its hey guys, think about doing it this way; think about doing it that way." Clay Matthews III Jersey . Betancourt was 2-5 with a 4.08 ERA and 16 saves for the Rockies last season before tearing a ligament in his pitching elbow. He considered undergoing platelet-rich plasma therapy to fix his arm, but announced in August his decision to have Tommy John surgery. Brett Favre Jersey .com) - The Grand Slam season will get underway Monday at the Australian Open in Melbourne, where a new champion will be crowned this year.DUNEDIN, Fla. -- Clay Buchholz pitched two-hit ball for four scoreless innings and the Boston Red Sox beat the Toronto Blue Jays 3-1 on Friday. Buchholz allowed singles by Jose Reyes and Melky Cabrera in the first and struck out three. The right-hander, who was 12-1 with a 1.74 ERA in 16 starts last season before injuries slowed him, has not allowed a run since his first start aggainst the Tampa Bay Rays on March 4. Gerry Ellis Jersey. Blue Jays starter Drew Hutchison, a candidate for the fifth spot in the rotation, allowed four hits and one earned run with seven strikeouts in 4 2-3 innings. Corey Brown and Sean Coyle hit RBI doubles for the Red Sox. Jonathan Diaz scored Torontos run on a double to left field by Kevin Pillar in the eighth. ' ' '