Vic Fangio 'Disappointed For Everybody Involved' In Ray McDonald Arrest
By Chris Emma--
(CBS) The Bears' process of bringing in the troubled Ray McDonald began with the recommendation of new defensive coordinator Vic Fangio.
Fangio, who coached McDonald in San Francisco, vouched for the defensive end's character, and that followed with general manager Ryan Pace and team chairman George McCaskey signing off.
McDonald was arrested on May 25 on charges of domestic violence and child endangerment, and was released by the Bears later that day. On Friday, Fangio made his first public comments since McDonald was let go from Chicago.
"Obviously, I was disappointed for everybody involved -- Ray, us, the people on the other side out there in California," Fangio told reporters at training camp in Bourbonnais. "I don't regret trying to vouch for him at the time. At the time, I believed it was the right thing to do."
Both McCaskey and Pace have spoken out about their decision to sign McDonald, with the general manager saying he doesn't want to be "gun-shy" about making moves in the future. However, the Bears' new regime has stated previously that there will be an emphasis on character in adding personnel.
Fangio feels sorry that his vouching on McDonald's behalf led to problems for the Bears organization.
"The only thing I regret is that because it didn't work out, and the club put their faith in my recommendation," said Fangio, "that George [McCaskey] and Ryan [Pace] and John [Fox] took some hits from you guys -- really should've been hitting me, not them. So that's the only part I regret, is the guys above me took the hits for it."
670 The Score's Zach Zaidman contributed to this report.
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