Bears denied chance to speak to Green Bay's Clements

The Bears didn’t look far in their search for an offensive coordinator.

After being informed that USC offensive coordinator Jeremy Bates cancelled a scheduled interview, the Bears’ request to speak to former Notre Dame star quarterback Tom Clements was quickly rebuffed by the Green Bay Packers.

Clements, who led the Fighting Irish to a national title in 1973, practiced law in Chicago for five years before joining Lou Holtz’s staff at Notre Dame in 1995. Since then, he’s earned a reputation for developing quarterbacks, most recently Aaron Rodgers in Green Bay.

Rodgers was selected to the upcoming Pro Bowl, and he completed 28 of 42 passes for 422 yards with four touchdowns and one interception in a 51-45 loss to the Arizona Cardinals Sunday.

Bates was scheduled to interview on Tuesday but cancelled to follow USC coach Pete Carroll to Seattle.

Carroll was introduced as the new head coach of the Seattle Seahawks Monday afternoon, and Bates will reportedly be his offensive coordinator.

Bates was interested in re-uniting with Jay Cutler, with whom he worked closely in Denver, but he opted for more security with Carroll and the Seahawks, ESPN reported.

Meanwhile, the Bears entertained Buffalo Bills defensive coordinator Perry Fewell for the same position on Monday. Fewell, who was the Bears defensive backs coach in 2005, is considered the favorite for the Bears defensive coordinator position.