Lovie Smith never managed to get the Chicago Bears over the hump in his nine seasons with the team, but it's not often that a coach loses his job following a double-digit win season.
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It stands to reason that Smith's résumé will make him an attractive candidate on the open market.
NFL.com's Ian Rapoport reported Monday on NFL Network's "NFL Total Access" that Smith plans to coach in 2013 and is very interested in the Arizona Cardinals and Buffalo Bills' head-coaching vacancies. Both teams have legitimate defensive talent already in place, making them a natural fit for Smith's sensibilities.
It's a match on paper, though it remains to be seen if the teams have a mutual interest.
Follow Dan Hanzus on Twitter @DanHanzus.