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MOBILE, Ala. — The Chicago Bears have put the NFL on notice.

Less than a month removed from firing their general manager and head coach, the Bears were a hot topic in Mobile this week as league executives, coaches, scouts and media gathered for Senior Bowl practices.

And while the drastic changes within the Bears’ organization may not have completely set in yet, they were on full display this week at Ladd-Peebles Stadium, despite the two major figures remaining back in Chicago.

Thursday, while former general manager Phil Emery sat alone watching line drills in the North end zone, the Bears’ contingent of scouts, including new director of player personnel Josh Lucas, gathered about 45 rows high in Section G, the same area they claimed for most of the six Senior Bowl practices this week.

Lucas spent much of Thursday afternoon’s South team practice chatting with Bears director of college scouting Marty Barrett. Having just been hired Sunday, Lucas dove right in this week, technically serving as the Bears’ highest ranking official in Mobile once new general manager Ryan Pace went back to Chicago Tuesday. Pace was in Mobile for a short time earlier in the week, meeting with the team’s area scouts Monday evening, but his main priority was aiding new head coach John Fox with filling out his coaching staff — an effort that landed defensive coordinator Vic Fangio and offensive coordinator Adam Gase. Both of those hires were applauded in league circles this week, a dramatic shift from just a month ago, when the Bears were nothing short of a laughing-stock around the league.

In New Orleans, Pace was part of a three-headed braintrust that included himself, Saints general manager Mickey Loomis and Saints head coach Sean Payton. He’d like to create a similar structure in Chicago, and started that process by firing director of pro personnel Kevin Turks and hiring Lucas, who was given the same title Pace held in New Orleans.

“It’s huge,” Pace said this week about adding Lucas. “I think it’s important that you have a couple guys that are familiar with what you want to do. Josh is one of the best evaluators in the league. Harvard graduate. Extremely smart. Very efficient.”

If Pace wants to build a similar front office as he enjoyed in New Orleans, he needs guys he trusts, and that starts with Lucas.

“He’s one of those guys who’s passionate about this job. Me and Mickey Loomis have a close relationship, and hey, Mickey wants me to have success, and part of that is getting a guy that I know I can bring with me that is a good evaluator, and Josh is going to be a critical part this process,” Pace said.

Critical indeed, as Pace left Mobile Tuesday and allowed Lucas and Barrett to lead the Bears’ charge at the Senior Bowl without him — a change of pace from the previous regime.

One thing you could never fault former Bears GM Phil Emery for was his work ethic. He was a grinder, but sometimes you wondered if he was spreading himself too thin. He remained heavily involved in the college scouting process, often spending his Saturdays at a college game somewhere before jetting to the Bears’ game on Sundays.

Pace is already showing the ability to delegate responsibilities, rightly prioritizing Fox’s coaching this week, while trusting Lucas and Barrett to handle what needed to get done at the Senior Bowl.

Meanwhile, the ripple-effects of Pace and Lucas’ departure from New Orleans were also felt in Mobile, as the Saints made a surprising move by letting go director of college scouting Rick Reiprish and hiring former Dolphins general manager Jeff Ireland to oversee their college scouting efforts.

Big moves within college scouting departments are rare this time of year, as it is currently the heart of the college scouting season. It’s still possible Pace will make changes in that area of the organization, but it is unlikely any major moves are made before April’s draft. Lucas’ and Barrett’s collaboration this week is a telltale sign that Barrett will remain in his current role at least through the draft, if not longer.

In the meantime, Pace continues to repair the Bears’ image around the league, despite having only been on the job two weeks.

As one NFL scout said Thursday evening as he departed Mobile, “It’s crazy what the Bears have done. They robbed New Orleans to get (Pace and Lucas).”

You could say the same thing about landing John Fox, Vic Fangio and Adam Gase.

Now they just need to do the same to the roster.

Adam Hoge covers the Bears for WGN Radio and WGNRadio.com. Follow him on Twitter at @AdamHoge.