LAKE FOREST, Ill. — New Bears general manager Phil Emery often spoke with the conviction that helped lead him to the peak of his profession during an introductory press conference Monday at Halas Hall.

He treaded lightly, though, when it came to answering questions about his level of authority and how he intends to use it.

Whether the new general manager will truly be the boss when it comes to personnel decisions and evaluating head coach Lovie Smith has been one of the primary topics on the minds of Bears observers since Jerry Angelo's 11-year run as the team's GM came to an end when he was dismissed Jan. 3. A perception throughout the process was that the Bears were looking for someone who wouldn't rock the boat too much.

For an hour on Monday, Emery may have come off as that guy, but don't let the presentation fool you.

Emery made Monday more about discussing his style, background and general philosophy on team building than an exploration of some of the juicier issues he was asked to address.

More than 50 minutes had gone by since the presser started, and reporters were still trying to figure out whether Emery would be the one who had the final say over the 53-man roster or whether it would be a collaborative effort with Smith — the head coach he was forced to accept for the 2012 season if he wanted the GM job.

"I have full control (of the 53-man roster), yes, but again, that's not where my head's at," Emery said. "My head's at working with Coach Smith towards developing consistency and championships."

Translation: I'm not here to pound on my chest and show everyone how powerful I am in front of the cameras.

Team president and CEO Ted Phillips was asked for further clarity on the matter in the lobby of Halas Hall after the press conference, and he offered more than Emery did earlier.

"The contractual authority that Phil has is the same as what Jerry Angelo had," Phillips said. "Contractually, he can hire and fire the head coach and, contractually, have final say on the 53-man roster. ... The reality is, just as with Jerry and Lovie — when I hired Jerry, I said this, (and) when I hired Phil, I said this — 'I expect not to ever have to pick up your contract and read the language between you and Lovie. The idea is you work together to find the best team for the Bears.' I don't know of a single team that's been successful with a general manager jamming players down a coach's throat, so I don't expect that."

Phillips left out the part about Emery not being able to fire the head coach until next year, but listening to Emery on Monday, there was no reason to suspect he was feeling anything less than thrilled to be working with Smith. There's something to be said for using a deferential tone on your first day on the job. He's going to try to make it work with Smith, and if it doesn't, the Bears will deal with it after the season.

After spending 14 season as an NFL scout evaluating talent in the college ranks and learning from superiors like Scott Pioli, Thomas Dimitroff, Rich McKay, Angelo and Mark Hatley, Emery, a former strength-and-conditioning coach at the Naval Academy, apparently came to the conclusion that it's best not to let ego — no matter the degree of your power — get the best of you, especially at your first press conference.

If there any doubts that Emery can be coldhearted if he has to be, remember what happened before the press conference even started Monday.

Tim Ruskell, the Bears' director of player personnel for the past two years and their interim general manager after Angelo was fired, was relieved of his duties in a decision the team described as one that was mutually agreed upon.

This is the same Tim Ruskell who hired Phil Emery to be the Falcons' college scouting director in 2004. That was a huge break for Emery, whose only other job in the league had been as an area scout for the Bears.

I guess Emery didn't think he owed Ruskell one.

Here's a quote we all should focus on, more than the ducking and dodging that Emery did at times while the cameras were rolling.

"Am I going to hold people to standards and hold them accountable and evaluate them every day in terms of their contribution towards our goal? Absolutely," Emery said. "Is my head around that 'Geez, I've got this authority and I need to use it every day?' No. My head's around using my position of leadership to helping people reach those goals. To be an educator, to be a leader."

Emery was feeling his way through a situation — being the focus of a press conference — he had zero experience with before Monday, and he didn't give everyone everything they wanted to hear.

General managers don't ultimately succeed or fail, though, because of how well they conduct themselves in front of the media or whether their message resonates with fans.

Emery will prove himself through the decisions he makes in free agency and the draft and will be judged by his success in those areas and the team's win-loss record.

All the talk in between simply doesn't matter much. Watch what Emery does, and don't get too caught up in what he said on Monday.

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