Chicago Bears: Mike Martz Out Of A Job After The Season?

By: Tyler Ward

Rumors have been floating around that current Chicago Bears offensive coordinator Mike Martz will be terminated after the season is over with.

Martz, known as the creator for the Ram's "Greatest Show on Turf" had been doing an alright job for the Bears until franchise quarterback Jay Cutler went down with a season-ending injury.

Martz's philosophy mainly has to do with the aerial attack and nothing else. He really does not believe in running the football since his Rams days with Marshall Faulk and protecting the quarterback has never really been a necessity.

Cutler was the most-sacked quarterback last season by far and was among the league leaders before he went down with an injury.

With the Bears' recent two-game losing streak, Martz's job has recently been jeopardized and Martz addressed those rumors today to reporters, saying, "I’m bothered by that. Obviously, I plan on being back here and want to be here and I am just going to assume it’s all going to work out so that’s unfortunate. That is the only thing I can tell you. It’s just like college jobs and those things, we’re focused on this job and what we’re doing."

The Chicago Tribune's Brad Briggs stated in an article today that it could just have something to do with Martz's agent trying to get Martz a job next year and is just trying to cause a stir within the organization. He will likely be looking for work next season anyway, so it appears his agent is just trying to get him in headlines, in hopes that he could receive a better deal worth more money next season.

According to reports, Martz met with Bears head coach Lovie Smith to discuss what was going on.

"I wanted to find about it. I am embarrassed by it and I hope that, anyway, let’s just move on. It’s not good," Martz said. "And it’s not how I think and live my life. Just disappointed."

Smith replied to the reports, saying that they were false and Martz's job is not in jeopardy. However, Smith did not specifically say that Martz will come back to the Bears next season, while just calling the report "made up."

But for now, Martz is the Bears' offensive coordinator and it is still unclear as to whether the Bears will retain him after the regular season is over. His contract will expire when the Bears end their 2011 season.

Martz got his professional start in 1992, as the Los Angeles Rams' quarterbacks coach. He was then moved to the team's wide receivers coach in 1995 and then became the Redskins' quarterbacks coach in 1997. He was hired by the Rams once again in 1999 as the offensive coordinator and then became the team's head coach prior to the 2000 season and held the position until the end of the 2005 season.

As the Rams' head coach, Martz had a record of 53-32, including a Super Bowl appearance in 2001, losing to the Patriots -- Tom Brady's first Super Bowl title. The Rams would make it to the postseason on three other occasions before Martz was let go five games into the 2005 regular season.

After being relieved of his duties by the Rams, Martz was hired as the Lions' offensive coordinator in 2006 and was there for two years. He then became the 49ers' offensive coordinator in 2008 and did not coach at all in 2009.

The Bears hired Martz as their offensive coordinator on Feb. 1, 2010 and has been there since. During his first season with the Bears, the Bears' offense was 28th in passing and 22nd in rushing.

As of right now, the Bears are currently 22nd in passing and 12th in rushing, thanks to running back Matt Forte who is a question mark for the rest of the regular season.

Even though the stats haven't been there as of late, Martz will still be a hot commodity if he does leave the Bears after the season is over. He would likely receive interest from teams such as the Colts, Dolphins, Jaguars, among others.

Vikings Plan To Release QB Donovan McNabb Today

By: Tyler Ward

Sources have told ESPN's Adam Schefter that the Minnesota Vikings plan to release veteran quarterback Donovan McNabb today. McNabb, who signed with the Vikings prior to this season, has been a disappointment in Minnesota and was benched in favor of rookie Christian Ponder after he led the Vikings to a 1-5 start.

The Vikings were coming off a 39-10 loss to the Bears and the following week, head coach Leslie Frazier decided to bench the veteran in favor of Ponder, the 12th overall pick in this year's draft.

McNabb still believes he has a lot of football left and wants to come back. He decided to ask the Vikings for his release after he realized that he would not be starting for the Vikings for the remainder of the season.

He will reach waivers on Friday and there could be a few potential suitors. The team with the highest priority will be able to claim him.

A few weeks ago, the Broncos released quarterback Kyle Orton in favor of former Florida star Tim Tebow. The Chiefs, Bears, and Cowboys were the only teams to put in a claim for Orton and he was eventually grabbed up by the Chiefs, who were looking for a quarterback after Matt Cassel was placed on injured reserve.

So with the Bears and Cowboys not getting their man, it is suspected that one or both teams will put in a claim for McNabb. The Bears recently lost starting quarterback Jay Cutler for the season, but it is unclear as to why the Cowboys would want him since McNabb was once a bitter rival and they already have a starting quarterback in Tony Romo.

The Houston Texans could also put in a claim for McNabb after losing starter Matt Schaub and back-up Matt Leinart for the season. Rookie T.J. Yates, who played collegiately at North Carolina, is currently the starter and the team also signed veteran Jake Delhomme a few days ago to be the team's back-up.

Another team to look at is the 0-11 Indianapolis Colts. With Peyton Manning yet to play, the Colts have had a problem at the quarterback position all year. They signed veteran Kerry Collins at the beginning of the season, but he turned out to be a horrible option.

They decided to bench Collins, who is now on injured reserve, in favor of former Purdue quarterback Curtis Painter. Painter has put the Colts in close situations, but he was never able to get them on top and win games. It has been reported that they will bench Painter in favor of Dan Orlovsky, who was on the 0-16 Lions squad, this week against the 8-3 New England Patriots.

However, I doubt the Colts will put in a claim for McNabb as it seems like they're purposely losing games and not going after any mediocre free agents that could benefit them in some way. They seem to want a big lead in the "Suck for Luck" campaign and McNabb could ruin that if he plays like he did when he was a Philadelphia Eagle.

We will see in the next couple of days as to what happens with the quarterback, who was the second overall pick in 1999 and was once beloved by Eagles fans.

Chicago Bears: 2010-11 Season Ultimate Highlight

By: Stephen Patterson

Do you think the Chicago Bears can duplicate their success from this past season when they fell just a game shy reaching the Super Bowl or will they struggle to get that deep in the postseason again?

Let us know how far you think Jay Cutler and the Bears can go this season after you check out highlights from last season.

NFL Top 10: The Top Kick Returners In NFL History

By: Tyler Ward

Being one of the most electrifying aspects in football, there have been some great returners since the NFL merger.

When a player scores a touchdown on a kick or punt return, it does more than just put up six points on the board. It excites not only the crowd, but the players, too. It can also provide a spark for the team and possibly make them even better.


Thanks to the guys at the NFL Network, I bring you a list of the top ten kick returners in NFL history.

 Example: Player's name, Team they're most known playing for

10. Dante Hall, Kansas City Chiefs


9. Desmond Howard, Green Bay Packers


8. Eric Metcalf, Cleveland Browns


7. Gale Sayers, Chicago Bears


6. Rick Upchurch, Denver Broncos


5. Mel Gray, Detroit Lions


4. Deion Sanders, Dallas Cowboys


3. Billy "White Shoes" Johnson, Houston Oilers


2. Brian Mitchell, Philadelphia Eagles/Washington Redskins


1. Devin Hester, Chicago Bears


Courtesy of NFL Network

Hall-of-Famer George Blanda Dies At 83

By: Tyler Ward

George Blanda, one of the greatest players of his era, has died at the age of 83. Blanda spent 26 seasons in the NFL – 10 with the Chicago Bears, part of one with the Baltimore Colts, 7 with the Houston Oilers, and the final 9 with the Oakland Raiders.

Blanda was most known for the time he spent with the Raiders and he and owner Al Davis remained close friends before passing away on Monday. The Raiders released a statement, stating “We are deeply saddened by the passing of the great George Blanda. George was a brave Raider and a close personal friend of Raiders owner Al Davis.”

When Blanda retired before the 1976 season, he was the all-time leader in points scored with 2,002 points – he kicked 335 field goals and 943 extra points, along with 236 passing touchdowns and 9 rushing touchdowns. He was also elected to four Pro Bowls and was inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 1981.

Blanda entered the NFL in 1949 as a 12^th-round draft pick out of Kentucky. He spent most of the decade with the Bears, but played one game with the Colts in 1950. He won the Bears starting job in 1953, but got injured the next season and was benched. The Bears felt that he was no their solution at quarterback and Blanda retired from the NFL in 1959 at the age of 31. His retirement didn’t last long as he would leave for the AFL’s Houston Oilers the next season.

He is perhaps the best player in AFL history. In seven seasons with the Oilers, Blanda threw for 19,149 yards and 165 touchdowns. He was named the AFL Player of the Year in 1961.

Oilers owner Bud Adams, who was another good friend of Blanda, said of ex-Oilers great, “He was the perfect fit for the start of the AFL, joining our league from the NFL and displaying the ability to lead a high-flying offense. His play garnered our league a lot of attention and fans. We had a celebration last year in Houston for the 1960 and 1961 AFL championship seasons and the team hall of fame members and it was great to have George join us and remember fondly those early years.”

In 1967, Blanda left the Oilers and many considered his career to be finished. However, the Raiders took a shot on him and wanted to use him as a back-up quarterback and kicker. He would last nine seasons with the Raiders and perhaps played his greatest for the Raider faithful. He played great for the team and led the Raiders on a remarkable five-game stretch in 1970 – he led the Raiders to four wins and a tie, while advancing to the playoffs. Blanda led them to late touchdowns or field goals to seal the victories. In the playoffs, he became the oldest quarterback to start in a championship game, but lost to the Baltimore Colts in the AFC Championship game.

NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell said of Blanda, “George Blanda will always be remembered as a legend of our game including his amazing career longevity of 26 seasons in four different decades. George’s multi-talented flair for the dramatic highlighted the excitement of pro football during an important period of growth for our sport.”

For that 1970 season, here’s what Blanda accomplished:

-         Replaced injured Daryle Lamonica and threw three touchdowns in a 31-14 win against the Pittsburgh Steelers

-         Kicked a 48-yard field goal in the final seconds to tie the Kansas City Chiefs, 17-17

-         Threw a tying touchdown pass with 1:34 remaining in the game; he then proceeded to kick a 52-yard game-winning field goal against the Cleveland Browns; the Raiders won the game 23-20

-         Threw a 20-yard touchdown pass to wide receiver Fred Biletnikoff to secure a 24-19 victory over the Denver Broncos

-         Kicked a 16-yard field goal in the final seconds to beat the San Diego Chargers, 20-17

On Monday, the NFL lost one of the greatest players in pro football history. He was elected to four Pro Bowls and won two AFL championships. The NFL will sorely miss Blanda and we appreciate everything he did for the NFL to make it what it is today.

R.I.P. George Blanda (September 17, 1927 – September 27, 2010)

NFC North Preview

By: Tyler Ward and Stephen Patterson

1. Green Bay Packers (Head Coach: Mike McCarthy)

Key Arrivals: OG Bryan Bulaga (draft), DT Mike Neal (draft), S Morgan Burnett (draft)

Key Departures: LB Aaron Kampman, RB Ahman Green

SP: The Packers kept most of their team intact, with Aaron Kampman being the only major departure. While he will definitely be missed on the defensive side of the ball, Green Bay's offense should be able to cover for the loss. Aaron Rodgers is one of the most efficient quarterbacks in the league, and could be an MVP candidate this season. With receivers such as Donald Driver, Greg Jennings, and Jermichael Finley, the Packers have one of the best offenses in the NFC. The only real question is the offensive line, but the team hopes Bryan Bulaga will be able to help keep Rodgers safe, who was the league leader in getting sacked, a category you don't want to lead. Charles Woodson, A.J. Hawk, Nick Barnett, and Clay Matthews will lead the way for the defense, which could potentially be one of the Top 10 in the NFL this season. While the Vikings got another year out of Favre, I don't think Minnesota will be able to outlast Green Bay down the stretch this season. Barring any major injuries to Aaron Rodgers or one of the Packer's other key players, expect Green Bay to have a solid season that could potentially end with an extended postseason run.

- SP's Prediction: 11-5

TW: Despite no veteran signings, Green Bay went out and selected well at this year's draft. With their offensive line getting slightly older, the Packers used their first selection on Iowa tackle, Bryan Bulaga. He will not start the season as the starter and will back up Daryn Colledge at left guard. But, Bulaga is expected to be a great offensive lineman - however, he will end up being the backup as of now. Green Bay has a high-powered offense, especially with Greg Jennings currently in the prime of his career. Donald Driver, although he is also getting older, is still a top 20 receiver in the NFL and gives leadership to the young Packers team. Jermichael Finley is expected to get more playing time and start at tight end. Finley has great athleticism and gives Aaron Rodgers another target on the field. Rodgers could be an MVP candidate this season, as he has been a good successor to current Vikings QB Brett Favre. Personally, I think there's a very good chance (as long as the Packers win games) that Rodgers could be the best player in the NFL this season - Brees, Chris Johnson, Peyton Manning, and Adrian Peterson are also in the running. Green Bay also has one of the best defenses in the league and their second-round selection, Mike Neal, will probably be the backup to second-year pro B.J. Raji. Ryan Pickett is a prototypical defensive tackle, but Green Bay has him listed as a defensive end on the depth chart. The Packers are running a 3-4 defense and have one of the best linebacking corps in the league with Nick Barnett, A.J. Hawk, Clay Matthews, and Brandon Chillar as the starters. Their cornerbacks could be the weak link in the Packers' defense, as there is not much depth at that position. They are very young, but could be good in a few years. Charles Woodson, last year's Defensive Player of the Year, is one of the best all-around players in the league, so with him on the roster, it adds so much to the Packers' defense. I think the Packers can be a Super Bowl contender this season, but will have to go through New Orleans and Minnesota if they want to get there. I really like what the Packers have on boths sides of the ball - they may not advance all the way to the Super Bowl this season, but will definitely make it to the playoffs and win the NFC North. Watch out for Greg Jennings this season - I think he will make his way into the Top 5, as far as wide receivers go. I also suspect that Aaron Rodgers will be this year's league leader in passing yards. It seems like since Brett Favre left the Packers, the team has just gotten better and better as the years progress. They will be contenders in the NFC for years to come if they keep at the pace they're at now.

- TW's Prediction: 12-4
 

2. Minnesota Vikings (Head Coach: Brad Childress)

Key Arrivals: CB Lito Sheppard, RB Ryan Moats, RB Toby Gerhart (draft), DE Everson Griffen (draft)

Key Departures: RB Chester Taylor

SP: Well, Minnesota got their wish. After yet another season of waffling on whether or not he should retire, Brett Favre decided he would come back for yet another season. The Vikings saw their season come to a disappointing end last year when the team fell to the New Orleans Saints in the NFC Championship game. Favre took a massive beating during the game, and had to come off the field at one point when he feared he had broken his ankle after a hard hit by Bobby McCray. The Vikings are banking a lot of faith, not to mention money, on the fact that Favre could reproduce last season's miracle year. Regardless of how well Favre may do with the Vikings this season, his numbers will not be on par with or better than his stats last year. Favre has constantly seemed to whore for media attention over the past few seasons, and especially the offseasons, and this year has been nothing different. While the team seemed to be able to handle all of the attention and publicity surrounding them last season, I'm not so certain the ship will sail so smoothly this season. I'm expecting a few things that could happen to this team: Favre will suffer an injury bad enough for him to miss 1-2 games and end his streak. His interceptions this season will be much closer to 20 than 5 this season. Childress will be gone after this experiment if the Vikings fall short of the Super Bowl, regardless of regular season success. Those are just a few of the very real, and very scary possibilities that could happen this season with this team. It has been reported tonight that Sidney Rice could miss up to half the season with a hip injury. Percy Harvin apparently doesn't understand the concept of a visor on his helmet if looking into a clouded sky makes him collapse or gives him migraines. Adrian Peterson will need to learn to hold the ball during key games and situations after a horrid season for the back in the category. This entire offense is surrounded by question marks, and quite frankly, I'm expecting some very mixed answers to some of those questions. The defense could take them very far, and if both sides of the field can catch fire during the same game, not very many teams even have a chance to stay in the game with them. Health is my major concern for this team, especially on the offensive side of the ball, and I think injuries will eventually cost this team late in the season.

- SP's Prediction: 12-4

TW: Minnesota definitely had one of the most quiet offseasons in the league. The "make-or-break" option of the team is Brett Favre, who announced last week that he will return to the NFL for a 20th season. Without Favre, the Vikings have absolutely nothing that can be considered top-half-of-the-league material at quarterback (Tarvaris Jackson and Sage Rosenfels). So, with Favre coming back, the Vikings are automatically a contender in the NFC. They will also not have to heavily depend on running back Adrian Peterson, a Pro Bowl-caliber player. Peterson, fresh off another stellar season, is looking to have another one this year and should do so. To help with Peterson's workload, Minnesota drafted Toby Gerhart, who almost won the Heisman Trophy last season while playing at Stanford. He could very well never be a starting running back in the NFL, but should be a decent backup (the Vikings also added Ryan Moats to compete against Gerhart). The Vikings are also set at wide receiver with Percy Harvin, Bernard Berrian, and 2009 Pro Bowler Sidney Rice. Harvin, last year's Offensive Rookie of the Year, is a deep threat for the Vikings, along with Berrian who also adds athleticism to the corps. Rice is looking to improve his numbers and become one of the elite receivers in the NFC - and he should do so...with Favre as his quarterback, not Rosenfels or Jackson. The Vikings are also notably known to have one of the best offensive lines in the league with Steve Hutchinson and Bryant McKinnie holding it down. Phil Loadholt and John Sullivan have shown promise for the Vikings and they should be marquee names in a few seasons. Not only is their offense stacked, but their defense is, too. Jared Allen, a sack machine, is in the prime of his career and will likely get selected to the Pro Bowl. They also have big bodies in the middle with Pat and Kevin Williams, which immediately helps their 4-3 defense. Linebackers E.J. Henderson and Chad Greenway have shown consistency for the Vikings and they are hoping to rely on them this season, as they do not have much depth at that position. They also added Lito Sheppard to the team during the offseason, which already consists of Antoine Winfield and Cedric Griffin. The Vikings will certainly be a force this season, as they were so close to representing the NFC in the Super Bowl last season. Favre will not have a season like he did last year, but he should be one of the top-tier QB's in the league. I just think that the Packers are stronger and will end up barely beating out Minnesota for the NFC North crown.

- TW's Prediction: 11-5
 

3. Chicago Bears (Head Coach: Lovie Smith)

Key Arrivals: DE Julius Peppers, RB Chester Taylor, CB Tim Jennings, S Chris Harris, RB Harvey Unga (draft), S Major Wright (draft), QB Dan LeFevour (draft)

Key Departures: DE Adewale Ogunleye, DE Alex Brown, RB Kevin Jones, FB Jason McKie, CB Nathan Vasher, LB Pisa Tinoisamoa

SP: While Chicago definitely upgraded this offseason with the additions of Julius Peppers and Chester Taylor, I don't think they are going to even threaten to win their division. This whole team revolves around Jay Cutler, and if he doesn't learn how to keep the turnovers over down, this team will suffer another disappointing season. The Bears were the "lucky" team to land Cutler after he had multiple disagreements Broncos' head coach Josh McDaniel. He has a decent group of receivers, but none of them are really superstar players. Matt Forte also needs a strong year for Chicago to be successful, but I think Taylor could take a lot of his carries if he is impressive. The Bears have always been known for their defense, but with a Pro Bowl caliber QB in Jay Cutler, they have high expectations for both sides of the ball. Peppers and Brian Urlacher will be the defensive leaders and could have spectacular seasons. While the Bears have many of the tools to get the job done, I'm just still not convinced they can beat Green Bay or Minnesota, both of which are considered favorites to make the postseason. While Cutler has several quality receivers around him, I still think they need one more All-Pro caliber player at WR or TE for him to be successful.

- SP's Prediction: 7-9

TW: The Bears did mildly decent this offseason, but they are still not a playoff team. Jay Cutler, who threw 26 interceptions last season, has to do a lot better this season and should with Mike Martz being named the offensive coordinator. Cutler has shown great power, but his accuracy could be a problem. However, if he limited his mistakes, Cutler could be one of the best quarterbacks in the league. It just depends on him if he wants to stay turnover-free and learn the offense that surrounds him. Running back Matt Forte will get the bulk of the carries, but the Bears added Chester Taylor to help carry the load. Forte should be a 1,000 yard back. Chicago is also looking for wide receiver Devin Aromashodu to have a big year, along with Devin Hester and Johnny Knox. Although they aren't name-brand receivers, Cutler should have a solid year if everything goes right. Tight End Greg Olsen should also have a stellar season because he will be one of Cutler's main and most steady targets. The Bears also need solid performances out of tackle Chris Williams, who was a first round pick in 2008 - it could possibly be a make-or-break season for Williams, a teammate of Cutler at Vanderbilt. Perhaps the biggest signing of the offseason, the Bears signed defensive end Julius Peppers to help a defensive line that played inconsistently throughout the season. Mark Anderson will take Adewale Ogunleye's place on the line, as Ogunleye was released earlier this offseason. Brian Urlacher and Lance Briggs are back and one, if not both, should have a great season if they stay injury-free. Their secondary could be in trouble, as there is not much depth - Charles Tillman and Zack Bowman will have to be heavily relied on if the Bears want to resurrect a defense that was top of the line a few seasons ago. I just don't see the Bears staying injury-free and I expect at least one key loss happening. I can also see their receiving game hurting the offense, which could possibly hurt Cutler's performances. They have a lot they need to work on if they want to return to their Super Bowl form.

- TW's Prediction: 7-9
 

4. Detroit Lions (Head Coach: Jim Schwartz)

Key Arrivals: DE Kyle Vanden Bosch, DT Corey Williams, CB Chris Houston, QB Shaun Hill, TE Tony Scheffler, WR Nate Burleson, CB Dre Bly, S C.C. Brown, DT Ndamukong Suh (draft), RB Jahvid Best (draft)

Key Departures: QB Daunte Culpepper, LB Ernie Sims, LB Larry Foote, CB Anthony Henry

SP: Detroit is definitely on the right track to making the playoffs in a few seasons. Eventually Brett Favre will have to retire, meaning their will be a shift of power in the division, although it may only be small changes. The Lions have been a laughing-stock for as long as I can remember being a fan of the NFL. They had to suffer through the Matt Millen era. Millen was the brainchild behind Detroit's moves for eight seasons in the last decade, and he single-handedly help destroy any ounce of respect any fan ever had for the Lions. The differences since Millen left the team are astonishing. The team is now led by Matthew Stafford, who is entering his second season in the NFL. He has veterans such as Calvin Johnson and Nate Burleson as primary targets, along with tight end Brandon Pettigrew. The team also took Jahvid Best in the draft, who I think will be one of the most productive rookies this season. If he isn't the starter in week 1, expect him to be the starter by the end of the first month of the season. Their defense has also seen major upgrades, especially on the line with the additions of Vanden Bosch and Suh. If they can add a few more decent pieces over the next offseason or two, the Lions will definitely be a major threat in the division in the very near future. For now, I can't see any way this team is breaking .500 this season, and they will fall just short of that mark.

- SP's Prediction: 7-9

TW: Although they did a lot in the offseason, I still don't think that the Lions are anywhere close to be considered a playoff contender. Stafford could be a star in the league someday, but as of right now, he is still a work in progress. With a rocket arm, the former Georgia Bulldogs star can thought to be inaccurate and has shown that at times. But, with a receiver like Calvin Johnson, he could do nothing, but get better as time progresses. Detroit also added Nate Burleson through free agency, who has shown great athleticism and versatility throughout his career. Tight End Brandon Pettigrew, along with newly-acquired Tony Scheffler, could form a good combination at that position and round out the receiving core at the same time. With their second round selection in this year's draft, Detroit selected Jahvid Best, their "running back of the future". He should have a solid rookie season and will get better as the seasons go. Like most teams, it comes down to the offensive line for their weakness. Former first-round pick Gosder Cherilus, like Stafford, is a work in progress, also, but has taken baby steps to stardom since being drafted. Tackle Jeff Backus is getting older and it is unknown how much he has left in the tank. Other than those two players, they have an "iffy" offensive line. I do like what they have done defensively, especially with the decision to draft the talented defensive tackle, Ndamukong Suh. With Corey Williams and Kyle Vanden Bosch also on the line, they could have a very formidable defensive line. They also have Cliff Avril, who played very well last season after bullying through to the starting role. With so many new additions, it's going to be hard, chemistry-wise, to succeed and for that, I see them being one of the lower teams in the NFC.

- TW's Prediction: 5-11