Cutler says he’s happy Bears got Martz

Jay Cutler’s position coach at Denver, Jeremy Bates, is now the Seahawks’ offensive coordinator.

The Bears were interested in interviewing Bates a year ago, before they decided on Mike Martz as their offensive coordinator, but Bates opted to hitch his wagon to Pete Carroll instead.

Cutler was asked if anything would have been different this year had Bates gotten the Bears’ job.

“We’re in the playoffs as well,” said Cutler, who hasn’t spoken with Bates in some time. “You never know. It’s worked out the way it’s worked out. I’m happy we’ve got Mike.”

Cutler put up impressive numbers in Denver but never played on a winning team. He says he’s enjoyed being part of a team with a winning record and participating in the postseason for the first time since he was in high school.

“It’s been fun to be on a veteran team like this that has kind of been there and done it,” Cutler said. “To be around this group and get Mike Martz in here and kind of reinvent this offense with these guys, it’s been a fun ride.”

Bringing the heat

Seattle quarterback Matt Hasselbeck was not sacked in his team’s Week 6 victory over the Bears, and he rarely was pressured. The Bears also failed to get any takeaways, which happened just three times in the regular season.

“We did have pressure on him last time,” coach Lovie Smith said, even though, as a team, the Bears were credited with just 1 QB pressure. “He was able to get away. He’s a good player.

“But we need to sack him more. We want to create more takeaways this time around. All of those things kind of led to them winning the football game, and we hope we’ve corrected some of those things. We’ve been rushing the passer fairly well lately and feel like we can this week.”

Grading scale

Whether it’s fair or not, quarterbacks, more than any position, are evaluated on their postseason performances, and especially their Super Bowl efforts.

“I think that’s the nature of it, absolutely,” offensive coordinator Mike Martz said. “All quarterbacks are basically graded by whether they get their team in the end zone and whether they win.”

Just a trim

The normally youthful-looking Johnny Knox looks a lot older in his rapidly growing beard.

He says it’s not an NHL-style playoff beard.

“Just trying to stay warm,” the Texas native said. “Knowing how the weather is, I just wanted to grow it out because it makes me feel warm. But it was getting kind of out of control, so I had to trim it up, make it a little more presentable.”

Out of control? Think Smith Bros. cough drops or Grady on “Sanford and Son.”

Fellow wide receiver Devin Hester called it, “ridiculous.”

Picture of health

The Bears did not list anyone on Friday’s injury report, while the Seahawks have middle linebacker Lofa Tatupu listed “questionable,” with a concussion. He participated in a Friday practice without pads or helmets but hasn’t been cleared yet to play.