Fireworks likely, on and off field

Let the fun begin now that the Bears officially hired Mike Martz as offensive coordinator.

Who knows whether an accredited offensive practitioner like Martz can work magic with the Bears' attack?

Maybe he can, maybe nobody can. Most important, Martz is getting an opportunity to try.

Financial considerations forced Chicago to reduce this year's July Fourth fireworks show, but the Bears should fill the void resoundingly.

On and off the field.

Starting as soon as this morning, the tension, maybe even friction, should be considerable inside Halas Hall.

If Martz really is as difficult to work with as reported, he could clash with general manager Jerry Angelo, head coach Lovie Smith, quarterback Jay Cutler and defensive coach Rod Marinelli.

Smith, who worked for Martz with the Rams early last decade, hired his old buddy here. Still, that might not keep them from feuding at some point during a long season.

Martz is tough on quarterbacks, so he and Cutler might clash. Marinelli, as head coach in Detroit, fired Martz as his coordinator, so they might clash. Angelo supposedly wasn't in favor of bringing Martz to Lake Forest, so they might clash.

That's entertainment, folks, just as it was 25 years ago.

Remember when Mike Ditka, Mike McCaskey, Buddy Ryan, Jim McMahon and assorted other principals might as well have erected a steel cage for wrestling matches at Halas Hall?

Maybe this time around Martz will call one pass play too many and Virginia McCaskey will go down to the sideline and punch him out.

Martz has a two-year contract, but he might not last one whole season. I can hear the cops now: "Did he have any enemies?"

Seriously, creative differences of opinion can be useful within a sports franchise.

They not only worked well enough for the Bears to win a Super Bowl. They worked well enough for the Bulls to win six NBA titles, with Phil Jackson's team pitted against Jerry Krause's front office.

Considering how the Bears operated in recent years - from the McCaskeys to Ted Phillips to Angelo to Smith - what possibly could be wrong with bringing a dissenting voice into Halas Hall?

The best thing everybody else in the building could do is turn the offense over to Martz and stay out of his lab.

If the guy wants to install an entirely new system that actually has a pulse, let him. If he wants to throw on running downs, let him. If he wants to scold Cutler, let him.

Martz probably is the Bears' most accomplished offensive coach since the legend Sid Gillman came here too late in his career.

Hopefully Martz won't yield to Bears tradition. Hopefully he'll pass to set up the run instead of running to set up the pass.

The way Martz's wide receivers spread the field, feature back Matt Forte should find plenty of room to roam.

Sure, a bad offensive line is a problem in Martz's system. But if it's as bad next season as last season, no offensive coordinator would matter.

At least Martz recognizes this is the 21st century. Maybe he can drag the Bears' offense kicking and screaming into it.

It should be exciting to find out whether that's possible.

mimrem@dailyherald.com