Best Bears coordinator is Cutler
For all we know, it’s Mike Martz spreading the rumors and linking his name to college and pro jobs from Florida to California.And for all we care, Martz can take any job he#146;s able to find outside of Chicago#146;s NFL franchise.While it#146;s true that Jay Cutler doesn#146;t want to learn another system after having the same offensive coordinator two consecutive years for the first time in five seasons, Cutler doesn#146;t really need a coordinator or an offense of this complexity anymore.In essence, Cutler has become his own coordinator.Since dressing down Martz publicly and beginning a slow but effective campaign to max protect, simplify the offense, get the ball out quickly and allow him to make plays out of the pocket, Cutler had played the best football of his career for more than a month before breaking his thumb.Imagine, now, if he were allowed to audible and create more plays on his own minus Martz#146;s intractability.An entirely new system would be a setback for Cutler and the offense, but installing Mike Tice as the offensive coordinator would supply the necessary sanity and balance to the current plan without forcing everyone in the system to start completely over.What has become clear over the last two years is that Cutler has the arm strength and computer upstairs to make big plays on his own, even with a weak offensive line and an equally weak receiving corps #8212; provided he#146;s not in a body cast.To GM Jerry Angelo#146;s credit, he resisted hiring Martz, who continues to blame problems occurring in the offense only on the players. His arrogance is a perfect fit for Lovie Smith, who will have to be persuaded that his hand-picked genius doesn#146;t fit Cutler or the Bears.For Cutler#146;s sake, not to mention that of the franchise, let#146;s hope once this season#146;s over that the Bears do the right thing.Just coaching
Lovie Smith is often slow to adjust.It took him seven games a year ago and five this year to get Mike Martz under control.After throwing away a chance to win Sunday in Oakland with a throwback screen tossed by a QB in his first NFL start with one week#146;s reps, it will be fascinating to see if Smith gets to Martz and makes certain they can defeat a 4-7 team Sunday by playing a simple offensive game.Even on the sidelines, Jay Cutler continues to do his part to smack around Martz and coordinate the offense, saying, #147;We#146;ve just got to be really careful what kind of situations we put (Caleb Hanie) in. Mike#146;s got to be careful with that.#148;0One can only imagine what Cutler says about Martz in private.Ivan Boldirev-ing
It#146;s been a long time coming, but Glenview native Al Montoya should get the start in goal for the Islanders on Friday night at the UC, facing the Blackhawks for the first time in his career.Drafted by the Rangers sixth overall in 2004 #8212; after playing for the Young Americans, Loyola and Michigan #8212; the 26-year-old Montoya has been bouncing around the last six years before playing 21 games for the Islanders last season, going 9-5-5 with a .921 save percentage for the fourth-worst team in hockey.Montoya opened this season 2-1-0 (4 goals allowed) in the first three New York games, but when the Islanders tried to get their veteran netminders work, the Isles went into another slide.They#146;re the worst team in the East again but have won their last two with Montoya allowing only 3 goals. In his last 3 starts he#146;s given up 4 goals and is seventh in the league with a 2.07 GA and sixth with a .933 save percentage for a team that#146;s 24th in the NHL in goals allowed.NIU tries again
The Huskies, led by conference MVP Chandler Harnish, will go for their first MAC title since 1983 Friday against Ohio in Detroit (6 p.m., ESPN2), hoping to erase the memories of their last two title games at Ford Field.As a huge favorite last year against Miami, NIU gave up a fourth-and-20 on the final drive and eventually a 33-yard TD with 33 seconds remaining to lose the game.Just as bad was the collapse in 2005 against Akron, when NIU blew a big fourth-quarter lead and gave up the winning score with 17 seconds left on a second-and-10 from the 36.NIU enters this MAC title game as a 3frac12;-point favorite against a very solid Ohio squad.The good cause
The Wolves host their Marine Corps #147;Toys for Tots#148; drive this month beginning with games Friday and Sunday at the Allstate Arena. Every fan who donates a new, unopened toy will receive a raffle ticket for a chance to win a $50 merchandise credit. For more info, visit chicagowolves.com.Washington math
Emailer Peter Ellison: #147;I understand a congressman negotiated the new NBA contract. Each side got 53 percent of the revenue.#148;Carpooling
E-mailer Joe Gleeson: #147;Did Urban Meyer consult Michael Jordan on how to be a stay-at-home father?#148;Reality stow
Omaha World-Herald#146;s Brad Dickson: #147;A team in Turkey was pursuing Lamar Odom. I#146;m all for Odom going to Turkey provided he takes at least two Kardashians with him.#148;And finally ...
NBC#146;s Jay Leno, on Ndamukong Suh slamming heads and stomping arms: #147;In the NFL, that gets you a two-game suspension. At Wal-Mart, it gets you a $2 waffle iron.#148;brozner@dailyherald.com
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