Not much comment of future of Bears' Martz

The future of offensive coordinator Mike Martz apparently is off limits.

When Bears coach Lovie Smith was asked about it after Wednesday's practice inside the Walter Payton Center, he was clearly annoyed and answered the question with a question:

“What kind of question is that anyway, at this time?” Smith said. “What kind of question is that? Why would you ask a question like that anyway?”

The obvious reply is: “To get an honest answer.”

But that's not happening at Halas Hall — at least not for now.

The bottom line is, if Smith already had decided he wanted Martz back for next season, he would have said so.

The absence of a vote of confidence is not a good sign for Martz, whose contract expires after this season. It doesn't necessarily mean that he won't be back, but more and more it appears to be a probability.

“Obviously I would sure like to be back,” Martz said. “I think all of that stuff works out. This is going to be a great football team, and I would like to be a part of it. We'll just see how it works out. We'll address that when the season is over.”

If Martz has received any indication one way or the other from Smith regarding his future employment, he's not saying.

“All of those kinds of things I would never discuss,” Martz said. “It is what it is. I've addressed it and I like it here. Hopefully it works out.”

At the time of quarterback Jay Cutler's season-ending thumb injury Nov. 20, the Bears were 16th in total yards, 14th in rushing yards, 22nd in passing yards and No. 6 in scoring.

After five games without Cutler, the Bears are 20th in total yards, eighth in rushing yards, 26th in passing yards and 16th in scoring.

After Cutler was lost, Pro Bowl running back Matt Forte played just one more full game until he suffered a season-ending knee injury. Early in Week 15, leading receiver Johnny Knox was eliminated with a season-ending back injury.

Cutler's injury came in the Bears' fifth straight victory; since then they've lost five straight. His loss was the beginning of the end for the Bears.

“We were just getting kind of rolling,” Martz said. “You've got to feel that way, to some extent.”

Martz was asked if the Bears' injury situation should be taken into account when deciding his future.

“I'm not going to get into all of that stuff,” he said. “I'm not going to discuss anything like that.”

But Martz believes that progress was being made before the rash of injuries.

“We were getting better every week,” he said. “I thought we were doing a good job. But that just happens. You just have to move on.”

Maybe that's what Lovie Smith and the Bears already are telling Martz.

Extra points:Guard Edwin Williams, who will start his seventh straight game Sunday, signed a two-year contract extension Wednesday. #8230; Marion Barber (calf), Julius Peppers (rest), Kellen Davis (ill) and Brian Urlacher (knee) did not practice Wednesday. Devin Hester (ankle), Nick Roach (shin), Chris Spencer (back) and Corey Wootton (concussion) were limited.#376;Follow Bob's Bears reports via Twitter @BobLeGere and check out our Bear Essentials blog at dailyherald.com.