Mike Martz's coaching future has been a hot topic in Chicago, but the latest round of speculation has left the Bears' offensive coordinator "bothered" and adamant he wants to return next season.
Martz was forced to address his coaching future last week amid reports linking him to the head-coaching vacancies at Arizona State and UCLA as well as the Jacksonville Jaguars. On Wednesday, Martz found himself answering questions about reports he won't return to the Bears in 2012.
"I'm bothered by that," Martz said. "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.
"I am very happy here. This is a terrific place and a terrific opportunity for me, and I am enjoying it, I really am. So, those things we'll just kind of disregard, if you will."
Martz said he talked to Bears coach Lovie Smith about the speculation and appeared to be shaken by it. Martz said he didn't know where it was coming from, just that he wasn't happy about it.
On Tuesday, Smith called the reports "made up" and said he hadn't discussed Martz's status with anyone.
Martz is making $1 million in the final year of a two-year contract. During the offseason, he turned down a one-year extension that would have paid him his current salary of $1 million.
The Associated Press contributed to this report.