LAKE FOREST, Ill. -- Chicago Bears coach Lovie Smith wasn't in the mood Wednesday to discuss Mike Martz's job status, snapping at an inquiry about his offensive coordinator's future.
"What kind of question is that anyway?" Smith said when asked if he plans to bring back Martz. "At this time, what kind of question is that? Why would you ask a question like that anyway?"
Because Martz has an expiring contract and Smith has said he's the one who will decide if his offensive coordinator comes back. There has been plenty of speculation about Martz's future in recent weeks, and the Bears (7-8) could be in store for changes once they wrap up the season Sunday at Minnesota.
Injuries wrecked an offense that had started to jell, and a five-game losing streak knocked a team that seemed headed to the playoffs out of contention. But Martz hopes to stick around for another season.
"I've addressed that already, and obviously I'd sure like to be back," he said. "I think all that stuff works out. This is going to be a great football team, and I'd like to be a part of it. We'll just see how it works out. But we'll address that when the season is over."
Asked if he has been given any indication that the Bears would like to have him back, Martz said: "All those kinds of things, I would never discuss. It is what it is."
Whether or not Martz stays, wide receiver Roy Williams made it clear he would like to stick around in Chicago.
"I feel like I made plays when the opportunity came," he said. "Of course everybody's going to bring up the negatives, which is fine. But for the most part, I made enough plays, and I'll be happy to sign, but if not, I'll continue on elsewhere."
The Bears signed Williams to a one-year contract following his disappointing run in Dallas, hoping he would rediscover some of the form that made him a Pro Bowl pick in Martz's system when both were in Detroit.
Instead, Williams struggled at times to get open and had trouble hanging onto the ball. He has 33 receptions for 447 yards and didn't have more than five catches in a game until last week, when he finished with six for 81 yards.
Copyright 2011 by The Associated Press
