Norv Turner’s relationship with Philip Rivers may have helped Turner keep his job in San Diego.
In Chicago, Jay Cutler’s relationship with Mike Martz helped push Martz out the door. Martz “retired” but his contract was up this month. He wasn’t going to be brought back.
In a report that is sure to be denied by Cutler eventually, Brad Biggs of the Chicago Tribune writes that Cutler met with coach Lovie Smith Tuesday to let Smith know he was in favor of “moving on without Martz.”
Cutler wasn’t a fan of Martz’s hiring in the first place, but it appeared the two men had a productive working relationship. Cutler was playing great football in Martz’s system this season.
Still, we’ve heard countless reports now that Martz wasn’t a popular figure in Halas Hall with players or other members of the organization.
This will be Cutler’s third offensive coordinator in four years. Biggs points out that Lovie Smith now has 28 ex-assistant coaches that have worked with him in Chicago.