According to Lovie Smith's agent, only an "unforseen breakthrough," can save him from returning for the 2007 season without a new contract. Frank Bauer, Smith's agent, told ESPN's Chris Mortensen that talks between the team and coach were at a "stalemate." "We're not close, we're not encouraged and based on where talks have gone recently, Lovie will be a free agent after next season," Bauer said on Wednesday night.

The Chicago Bears promoted Bob Babich from linebackers coach to defensive coordinator Tuesday, one day after the team announced it would not retain Ron Rivera. Babich, in his fourth year with the Bears, also coached with Lovie Smith in St. Louis and at the University of Tulsa. He was the Rams' linebackers coach when Smith was defensive coordinator. At Tulsa, he coached the tight ends while Smith worked with linebackers.

FOXSports.com has learned that Chicago has decided to not renew the contract of defensive coordinator Ron Rivera. Team sources say that Lovie Smith and Rivera met recently and agreed to allow Rivera to pursue other opportunities. The sources also contend that Smith will likely end up promoting Bob Babich from linebackers coach to defensive coordinator

In an attempt to keep together their Super Bowl defense, the Bears designated linebacker Lance Briggs their franchise player Friday. Briggs would have become an unrestricted free agent March 2 if he didn't reach a contract agreement with the Bears before then. The franchise tag means Chicago can keep Briggs by matching any offer sheet he might sign with another team.

Another guy with a Super Bowl ring dropped by Chargers headquarters looking for a head coaching job, and this one knows the drill pretty well. Ron Rivera, Chicago's third-year defensive coordinator who played linebacker for the Bears' 1985 Super Bowl champion team, was the fourth candidate to interview for the job vacated by Marty Schottenheimer's sudden firing. It was Rivera's eighth interview for a head coaching job in the last two years.

The Bears are continuing negotiations with head coach Lovie Smith on a new deal, with the Bears now moving above $3 million per year. But progress has been slow to this point.

The Chargers received permission Tuesday to interview four candidates to replace fired head coach Marty Schottenheimer, including one-time San Diego offensive coordinator Norv Turner. Turner was offensive coordinator with the Chargers in 2001. He's currently the offensive coordinator of the 49ers. He interviewed for the Cowboys' head coaching job that went to Wade Phillips, the Chargers' former defensive coordinator. The Chargers also received permission to interview 49ers assistant head coach Mike Singletary and Bears defensive coordinator Ron Rivera, both of whom interviewed for the Cowboys job. The fourth candidate is Ravens defensive coordinator Rex Ryan. The Chargers did not say when the candidates would be interviewed.

How do you spell Scott Wiese? In a few weeks, that'd be P-e-y-t-o-n M-a-n-n-i-n-g. Wiese, a die-hard fan of the Bears, signed a pledge in front of a crowd at a Decatur bar last Friday night that if the Bears lost Sunday's Super Bowl, he'd change his name to that of the man who led the Colts to victory. Final Score: Colts 29, Bears 17. So on Tuesday, Wiese went to the Macon County Courts Facility and started the process of changing his name.

According to sources, the Cowboys obtained permission Tuesday morning from the Chicago Bears to interview defensive coordinator Ron Rivera for their head-coaching position. A source close to the Chicago Bears said that Rivera is on his way to Dallas (barring weather issues, because it is snowing in Chicago right now) and is intending to interview with Cowboys owner Jerry Jones Tuesday afternoon.

Thomas Jones' situation is one of the most intriguing of the offseason for the Bears. The 28-year-old running back will be entering the last year of his contract and he's due about $2.25 million. His agent, Drew Rosenhaus, is expected to approach the Bears about a new deal. But the presence of Benson complicates things. Benson was the No. 4 pick in the 2005 draft and got a $16 million signing bonus. Benson rushed just 157 times this season for 647 yards, but there's speculation that he'll be the feature back next season. If that happens, the 5-10, 220-pound Jones could be on the market, a development that could interest the Giants and the Jets, both of whom are expected to be on the lookout for a veteran running back this offseason.