CHICAGO — If the Bears have a new defensive coordinator next season, they will have company.

NFL front-office sources believe it's possible there will be new defensive coordinators on half the coaching staffs in the league next year.

The Bucs already have a new coordinator, Raheem Morris replacing Monte Kiffin. The Texans have fired defensive coordinator Richard Smith. It's believed that one of the reasons the Broncos fired Mike Shanahan is he did not want to replace defensive coordinator Bob Slowik.

The Jaguars, Panthers and Saints are believed to be considering replacing their defensive coordinators. The Broncos, Jets, Browns, Lions, Rams, Seahawks, Chiefs and Raiders could have new defensive coordinators as a result of head-coaching changes. The Giants (Steve Spagnuolo), Ravens (Rex Ryan), Titans (Jim Schwartz), Vikings (Leslie Frazier) and Bucs (Morris) could lose their defensive coordinators to head-coaching positions. Each man has been asked to interview for a head-coaching job.

Thus teams who are hiring defensive coordinators could have plenty of candidates.

Among the men available: former Jets head coach Eric Mangini, former Browns head coach Romeo Crennel, former Lions head coach Rod Marinelli, former 49ers head coach Mike Nolan, former Browns defensive coordinator Mel Tucker, former Broncos defensive coordinator Jim Bates, former Broncos defensive coordinator Larry Coyer and former Chargers defensive coordinator Ted Cottrell.

And some of these men could shake free: Rams interim head coach Jim Haslett, Chiefs head coach Herm Edwards, Chiefs defensive coordinator Gunther Cunningham, Jaguars defensive coordinator Gregg Williams, Rams assistant head coach Rick Venturi, Titans assistant head coach Dave McGinnis and Raiders defensive coordinator Rob Ryan.

Teams that are considering making a change would be advised to move quickly, as all the openings could lead to bidding wars.

Replacing Martz: After the 49ers gave Mike Singletary a new contract last week to be their head coach, he decided to release offensive coordinator Mike Martz.

Singletary cited philosophical differences with Martz, as Singletary intends to use an offense that is run-based. What he didn't say was Martz also did not ingratiate himself to 49ers ownership by voicing his displeasure over the midseason firing of coach Mike Nolan.

Regardless of the whys, the 49ers are likely to find it difficult to replace Martz as a game planner and play caller. Just ask the Lions, who fired Martz after the 2007 season.

Without him, the Lions won seven fewer games, scored 99 fewer points and gained 1,190 fewer yards. Their team passer rating went from 79.4 to 72.

Part of the issue is Martz is outstanding at what he does — he is one of the great offensive thinkers of this era or any other. And part of the issue is he is unique. Whoever replaces him has to implement a different philosophy and basically start over.

Don't be surprised if the 49ers' offense struggles next season.

Reservations about injured reserve: Some of the NFL's power brokers would like to see a change in the way injured reserve rules work. Currently, when a player is placed on injured reserve, his season is over.

But it wasn't always this way. Injured reserve used to start out as a four-week layaway. The NFL felt obligated to make injured reserve a season-long designation because some teams_most notably the Redskins in the 1980s — started using it as a way of jockeying rosters and "stashing" players.

Such maneuvering isn't as big a concern anymore because the salary cap prevents teams from carrying extra players. So don't be surprised if the league decides to go back to the old way of doing things and injured reserve becomes a four- to six-week proposition.

This way, if a player such as Bears cornerback Nathan Vasher had regained his health during his time off, he could have come back to help his team in the stretch run.

Quick hits: Some of the most sought after head-coaching candidates aren't interested in the Rams' job or the Lions' job. The Rams are believed to be unwilling to pay as much as most teams. And the Lions' job is, well, the Lions' job.

Does this sound familiar? The Bills decided to keep Dick Jauron despite a disappointing finish to the season, but team owner Ralph Wilson sounds as if he wants Jauron to fire his offensive coordinator, Turk Schonert.

Among the quarterbacks Thomas Jones has played with are Dave Brown, Kellen Clemens, Brian Griese, Rex Grossman, Chad Hutchinson, Brad Johnson, Shaun King, Craig Krenzel, Kyle Orton, Chad Pennington, Jake Plummer and Jonathan Quinn. But when he publicly criticized Brett Favre last week, it was believed to be the first time he had taken a shot at his quarterback. What does that say about how far Favre has fallen?

Dan Pompei's awards ballots

Here are my votes for All-Pro and awards for the 2008 season.

All-Pro offense

Quarterback: Drew Brees, Saints.

Running backs: Adrian Peterson, Vikings, Michael Turner, Falcons. (Tough to leave off DeAngelo Williams, Panthers).

Fullback: Madison Hedgecock, Giants

Wide receivers: Andre Johnson, Texans, Steve Smith, Panthers.

(Tough to leave off Calvin Johnson, Lions).

Tight end: Tony Gonzalez, Chiefs.

Offensive tackles: Ryan Clady, Broncos, Michael Roos, Titans.

Guards: Logan Mankins, Patriots, Chris Snee, Giants.

Center: Kevin Mawae, Titans.

Kicker: Stephen Gostkowski, Patriots.

Kick returner: Clifton Smith, Bucs.

All-Pro defense

Defensive end: Jared Allen, Vikings, Justin Tuck, Giants.

(Tough to leave off John Abraham, Falcons).

Defensive tackle: Albert Haynesworth, Titans, Kevin Williams, Vikings.

Outside linebacker: DeMarcus Ware, Cowboys, James Harrison, Steelers. (Tough to leave off Lance Briggs, Bears).

Inside linebacker: Ray Lewis, Ravens, Jon Beason, Panthers.

Cornerback: Nnamdi Asomugha, Raiders, Cortland Finnegan, Titans.

Safety: Ed Reed, Ravens, Troy Polamalu, Steelers.

Punter: Brad Maynard, Bears.

Individual awards

Most Valuable Player: QB Peyton Manning, Colts

Comeback Player: WR Antonio Bryant, Bucs

Defensive Rookie: LB Jerod Mayo, Patriots

Offensive Rookie: QB Matt Ryan, Falcons

Defensive Player: LB DeMarcus Ware, Cowboys

Offensive Player: QB Drew Brees, Saints

Coach: Mike Smith, Falcons

Scout talk

Now that the order of the NFL draft is coming into clearer focus, it's a good time to take an early stab at a mock draft. There is still a lot of guesswork involved because most underclassmen have yet to declare, the draft order likely will change based on the outcome of postseason games and free agency will change team needs. But this is how things could play out, based on what we know today.

1. Lions: Sam Bradford*, Oklahoma QB

2. Rams: Andre Smith*, Alabama OT

3. Chiefs: Everette Brown*, Florida State DE

4. Seahawks: Eugene Monroe, Virginia OT

5. Browns: Terrence Cody*, Alabama DT

6. Bengals: Michael Crabtree*, Texas Tech WR

7. Raiders: Aaron Curry, Wake Forest LB

8. Jaguars: Rey Maualuga, Southern Cal LB

9. Packers: Beanie Wells*, Ohio State RB

10. 49ers: Josh Freeman*, Kansas State QB

11. Bills: Matthew Stafford*, Georgia QB

12. Broncos: Brian Cushing, Southern Cal LB

13. Redskins: Malcolm Jenkins, Ohio State DB

14. Saints: Vontae Davis*, Illinois CB

15. Texans: Tyson Jackson, Louisiana State DE

16. Chargers: Knowshon Moreno*, Georgia RB

17. Jets: Jeremy Maclin*, Missouri WR

18. Bears: Michael Johnson, Georgia DE

19. Bucs: Tim Tebow*, Florida QB

20. Lions (from Cowboys): James Laurinaitis, Ohio St. LB

21. Cardinals: Shonn Greene* Iowa RB

22. Eagles: Taylor Mays*, Southern Cal S

23. Vikings: Phil Loadholt, Oklahoma OT

24. Patriots: Larry English, Northern Illinois LB

25. Falcons: Greg Hardy, Mississippi DE

26. Dolphins: Percy Harvin, Florida WR

27. Ravens: Darius Hayward-Bay, Maryland WR

28. Eagles(from Panthers): Brian Orakpo, Texas DE

29. Colts: Brian Robiskie, Ohio State WR

30. Giants: LeSean McCoy*, Pittsburgh RB

31. Steelers: Jason Smith, Baylor OT

32. Titans: Brandon Pettigrew, Oklahoma State TE

* — underclassman