NFL

Since losing Super Bowl XLI, Bears fans have been clamoring for the team to give head coach Lovie Smith a contract extension. General manager Jerry Angelo's compensation was also not appropriate for the leader of a Super Bowl team. The Bears were taking a beating in the papers, being labeled as a cheap, second-class team. Wednesday they ponied up. Sort of.

In the last two years, Ron Rivera has interviewed for nine head coaching positions and has been passed over every time. Taking note of the league's distain for Rivera, the Bears have also taken a pass on their defensive coordinator of the last three seasons and have unexpectedly decided not to renew Rivera's expiring contract.

ESPN has told NFL analyst Michael Irvin that they will no longer need his services. Irvin, who worked for ESPN since 2003, didn't seem too disappointed in the network's choice. The former Dallas Cowboy mourned the decision with a three-day binge that included drugs, sex and more drugs, which was the same way he celebrated getting the job three years ago.

Couldn't keep up with the ticker during the clip? Here it is.

John Madden has had a well-known man-crush on Brett Favre for years. The NBC color commentator took the relationship a step further today when he sent a Valentine's Day card, bouquet of roses and a box of half-eaten chocolates to his all-time favorite football player.

The NFL's annual version of the All-Star game concept saw the AFC beat the NFC 31-28 in Honolulu.

Apparently the Pro Bowl was played on Saturday. I, personally, thought the game was on Sunday and missed nearly the entire thing. I feel honesty is the best policy and I'm going to have to come clean and let everyone know that I have no idea what occurred in the game.