Report: Wannstedt Staying With Bears

Dave Wannstedt will remain coach of the Chicago Bears next season, the Chicago Tribune reported, citing a team source it didn’t identify.

The 45-year-old Wannstedt has a 36-43 record in five seasons with the Bears, including this year’s 4-11 mark. Chicago plays its season finale at Tampa Bay on Sunday.

He has three years left on a contract extension signed after the 1995 season.

Wannstedt has the third-worst record of any of the 10 coaches the Bears have had in their history, exceeding only Jim Dooley’s 20-36 mark from 1968-71 and Abe Gibron’s 11-30-1 record from 1972-74.

Wannstedt wouldn’t directly comment on published reports Thursday saying he knows he’s coming back, even though Bears president Michael McCaskey has never stated so publicly.

Patriots’ Martin still questionable

Curtis Martin practiced Thursday despite a shoulder injury, but doesn’t know if he can play Monday night at Miami when the New England Patriots could have a playoff berth at stake.

The separated shoulder that sidelined him the past two games has improved, but hasn’t fully healed.

Stokes doesn’t give a spit about incident

J.J. Stokes, on his way to practice, hurried away from questions about Bill Romanowski, the Denver Broncos linebacker fined $7,500 for spitting in Stokes’ face Monday night.

“I’m done with it,” Stokes said. He also said the news media seemed more offended by the incident than he was.

Romanowski’s saliva landed on Stokes’ face mask, and the young receiver didn’t catch a thing.

Stokes walked away on Monday night, and he walked away Wednesday afternoon. He had better things to do. Romanowski wasn’t worth his time, and still isn’t.

So the league stepped in and fined him - both to censure Romanowski and support Stokes’ decision against retaliation.

Seahawks injury update

Cornerback Shawn Springs will return to starting lineup for the first time since Nov. 2 on Sunday against San Francisco. He’ll wear a soft cast to protect his broken thumb.

Fred Thomas, who started last Sunday against the Raiders, will be the third cornerback. Jeremy Lincoln, coming back from an ankle injury, will be the fourth corner.

Free safety Darryl Williams returned to practice and will play despite a partially torn knee ligament.

Injuries will keep guard Derrick Graham, right tackle Howard Ballard and linebacker Joe Cain out of the game.