Quick Kicks

1-7 equals long-term deal

Dave McGinnis, who took over as interim coach for Arizona seven games into the season, has agreed to a long-term contract to remain as coach of the Cardinals, two sources close to the team said Sunday.

Team officials had no comment on the contract status but scheduled a news conference for today to make an announcement about the coaching situation.

Terms were not revealed, but the agreement was believed to be for at least four years, said the sources, who spoke on condition they not be identified. McGinnis also has made it clear he wants a say in personnel matters.

The 49-year-old McGinnis was promoted from defensive coordinator to interim coach after Vince Tobin was fired following a 2-5 start. The Cardinals are 1-7 under McGinnis, but owner Bill Bidwill knew that the team’s vast personnel problems, not the new coach, were to blame.

McGinnis was hired as Arizona’s defensive coordinator five years ago.

Moss sounds off

There were no volcanic outbursts from Randy Moss on Sunday after losing at home to Green Bay, as there have been after difficult losses in previous seasons. But a more measured Moss still was very critical of some of his teammates’ preparation for what was clearly the biggest game of the season.

“There was a lot of (expletive) talking going on,” said Moss, who caught four passes for 136 yards and one touchdown. “When it comes to a lot of talking, that shows me that you are not ready for a game. If you are not used to talking (expletive) around the locker room, and stuff like that, then you have some guys come up talking that aren’t used to talking, and that shows me you’re not ready.

“We just need to bite down, man, and hopefully just bring everything back together because the first half of the season, we had everything going. Our confidence was there, our intensity was there I think guys are showing a little bit of fatigue and (are) lackadaisical out there. So we just need to get it back together. I don’t think it is (anything) we can’t solve.”

McNown struggles

A question that was everywhere to start the season hung over the Bears again after their 17-0 loss to the San Francisco 49ers: Is Cade McNown their best quarterback?

Certainly not on this day. McNown completed only 9 of 29 passes for 73 yards against not only the NFL’s worst pass defense, but a defense that made sure it stopped the run and wasn’t nearly as concerned about McNown.

Against a San Francisco defense that starts five rookies and ranks next-to-last overall in yards allowed, the Bears totaled 104 yards. It was by far the worst offensive showing in two years under coach Dick Jauron, whose insistence that the best players would play seemed a hollow echo after watching McNown struggle on his return after nearly two months off.

“It’s tough to say,” said quarterbacks coach and interim offensive coordinator John Shoop on the issue of whether the Bears’ best quarterback was on the field. “You’ve got to reserve a lot of comments until you watch the film.”

The last word …

“It’s time for me to go, but San Francisco, I’ll always love you guys.” Jerry Rice, after final home game as a San Francisco 49er.