Okay, so the 49ers need an offensive coordinator who can help with the development of quarterback Alex Smith, the No. 1 overall pick in the 2005 draft.  And Mike Martz once turned an undrafted bagboy into an MVP.

On paper, it makes sense.  But, hell, it also makes sense on paper for the Rams to re-hire Martz to be their new offensive coordinator. 

The problem?  Martz is a problem.  Based on his track record in St. Louis and Detroit, there’s a sense in league circles that he doesn’t work and play well with others. 

And his agenda is obvious — he wants to be a head coach again.

But just as politics can make for strange bedfellows, head-scratching marriages (think Michael Jackson and Elvis Jr.) are often the result of desperation.

Why would Niners coach Mike Nolan, freshly stripped of his authority over personnel, want the power-hungry Martz on the staff?  Because Nolan needs him.

Sure, there’s a chance that Martz will work to undermine Nolan in the hopes of getting the job if Nolan is fired.  But if Martz does his job well enough to become Nolan’s successor, Nolan won’t be fired.

It’s the ultimate win-win, even if everyone ends up losing.  The offense needs an enema, and Martz needs to show that he can still give one.  If it all works out, Nolan stays, and Martz becomes a head coach somewhere else.

The biggest winner in all of this, then, would be agent Bob Lamont, who represents both Nolan and Martz.  Lamont’s relationship with Nolan likely helped keep Martz from slipping into football limbo, and now if they both can work together to turn the thing around, Lamont will place Martz back into one of the top jobs in the league.