>>Former Bears WR Knox Says He's Giving Up Football

Former Chicago Bears receiver Johnny Knox says he's giving up football.

The Bears terminated Knox's contract Tuesday after he missed this past season recovering from a back injury. Knox told the Chicago Sun-Times (http://bit.ly/12AQ66o) on Wednesday that his career is over and he's "moving on and going forward." Knox says he's not going to able to perform with the same ability he used to have.

Knox says he knows "things will work out for the best." He says he has no hard feelings toward the Bears.

Knox needed surgery to stabilize a vertebra after he sustained a back injury against Seattle late in the 2011 season.

Knox had 133 receptions for 2,214 yards from 2009 to 2011 and was on special teams with 55 kickoff returns for 1,506 yards.

>>Lions' Walton To Become New Rams DC

(St. Louis, MO) -- Detroit Lions assistant Tim Walton is in line to become the defensive coordinator of the St. Louis Rams. According to the "Post-Dispatch," Walton was offered and accepted the job on Tuesday and the deal could be finalized by the end of the week. The 41-year-old has been the Lions' defensive backs coach since 2009 and beat out Dick Jauron and Mike Singletary for the DC job in St. Louis. The Rams were close to hiring former Cowboys defensive coordinator Rob Ryan earlier this month, but that deal blew up. Ryan later was hired to head up the defense with the New Orleans Saints.