Olin Kreutz remains a friend of Bears as a foe

He's wearing a new number and a different jersey, but center Olin Kreutz hasn't changed at all.

He's the same guy in his first season with the New Orleans Saints that he was in the previous 13 seasons with the Bears.

It was quintessential Kreutz when he was asked in an interview with the Saints media if Sunday's game against the Bears would be emotional.

“I'm sure seeing them in the beginning will be a little emotional, but they know how I feel about them and I know how they feel about me,” Kreutz said, getting the politically correct stuff out of the way.

“But that doesn't mean we're not going to be trying to kick each other's (butt). So we'll go out there and have some fun.”

Kicking tail always has been Kreutz's idea of a good time, whether he was wearing No. 57 for the Bears or his current No. 50.

That's part of the reason he was voted to six Pro Bowls and why he's still considered a valuable commodity by a Super Bowl contender like the Saints, who quickly snapped him up when his contract negotiations with the Bears derailed.

Tweaking the media also always has been a part of Kreutz's persona, and it still is. Asked by the locals if he had talked to any of his former teammates this week, Kreutz said: “Of course I have, and that's none of your business.”

Despite negotiations with the Bears that became contentious, Kreutz wasn't taking any potshots at his former employers, and he said he had absolutely no animosity toward any of his former teammates.

“None of those guys I'm playing against (Sunday) made a decision on me,” Kreutz said. “And to be perfectly honest and perfectly fair, (the organization) made me a fair offer to come back, and I didn't go back, so there's no hard feelings.

“It'll be just like playing against your brother or your friend. You probably want to beat them even more than anyone else.”

Having practiced against the Bears' defense for so many years, Kreutz won't be surprised by anything Sunday, and he will be able to provide some inside information to his new teammates.

But he downplays the significance of that.

“I know them really well,” he said. “You can give tips on what you think they might do, but they've got great coaches over there. To be honest, they haven't hid what they do for the last six years, so everybody knows what they do.

“There's not many tips you can give. It's on film. They say, ‘This is what we do. Can you beat it?'”

Bears defensive coordinator Rod Marinelli said Kreutz affects his game planning.

“One, he's a great player,” Marinelli said, “and he is smart. Even if he wasn't here (for so many years) and you're playing him as an opponent, you have to be on top of that because he's so bright and so sharp. That'll be a challenge for us.”

One of Kreutz's best friends in the game, Roberto Garza, has stepped into his position at the center of the Bears' offensive line this year after playing guard for the previous 10 seasons.

Offensive line coach Mike Tice said Garza's blocking calls were perfect in the season opener, something Kreutz was known for as well.

Kreutz isn't surprised Garza has transitioned so well to a new position.

“He's done a (heck) of a job, like I knew he would,” Kreutz said. “Garza is one of my really good friends, and I cheer for him, just not this week. He's about as hard of a worker as I've been around. Garza is a professional. He's going to do good at whatever he puts his mind to.”

Garza and Kreutz won't face each other on the field, but it will be odd when he comes face to face with longtime teammates like middle linebacker Brian Urlacher.

“Me and Urlacher were in it for a long time. I have a great deal of respect for him,” Kreutz said. “He's a great linebacker. Even better, he's a great teammate. It'll be fun to go against all of them; it'll be an interesting day.

“It'll be a little weird, but once a football game breaks out, you forget about all that stuff.”

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