Urlacher wonders, who are these no-names spouting off?
Brian Urlacher on Thursday uttered what -- hopefully -- were the final words in the verbal war between the Bears and the San Diego Chargers.
The Bears' middle linebacker, a six-time Pro Bowl pick, said his biggest problem with the Chargers' trash talking is that it's being done by players who haven't accomplished a lot in the league.
"It's guys I've never heard of (doing the) talking," Urlacher said. "I don't even know who these guys are (who are) saying this stuff. Maybe they just want to get their names in the paper. I'm just getting tired of hearing it, and I'm sure Rex (Grossman) and Cedric (Benson) are also."
Urlacher said the team will rally around any teammate, but he doesn't know why any of them are being verbally abused in the first place.
"Whenever something's said about any one of my teammates, everyone on our team will stand up for them and defend them," he said. "I don't know what we have to defend (though).
"(But) it doesn't surprise me. I've said some things in the past also. I guess anyone can be provoked, but I don't know who these guys are who are talking. I've never heard of them before; I've never seen them on the field."
Urlacher played three seasons under former Bears defensive coordinator Ron Rivera, the Chargers' inside linebackers coach, who allegedly referred to Grossman as a "mental midget" in team meetings, a charge that Rivera has denied.
"I know Ron pretty well," Urlacher said. "I don't see those words coming out of his mouth, but who knows? I wasn't in their meetings."
Back in action: Former 49er Anthony Adams, a Bears defensive tackle, missed just six games in his previous four years in the league, and the defensive tackle started 34 times, so he was not pleased by his inactive status last Sunday.
"I prepared myself to play, and once I found out that I wasn't, it was a great disappointment," Adams said. "There's nothing I can do but just go out and practice and give my all and hopefully I can be up for this game."
With the season-ending knee injury to nose tackle Dusty Dvoracek, Adams will be active this week and part of a three-man rotation with starters Tommie Harris and Darwin Walker.
Tidbits: Guard Ruben Brown (shoulder) returned to practice Thursday and will play Sunday, while tight end Greg Olsen is still limited but is making progress, according to coach Lovie Smith. … Defensive end Adewale Ogunleye, who led the linemen with 8 tackles last Sunday and had 1 of the Bears' 3 sacks, was named to replace injured Mike Brown as one of the team's five captains.