Say what, Brian?

So why was Brian Urlacher as quiet on the football field Sunday as he was while talking to the media afterward?

In Urlacher-speak, "Not sure."

Foxsports.com reported this week that the Bears perennial Pro Bowl middle linebacker has an arthritic back condition and that he flew to Pittsburgh last week to see a specialist and undergo an MRI.

Following the Bears' 16-7 loss to Detroit on Sunday, Bears coach Lovie Smith seemed oblivious to it all.

"It's an 'on-line' report," said Smith, raising his eyebrows when told about it. "I'm not going to get into any of that right now. As far as what I know with Brian is that he played today, he's not on the injury list, and as far as his back (is concerned), there's nothing wrong with his back that would cause him not to be able to play."

Urlacher was credited with 4 tackles against the Lions.

Afterward, with reporters starting to surround his locker stall, Urlacher got dressed with his head down, then walked away. When he returned, he was wearing a baseball cap, which he pulled down to cover his eyes, and spoke.

Well … sort of.

"First of all, I got something for the fans," said Urlacher, finally raising his head. "If they have any questions for me, they can go to foxsports.com. I'll answer questions for them twice a week"

Here's the media questions and Urlacher's response in Sunday's postgame locker room:

• Is there a reason why you don't want to talk to us (media)? "No."

• Brian, how difficult is it to head into the bye week this way? "Not fun."

• So is that report on Fox Sports about your back is accurate? "Probably."

• Brian, if you answer questions then and (Fox Sports' reporter) puts it on the Internet, that goes to the whole world. Everybody knows what goes on that Internet site, so do we have to wait to see that, or can you tell us?

"Not sure. But for the fans, for them to have something to go by, I don't want to leave them out of this. So they can ask me questions any time they want -- on the Web site.

• How did you decide on this, Brian? "Don't know."

• Are you endorsing them (Fox Sports)? "Not sure."

• Brian, why is that? Why not just speak openly now about it? "No reason."

• So you're going to play unless you have a bulging disc in your back? "Probably."

• Lovie said he didn't know about you going to Pittsburgh. Is he aware of that? "Not sure."

• Brian, how long is this going to go on? And are you only going to talk about it through the Internet site? "Not sure."

• Are you worried about (your back) long term? "The fans can go to foxsports.com and they can look at it on there, if they want to know."

• What about the people who don't have a computer? "Not sure."

• When in the week can they go (to the Web site)? "Not sure."

• Is this how you're going to communicate with everybody then, through the Fox Sports' (Web site)? "Not the fans."

• Can you draw a line between the media and the fans? "Not sure."

Urlacher, by the way, would not answer questions about the game.

So what's next?

Not sure.