Bears shun NBC interviews

Sunday night's Bears-Eagles game will be broadcast by NBC, but the network is upset with the Bears' refusal to tape on-camera interviews for the broadcast.

Players and coaches will be available for the standard pre-production meetings today with broadcasters Al Michaels and Cris Collinsworth, which are off-camera, but coach Lovie Smith believes preparing for the game against the Eagles takes priority over on-camera interview requests.

"We try to do whatever we can for anyone that's coming in," Smith said. "We've played quite a few Sunday night games. We're making our players available right up until game time. But as far as participating an awful lot right now, it's kind of time for us to play football. Once you get a little bit closer to (the game), you're kind of reeling things in a little bit."

Smith was asked if his message was to focus on playing the game.

"That's definitely the message that we're trying to portray," he said. "I think you're getting that from all of our guys. It's time for that. There's nothing else to say. We're disappointed with where we are at this point in our season."

Blocking it up: The Bears' normally outstanding kickoff-return game has plummeted drastically in the past few weeks, going from No. 1 after five weeks to No. 12.

The Bears' average kickoff return as they headed into the bye week was 31.3 yards; now it's 23.9. Special-teams coordinator Dave Toub doesn't place the blame on returners Johnny Knox and Danieal Manning, though.

"It has a lot to do with the blocking," Toub said. "It's not those guys back there, it's the blocking. We'll do a lot better job this week."

Last week's 14.0-yard average against the 49ers was a season low.

"A lot of that has to do with who we're playing," Toub said. "San Francisco is a real good coverage team. They did a nice job on us. Johnny bobbled the ball on the third one and that kind of messes with your timing. That was the first time (this season) we didn't get one out past the 20."

Knox was stopped at the 17 after a 12-yard return.

Ready for anything: Michael Vick has had minimal effect as the Eagles' Wildcat quarterback, but the Bears are devoting practice time to defending him.

"Michael hasn't been as big a factor in their offense for whatever reason right now, but he's still Michael Vick," Bears coach Lovie Smith said. "As far as our preparation goes, yes, we assume that he'll have a bigger part than he's had in the past, and we're getting ready for that."

Vick has carried the ball 12 times for 27 yards and a 2.3-yard average, and he's completed 2 of 7 passes for 6 yards.

Injury update: Center Olin Kreutz (back) returned to practice. Tight end Desmond Clark (neck), safety Kevin Payne (back) and running back Garrett Wolfe (back) remain out. In addition to Kreutz, defensive tackle Tommie Harris (knee) and safety Al Afalava (shoulder) were full participants in Thursday's outdoor practice in intermittent light rain.