Kreutz, Packers rookie matchup could be a talker
Packers first-round draft pick B.J. Raji doesn't believe Bears center Olin Kreutz matches up with him strength-wise.
"It's nothing physical, it's all technical," Raji told the Milwaukee Journal-Sentinel. "I'm stronger than the guy. That's not really talking (smack), he's just fast. That's not his game, really, strength. He's more trying to out-leverage you, get around you. Once I get the feel of that, then the game will come a lot easier."
Kreutz is 6-foot-2 and 292 pounds. The 6-foot-2, 337-pound Raji plays behind Ryan Pickett at nose tackle and also gets some snaps at left end in the Packers' 3-4 defense. The ninth overall pick will see a lot more time at nose tackle Sunday and could get his first start, since Pickett did not practice all week because of a hamstring injury and is listed as "doubtful."
"That's the great thing about the NFL," Kreutz said. "We'll find out Sunday."
Kreutz, a six-time Pro Bowl pick, said he wasn't surprised by the comments.
"That's the way young players are nowadays," he said. "They're all pretty much clowns. That's what he thinks. After 10 games, he probably thinks he's the strongest guy in the NFL. You just hope guys are smart enough to show respect for the game and respect for the guy they're playing against," he said, adding that he wasn't planning to get into a war of words on Sunday.
"I never make comments in a game," the feisty Kreutz said, smiling and getting big laughs. "All right, I'm not going to talk about a rookie. This is too much attention for a rookie."
Feast or famine: In the season opener, left end Adewale Ogunleye had 2 sacks and generally abused the Packers' Allen Barbre, who was making his first NFL start.
Three weeks later, Ogunleye had 21/2 sacks against the Lions and appeared to be well on his way to a double-digit sack season for the first time since he had 10 in 2005. But Ogunleye's sack vs. the Rams last week was his first full sack in eight weeks. Now he'll need 4 more in the final four games to reach double figures, but he believes that's do-able.
"It's been very frustrating," Ogunleye said. "I work hard every day, I practice hard, and my No. 1 goal is to get after the quarterback. When that's not happening I get frustrated. But things come in bunches and cycles. That's the way of the NFL, the way of life. I've been playing really solid football for this team. I know sometimes the sacks are not going to come, but these next four games they will."
Ogunleye will be an unrestricted free agent after this season, and it's unlikely the Bears will break the bank for a player who will be 33 before the next season begins.
"You're thinking like this could be the last four game of your career here in Chicago," he said. "If that's the case I have had a great time. The thing for me now is to hopefully finish strong. You never know what might happen next year.
"I would love to be able to finish my career here in Chicago. Great fans, great city. Honestly, it has become my home, and I would love to stay."
The Iron Horse: Lance Briggs was jokingly asked if he had been Wally Pipp-ed by Jamar Williams, who had 20 tackles last week filling in for the four-time Pro Bowl linebacker, who was out with a sprained knee.
"Excuse me?" Briggs said, laughing. "So you're calling him Lou Gehrig? I thought his performance was great. That's what a Will (weak-side) linebacker's supposed to do and that's how a Will linebacker's supposed to play. He did the most with his (opportunities). I think when you do that, you scream out for playing time."
Injury update: Wide receiver Devin Hester (calf) did not practice inside the Walter Payton Center Friday, and offensive tackle Orlando Pace was limited.
They are both "questionable," for Sunday's game, although it would be a surprise if either dressed.
Chris Williams is expected to again move from right tackle to left tackle with Kevin Shaffer filling in on the right side. Rookie Johnny Knox would start for Hester.