Getting a sports figure to tell it like it is ain't easy -- and when the stakes are high, then it's darn near impossible. ("Rex Grossman is our quarterback," anyone?) So with the Bears pointing toward Sunday's showdown with Minnesota -- and coming off last week's 27-3 thrashing of the St . Louis Rams -- this is the perfect time to run some sound bites through RedEye's handy, dandy Bears translator. Here are our interpretations of a handful of this week's quotes from the Tribune.
RUNNING BACK Matt Forte
WHAT HE SAID: "In the NFL, you have to forget about what happened the last week."
WHAT HE WAS REALLY THINKING: Shhh! Nobody tell the Vikings I rushed for 132 yards and two TDs last week.
CENTER OLIN KREUTZ
WHAT HE SAID: "When [Forte] hits the holes, it makes [the offensive line] look better than we are."
WHAT HE WAS REALLY THINKING: Hey, rook: My bare wrist sure would look better with a new Rolex on it, don't ya think?
HESTER BACKUP DANIEAL MANNING
WHAT HE SAID: "I'm ready for wherever the coaches want to put me. I'm just trying to do my job."
WHAT HE WAS REALLY THINKING: I don't want Hester's job -- I want his contract.
LINEBACKER LANCE BRIGGS
WHAT HE SAID: "Everybody out there watching: Did we look like we wanted it?"
WHAT HE WAS REALLY THINKING: Look at what we just did to the Rams and know this: I personally will level the next joker who questions this team's commitment.
RECEIVER/RETURNER Devin Hester
WHAT HE SAID: "Whenever you get more opportunities, you've got to try to step up and make plays."
WHAT HE WAS REALLY THINKING: What's the thing the coaches keep telling me this season? Oh yeah ...
Bears HEAD COACH LOVIE SMITH
WHAT HE SAID: "You could say [this is] the biggest game we've had in our division in a long time. [The Vikings are] a good Football team. They've been playing well, especially here of late. We know them well. They know us well. Should be a heck of a game."
WHAT HE WAS REALLY THINKING: Gulp!
\ Watch dog
WHIZZER
Ahh ... Football. Isn't it just the best? After a fantastic Thanksgiving feast on Thursday, all I needed to wash down that pecan pie was a helping of pigskin -- and I'm still hungry! Fortunately, the Bears' Sunday matchup looks like something I actually might enjoy. (I've always been interested in Norse lore and, to a lesser extent, the Minnesota Vikings .) Here's what I'm watching this weekend.
NHL
Blackhawks at Kings
3 p.m. Saturday, WGN
Ice, ice baby!
NFL
Bears at Vikings
7:15 p.m. Sunday, NBC
We're up against a wall on this one.
NBA
Bulls at Sixers
4 p.m. Sunday, CSN
Smellin' like a Rose!
GOLF
Skins game
Noon Saturday, ABC
Sadly, it's not the nudist golf event I've always imagined.
Play FOX Pro Football Pick'em Today >
