Criticism continues to bewilder linebacker Urlacher, Bears

LAKE FOREST, Ill. -- Brian Urlacher is trying to figure it out: How can a team that wins so much still draw so many complaints?\n"I don't understand it, to tell you the truth," the Chicago Bears middle linebacker said Thursday.\nAt 9-2, the Bears have the best record in the NFC and can clinch their second straight North title with a win against Minnesota this weekend. Even so, their quarterback is being criticized, and so is the defensive line.\n"We don't need any extra ammunition to get us going for the week," Urlacher said. "People have talked about us all year long, and we've gone out there and played hard. Most of the people who have talked don't show up on Sundays, anyway. The guys this season who have said stuff about us didn't go out and play well.\n"We haven't really said much about any team this year. We've gone out there on Sunday and let our play do the talking."\nThe Bears have been playing the same tune since the start of last season, when they went from 5-11 to 11-5 in the playoffs.\nThe chorus isn't fading out, either.\nNot with the debate raging over whether Brian Griese should replace starting quarterback Rex Grossman. Not with a large cloud of skepticism hovering over them. And not with opposing players dismissing them.\n"Whoever wants to criticize us can," defensive tackle Tank Johnson said.\nDetroit's Roy Williams guaranteed a victory against the Bears in September. He then caught six passes for 71 yards, but Chicago pounded the Lions 34-7.\nIn October, Urlacher was picked as the second-most overrated player behind Terrell Owens in a national sports magazine survey of several hundred players. His response? A one-handed, highlight-reel interception that set up a touchdown in a 41-10 victory against San Francisco.\nThe New York Giants' Plaxico Burress joined in when he called the Bears' secondary "overrated" in the days leading up to Chicago's 38-20 victory at the Meadowlands. Burress was a non-factor, with four catches and 48 yards.\nThis week, the defensive line came under criticism for its inability to pressure New England's Tom Brady in a 17-13 loss, and the calls for a quarterback change grew louder after Grossman completed 15-of-34 passes and threw three interceptions.\nAlong with the debate over whether he or Griese should start, Grossman found himself at the center of another issue.\nMinnesota safety Darren Sharper accused him of trash talking -- big time -- after Grossman threw a late touchdown pass to lift the Bears to a 19-16 victory at the Metrodome in September. The quarterback acknowledged he went "overboard a little bit" after being taunted by the Vikings for much of that game.\nA more pressing issue for Grossman is rediscovering the Pro Bowl form he showed through the first five games, when he threw 10 touchdowns and three interceptions. Since then, with opponents applying the pressure, he has eight touchdowns and 11 interceptions.\nMeanwhile, a defense that is allowing a league-low 261.1 yards took some hits -- specifically, the defensive line. More specifically, Tommie Harris.\n"We've been criticized before," Johnson said. "I think it kind of gets blown out of perspective. We're all men with big shoulders. We can handle it. We do what we do well. We're 9-2. We've put a lot of quarterbacks down on the ground. One got away from us."\nThe linemen were annoyed by a Chicago Tribune article with the headline "Not-so-fearsome foursome" that pointed out the recent drop in sacks. The front four has four sacks in the last four games after delivering 20 in the first seven, and Harris has been noticeably quiet.\nAll five of his sacks came in the first four games, and Harris vowed Monday not to speak to reporters until his next one. That silence lasted until Thursday, when he said he'd make more noise on the field.\n"My demeanor had to change," Harris said. "People are watching. People do want to see me (perform). ... We're 9-2, and we're complaining about the little things. That shows you the expectations people have for the Chicago Bears."\nWhile Harris talked about his demeanor, others credited opponents for the lack of sacks. The Bears are seeing quicker, shorter passes and more runs.\n"When you lose, people have to point out the reason they think you lost," Urlacher said. "I'm not going to criticize (the line) because they're doing a great job. It's not an issue, as far as I'm concerned"