Olin Kreutz said B.J. Raji is getting far too much attention for a rookie with 10 games of experience after the Green Bay Packers nose tackle made it clear Thursday in comments to the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel that he is stronger than the Bears' center.

"Is that his expertise after (10) games in the NFL?" Kreutz said after practice this afternoon in the Walter Payton Center.

"That is the great thing about the NFL," Kreutz added. "We'll find out on Sunday."

Was Kreutz surprised at Raji's remarks?

"No, that's the way young players are nowadays, they are all pretty much clowns,'' he said. "That's what he thinks. After 10 games, he probably thinks he is the strongest guy in the NFL.''
Raji said that Kreutz relied on quickness. The first-round draft pick from Boston College could be making his first career start as Ryan Pickett is iffy for the game with a pulled right hamstring.

"It's nothing physical, it's all technical," the 6-2, 337-pound Raji told the Milwaukee newspaper. "I'm stronger than the guy. I mean, 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.

"It's not going to take me a whole lot to get used to him moving. Football's football. He's not going to change the way he plays because there's a new nose on him. He's going to play the way he's been playing. So what I watch on film, it's probably going to help me out the most, really.''

Kreutz is always one to speak highly of the opponent, whether he believes it or not, but passed on a chance to assess Raji.

"Ah, you know, I would rather not compliment him now,'' Kreutz said. "I'm not going to talk about a rookie. This is too much attention for a rookie right here.''

Nose to the Grindstone 

"source" wrote:

Bears' Kreutz answers Raji
By Greg A. Bedard of the Journal Sentinel
Dec. 11, 2009 1:27 p.m.

Green Bay - Considering the Chicago Bears are fading faster than the Wisconsin sun in December, the conventional wisdom was Sunday's game against the 8-4 Green Bay Packers would be devoid of drama.

Not anymore.

As you might have expected, Bears veteran center Olin Kreutz took a little exception to the comments Packers rookie nose tackle B.J. Raji made about Kreutz to the Journal Sentinel on Thursday.

Raji said Kreutz, a six-time Pro Bowler, relies on his speed and wouldn't be able to match Raji's strength:

"It's nothing physical, it's all technical," Raji said. "I'm stronger than the guy. I mean, 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.

"It's not going to take me a whole (game) to get used to him moving. Football's football. He's not going to change the way he plays because there's a new nose on him. He's going to play the way he's been playing. So what I watch on film, it's probably going to help me out the most, actually."

Here's what Kreutz said today to reporters in Chicago:

Q: Are you strong enough to take on Raji?

A: Is that his exact quote, or are you guys changing the quote a little bit.

Q: He said you are quick but he doesn't know if you are strong enough to deal with a guy like him.

A: Is that his expertise after (12) games in the NFL?

Q: He's played in 10.

A: That is the great thing about the NFL. Well find out on Sunday.

Q: Are you surprised when young players make those statements?

A: No, thats the way young players are nowadays, they are all pretty much clowns.

Q: Does it show a lack of respect?

A: Thats what he thinks. After 10 games, he probably thinks he is the strongest guy in the NFL.

Q: Does he do anything on tape that impresses you?

A: Ah, you know, I would rather not compliment him now.

Q: Do you try to police your own young players?

A: You just hope guys are smart enough to show respect for the game and respect for the guy they are playing against.

Q: Do you ever make a comment back to a guy after this?

A: I never make comments during a game. Im not going to talk about a rookie. This is too much attention for a rookie right here.

Throw those comments in with Bears end Adewale Ogunleye saying his matchup with Packers tackle Mark Tauscher should be one the Bears win, and Sunday's game suddenly got a little bit more interesting on both sides.