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February 3, 2007

Todd Golden The Tribune Star Sat Feb 03, 2007, 01:13 AM EST

Miami — Midway Monsters don’t need motivation

Monsters of the Midway don’t need motivational speeches.

At least that’s how Chicago Bears coach Lovie Smith sees it.

Smith said during his final Super Bowl XLI press conference on Friday that motivational speeches and/or motivational speakers were not the Bears’ style.

“I’ll cut you off right there,” said Smith to the reporter who asked the question. “We’re winners, we go through the same routine. I don’t really bring in a lot of outside people. We have coaches, we have players, and that’s the way we do things. So we won’t be doing that.”

Smith admitted that he’s been thinking of his own motivation speech for Sunday’s game. Kickoff is 6:25 p.m.

“I waited a long time for this day, of course. Normally almost a year in advance, you start going over speeches that you would give for situations like this, know what I’m going to say and can’t wait to say it,” Smith said. “But I’m not telling you what I’m going to say, that’s for sure, that’s for the team. But we do have something in mind.”

There was no Bears player availability on Friday or until Super Bowl Sunday as both teams are winding down in preparation for the game.

Bears stay with normal practice routine

The Bears practiced for 75 minutes on Friday, the final significant practice before Sunday’s game.

The Bears had a 15-minute walkthrough before practice. The Bears worked on punting, punt coverage, red zone offense and defense, and goal line offense and defense. None of the Bears’ practices during the week were in full pads as Friday was the hottest day of their stay, with temperatures at 85 degrees.

“Everything you’ve seen this week was exactly what we do every [week],” Smith said.

Right down to the meals. Smith flew a restaurant manager in from Chicago to serve a Friday burrito lunch, the same routine the Bears follow during the regular season.

“That’s the guy we have at Halas Hall,” said Smith, who was asked by pool reporter Ira Miller if he was superstitious. “I’m not superstitious, it’s routine.”

Middle linebacker Rod Wilson tweaked a hamstring during drills, but is not expected to miss Sunday’s game.

Smith did note one change in the Bears’ schedule — curfew was moved up on Saturday night. Smith did not elaborate on what time curfew was moved to.

Will rain give the Bears an advantage?

Rain is forecast for Super Bowl Sunday, scattered showers are predicted with the likelihood of precipitation during the game itself.

With the Bears perceived as more of a grind-it-out physical team on both sides of the ball, Smith was asked whether rain might favor the Bears.

“The last game we played [the Bears’ 39-14 victory over the New Orleans Saints in the NFC Championship Game] it was snow, sleet and rain. That’s Chicago Bears weather. We’ll definitely take that. We’re used to it, we practice in it most of the time,” Smith said. “But if we do get rain, it shouldn’t affect us much. And it shouldn’t affect both teams. Both of us know to play in those type of elements.”

Smith said the bigger adjustment has been practicing in warm Miami conditions.

“This is a new environment, the outfits we’ve had practice-wise, I mean, that’s a training camp uniform for us. So this has been a little different,” Smith said.

Hunt to participate in opening coin toss

Norma Hunt, wife of Kansas City Chiefs founder Lamar Hunt, will join former Miami quarterback Dan Marino for the opening coin toss Sunday.

Lamar Hunt passed away on December 13 at the age of 74. He was one of the pivotal figures in the growth of professional football. As president of the old American Football League in the late 1960s, he is credited with coming up with the term “Super Bowl.”

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