Smith was asked what would have to happen for him to replace starting quarterback Rex Grossman with backup Brian Griese.

"I'm just wondering if Peyton Manning will be asked that question; probably not," Smith replied. "Rex Grossman should not be asked that question. I shouldn't be asked that question. Rex is our quarterback. I should not have to continue to go over that. I am not planning pulling [linebacker] Brian Urlacher or [center] Olin Kruetz either."

Painful lesson

Bears receiver Muhsin Muhammad played for Carolina in a Super Bowl loss to New England and is using that experience as negative reinforcement. "It's an awful feeling," he said. "They rope you off and you are just sitting there watching the other team raise the Lombardi Trophy. It's tough. It's a hurtful feeling. Sometimes, fear and fear of failure is a good thing."

Ben Utecht was approached by a television reporter.

"Are you going to win this one for Barbaro? Are you dedicating this game to him?" the reporter asked, not smiling.

"Barbaro?" Utecht said, not playing along.

"Yeah, you know, a fallen colt?" the reporter asked earnestly.

"What you have there is a tragic situation," Utecht said. "We're just going to go out there and do the best we can."

Asked about it later, Utecht said it was the stupidest question he ever has been asked.

Da Bears fans

As always, people watching might prove to be as much fun as watching the Super Bowl.

Bears fans are expected to overrun South Florida this weekend. Made zealous by 21 years of waiting for a chance at their second Super Bowl title, fans are popping up all over town as the game draws near.

There's even a fan-run Web site, Beardowninmiami.com, which tells fans which local parks to tailgate at and which bars they have reserved for parties.

Corey Radtke, a North Miami resident, started the site, according to the Chicago Tribune, and started plans for a party with hundreds of fans through chat forums on the Bears' Web site. He's driven around town to scout locations. He's called hotels to get rate information. He's even got driving directions posted on his mostly utilitarian site.

If fans don't go to one of the area restaurants to watch the game, that's OK - Radtke's got a Ford Focus hatchback that he plans on rigging with a portable TV for the game.