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Kreutz vs. Raji: Veteran vs. Rookie

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Typically, the Bears vs. Packers rivalry would mean a lot more than it will this Sunday, but there still may be something worth keeping a tally on regardless.  We heard the smack talk from Packers nose tackle B.J. Raji regarding veteran Olin Kreutz... now the battle may be on.

Star-divide

Starting NT Ryan Pickett is listed as doubtul, so Raji vs. Kreutz may be one of the most interesting tangos to watch Sunday.  Raji started out by saying that he was stronger than Kreutz, and Kreutz retorted:

"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."

Also, Jeff Dickerson reports that league sources have informed him that the Bears will keep Chris Williams and Kevin Shaffer at the starting LT and RT respectively.

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Kruetz is getting toward

the twilight of his career, no doubt. He is smaller, older, and probably not as strong as Raji; though I’m sure he is faster and has a better right hook.

That said shut your mouth Raji, rook! Don’t want to hear from you until you’ve completed a full season and been to a few pro-bowls. Then maybe you’ll have earned the right to talk shit to a six time pro-bowler.

by Fridge72 on Dec 11, 2009 6:01 PM CST reply actions  

See, Raji made a rookie mistake...

The only way you’re going to get anything out of Kreutz this year besides failure and bad snaps is by pissing him off.

Beekman may be starting C the second half after Kreutz breaks Raji’s jaw.

by Jacob Hayes on Dec 11, 2009 6:06 PM CST reply actions  

That is jersey and poster worthy I can just see it now (Kreutz takes off his helmet his fist connects to Rajis jaw and blood is flying everywhere) Bam ! freeze frame picture of the week on Sport center.sweeeeeeettttttttttt

by bears rock on Dec 11, 2009 8:19 PM CST up reply actions  

Why can't these knuckleheads shut up and play?

…and by knuckleheads I mean Raji and the loudmouths he’s emulating. Kruetz is right.

What could possibly be a more effective statement than beating your opponent on the field?

by Doogie on Dec 12, 2009 10:54 PM CST up reply actions  

LOL

The way Kreiutz & his fellow lineman are playing this year, they need all of the motivation that they can get. I wish more guys would come forward and challenge them like Raji did, and get them pissed off!

"Yes, risk taking is inherently failure-prone. Otherwise, it would be called sure-thing-taking." - Jim McMahon

by JimmyMack on Dec 11, 2009 6:14 PM CST reply actions  

Let's see

if Kreutz can have one last great game before he falls off the cliff. It would be nice for the Bears to at least get a parting shot on the Pack, and possibly prevent them from making the playoffs.

We're not scaremongering (nightmare of a season continues), this is really happening (Bears are more than done) - Radiohead

by propheteer on Dec 11, 2009 6:16 PM CST reply actions  

Raji is right... Chad Johnson was right...

this team is an easy target both on and off the field. Respect must be earned, even from rookies. In the past when we were bad, teams at least respected us and our D, not the case right now and deservedly so. The fact that there was not a successful attempt to make Chad or Berrian pay for talking smack has only invited more similar shenanigans.

Speaks to Urlacher’s point about identity. Hopefully Olin was the wrong guy to pick on and he can help to reestablish an identity for this team which at bare minimum will not tolerate disrespect.

by No It All on Dec 11, 2009 6:39 PM CST reply actions  

If only Kreutz...

had as much passion during the game. He’s become sloppy and slow in his waning career. He’s just cannot bring the pain for a full 60 any more. And I am starting to disagree about the team’s identity. It’s just hard to admit that your identity has become simply “ineffective”.

When you find yourself in a hole, STOP DIGGING!!!

by LostInSTL on Dec 11, 2009 7:02 PM CST up reply actions  

I'm not going to argue

that Kreutz is still the same perennial pro-bowler that he used to be. You have to admit though that the talent around him has deteriorated a lot over the past few years.

by Fridge72 on Dec 11, 2009 7:22 PM CST up reply actions  

True....

he’s not had much support, but my complaint about Kreutz is not his mental play or even his toughness, just his physical abilities are falling off rather quickly.

When you find yourself in a hole, STOP DIGGING!!!

by LostInSTL on Dec 12, 2009 9:10 AM CST up reply actions  

maybe a dumb question

Just food for thought. Wondering how Kreutz compares physically to other centers in the league – let’s say compared to the centers of each of the division leaders. In terms of weight, height, strength. Is he really that undersized when compared to his peers who are centers or is that a myth? I can do the comparisons myself, but maybe some of you already know the answers and have the numbers to show for it. Jeff Saturday comes to mind, but I don’t know how he compares to Kreutz in terms of size.

"I am not an animal!" - Merrick

by Maelvampyre on Dec 11, 2009 10:32 PM CST reply actions  

I would think on the small side

If he’s actually only 292, then he would be in the “small” category. I believe most centers are right around 300 or so.

We're not scaremongering (nightmare of a season continues), this is really happening (Bears are more than done) - Radiohead

by propheteer on Dec 12, 2009 9:34 AM CST up reply actions  

Best part of this post

Also, Jeff Dickerson reports that league sources have informed him that the Bears will keep Chris Williams and Kevin Shaffer at the starting LT and RT respectively.

at least the Chris williams part…

by GtM on Dec 11, 2009 11:38 PM CST reply actions  

I had the same reaction...

I think we all want to see Omiyale succeed at RT so we don’t have to worry about him back at LG!

When you find yourself in a hole, STOP DIGGING!!!

by LostInSTL on Dec 12, 2009 9:11 AM CST up reply actions  

Kreutz is going

to get blown-up like the old Pinto from the movie Top Secret.

We're not scaremongering (nightmare of a season continues), this is really happening (Bears are more than done) - Radiohead

by propheteer on Dec 12, 2009 9:37 AM CST reply actions  

Olin might be listening...

When you find yourself in a hole, STOP DIGGING!!!

by LostInSTL on Dec 12, 2009 9:55 AM CST up reply actions  

Souvenirs, novelties, party tricks.

Hillary. That’s an unusual name.

It’s a German name. It means ‘she whose bosoms defy gravity’.

We're not scaremongering (nightmare of a season continues), this is really happening (Bears are more than done) - Radiohead

by propheteer on Dec 12, 2009 10:32 AM CST up reply actions  

I'm pleased to meet you. My name's Nick.

Nick? What does that mean?
Oh, nothing. My dad thought of it while he was shaving.

When you find yourself in a hole, STOP DIGGING!!!

by LostInSTL on Dec 12, 2009 2:07 PM CST up reply actions  

Skeet Surfin'

I love that movie. Haven’t watched it in awhile though.

by GallopingGhost on Dec 12, 2009 10:29 PM CST up reply actions  

O.K. has seen

his better days no doubt, but he’s been around a good amount of time and those were some pretty decent days. He is one of the smaller hikers, but his “attitude” made up for some of that when he was indeed younger. The punk cheesehead better hope he dont end up on the bottom of a pile….I’m sure there’s a little Mongo in Kruetz…..

"most football players are temperamental, thats 90 percent temper and 10 percent mental" Doug Plank

by fin4bears on Dec 12, 2009 10:29 AM CST reply actions  

yeah, but if he can't physically hack it anymore

it won’t matter. he’s undersized for the position. when he was younger, he was stronger and faster, which let him compensate. now, not as much. kreutz has had an incredible career, no doubt, but i think time has finally caught up to him.

by guy incognito on Dec 12, 2009 5:35 PM CST up reply actions  

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