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NBC's Bob Costas joined "The Waddle & Silvy Show" to discuss the controversy created by the Bears refusing to NBC interview Jay Cutler, Lovie Smith and Jerry Angelo in advance of Sunday night's game. Here is the transcript of Costas' remarks:

The way this usually happens is that a request for whatever interviews we'd like to put on the pregame show on Football Night in America goes through the PR department of the club. And then usually whoever is asked agrees, because it's a Sunday night, prime time thing.

In this case, I think the Bears calculated, and it's very understandable, that any reasonable questions that would be asked, that would be topical this week, can't have an especially positive spin on them. And I don't even think they’re running away from those questions. Those questions have been addressed and anything they say now is jus yak. So they might as well just let their play - at least they hope - let their play speak for them on Sunday. I think their response would have been the same had it been CBS, or FOX, or ESPN asking for the same interview, because the questions that have to be asked this week are fairly obvious.

[If the team were 6-3 or 7-2 would it have granted permission?] No doubt about it. There's no hard feelings on my part. I interviewed Jay Cutler earlier this year. I’ve seen him a couple of times. This is the third Bears game we’ve done. I have a cordial relationship with him. I don know him that well. Everybody thinks Lovie Smith is a terrific guy. No problem. There will be a time down the road when they feel more comfortable doing it. It's their prerogative. They made a decision I think we all understand. I just don't think it’s that big of a deal.

There's an argument to that effect, that says look, it's your obligation, if you’re a front-and-center person it's your obligation, at least in these prime time showcases. You may not be able to do it every regional telecast every Sunday afternoon 16 times a season, but in the prime time telecast or a postseason game for the network that -- as you say -- is paying hundreds of millions of dollars that you should sit down and do it. That's generally the understanding. But there is no contractual obligation for them to do it. So all we can try to do is persuade. I’m sure this won't be an ongoing thing. People can draw their own conclusions about what is says about the Bears or the people involved, but I can tell you very honestly, it's not a big deal to me.

There's an argument on either side. Look, it's not the most pleasant time to have to do an interview given the team's troubles, but you should do it simply because not doing it creates the kind of conversation we’re having now, creates the kind of stuff in the Chicago papers we've seen. It’s the less bitter pill just to go ahead and do the interview. Plus you can look at it as your obligation to the station carrying Sunday Night Football.

On the other hand, you can say look, it's all been said, there nothing more we can say. We know we've been bad. We know we have to play better. We prefer to let our play speak for us on Sunday night. I understand both arguments.

By JEFF DICKERSON

LAKE FOREST, Ill. -- The Chicago Bears' coverage units will again be put to the test this weekend, as Dave Toub's unit must contain Philadelphia speedster DeSean Jackson, who has returned a punt 85 yards for a touchdown earlier this season.

"Any time he touches the ball, we got our hands full because he can take it the distance at any time," Toub said. "The big thing with him is that his first step is unbelievable. He can create separation initially, he can make you miss early, I mean really quick. His top end speed is nothing that we've faced this year so far. We got our hands full."

"He reminds me of Devin [Hester]," Toub said. "Just the way he plays, he's got really good hands, good ball reader. His first step is just like Devin's, and he's got that top end speed. He's dangerous."

After Philadephia placed Ellis Hobbs on injured reserve, the Eagles are expected to use rookie Jeremy Maclin on kickoff returns. The Bears were very high on Maclin coming out of Missouri, and strongly considered taking the receiver in the first round, until the Bears dealt the pick to Denver as part of the package for Jay Cutler.

LAKE FOREST, Ill. -- Maybe the Bears have stumbled upon the key to playing sound defense on Sunday night.

"Keep it simple," Charles Tillman said Thursday. "That's the new formula. Keep it simple, stupid. That's what someone told me, 'Keep it simple, stupid'.


Sounds like good advice.

Maybe the key is for the defense to avoid over thinking things against Donovan McNabb. After all, despite the accolades thrown at the Eagles star this week, the Bears have beaten the Chicago native in their last two meetings -- McNabb won the first three head-to-head battles.

We should also point out McNabb has performed better statistically against the Bears when playing in front of Philadelphia fans, as opposed to when he's at Soldier Field. That might not sound like much, but at this point, the Bears will take any positive news they can get.

"I think he's good, man," Tillman said of McNabb. "I think the release of the ball and everything is good. It will be a good test for us."

Just remember to keep it simple, stupid.

LAKE FOREST, Ill. -- Lance Briggs understands why coach Lovie Smith is on the hot seat.

"This is what's going to happen," Briggs said. "In this game, everyone is trying to figure everything out. You're going to have to point fingers somewhere, and the fingers always go to the head coach and the quarterback. But this is a team sport, and it falls on us all."

Point taken, but Briggs was later pressed on whether the Bears' inconsistent play should be directed toward the coaching staff. After all, if a team is unprepared or lacks discipline, isn't that the responsibility of those in charge?

"At the end of the day, it all falls back on the players," Briggs said. "People can talk about what scheme, or the way we're being coached, or play calls, but ultimately it falls back on the players. Coaches can't go out there and play for us. Fans can't go out there and play for us. There are no calls that are meant to not be successful."

Admirable words, but you can't fire all 53 players. Cleveland Browns coach Eric Mangini already tried that, and it didn't work.

LAKE FOREST, Ill. -- A swollen neck disc may prevent Chicago Bears veteran tight end Desmond Clark from suiting up Sunday night against the Eagles. Clark is a spectator once again at Thursday's practice, the third consecutive workout he has missed this week. Clark initially hurt his neck during the Arizona loss, then re-aggravated it in San Francisco, and had to exit the Niners loss early.

The veteran has always been a model of consistency, failing to play in only four games since signing with the Bears in 2003.

Clark was inactive versus Pittsburgh and Seattle because of a broken rib suffered opening night in Green Bay.

Kevin Payne (back) also appears to be skipping practice Thursday, while Pisa Tinoisamoa and Garrett Wolfe have already been officially ruled out.

Center Olin Kreutz has returned to action after missing the past two practices with a back ailment.

By JEFF DICKERSON

LAKE FOREST, Ill. -- Ron Turner spent a lot of time going over the San Francisco film, and what he found should come as no surprise to anybody who watched the game: Not all of Jay Cutler's five interceptions were a result of quarterback error.

"I looked at three of them, and I couldn't really grade him down," Turner said. "I couldn't really say 'Jay, you need to do something different on these plays'. You know what I mean? It's part of the game, and it happens. The ones that he can avoid, he's got to avoid. He's got to throw the ball away at times. But as a team, we have to cut them out, eliminate them."

Turner was asked to identify the three interceptions in question.

"I'm not getting into specifics. Okay," Turner replied.

He doesn't need to. The two red-zone turnovers were all on Cutler, while the rest were due to other factors: a receiver falling down; a receiver running into an official and stopping his route; a tight end falling down/non-call on pass interference.

By Jeff Dickerson

LAKE FOREST, Ill. -- Although a bad back has forced Olin Kreutz to skip the past two days of practice, the veteran center does not appear in danger of missing the Philadelphia Eagles game Sunday night at Soldier Field. After all, Kreutz has started 111 consecutive games -- the third longest streak of any active center in the NFL.

"I think you look at history a little bit," Chicago Bearscoach Lovie Smith said. "How many games has Olin Kreutz missed? He hasn't missed a lot. It's going to take a lot for him to miss (a game). If I was a betting man, I 'd say he'd be out there."

Is Smith a betting man?

"I'm not," the coach replied.

LAKE FOREST, Ill. -- Bears receiver Devin Aromashodu has only one reception on the season.

If it were up to Jay Cutler, that number would be much higher.

"Yeah, I'd like to see him (play more)," Cutler said Wednesday at Halas Hall. "He's a different type of receiver for us, a little bit taller. He still has the speed, he just presents a different target for me. [It would be nice] if we can sprinkle him in, and keep building his confidence. We don't want to overload him, but to get him in there in different situations, and get him up the seams or some back shoulder stuff -- that would be good."

Cutler began his public support of Aromashodu back in training camp, and the wide out responded by putting together an impressive preseason. Since then, Aromashodu has been active for three games in 2009 -- Atlanta, Cincinnati and San Francisco -- contributing almost exclusively on special teams.

By Jeff Dickerson

LAKE FOREST, Ill. -- Philadelphia Eagles coach Andy Reid thinks he sees a future head coach in Chicago Bears special teams coordinator Dave Toub. The two men worked together from 2001-03, when Toub served as the Eagles assistant special teams/assistant defensive line coach.

"On your staff, the coach that's best prepared to be a head coach is your special teams coach," Reid said. "They have to deal with everybody on the roster, plus you guys (the media). That's a tough thing to do. Dave Toub would be a great head coach down the road."

Toub, who came to Chicago in 2004, has been easily the most consistent and successful assistant coach under Lovie Smith. Baltimore coach John Harbaugh already paved the way for a special teams coach to grab the top job, so why shouldn't Toub at least be afforded the opportunity to interview for open spots in the near future?

By Jeff Dickerson

LAKE FOREST, Ill. -- Jay Cutler's arrival in Chicago effectively ended any speculation about Donovan McNabb finishing his career with his hometown Bears.....or did it?

"That will never stop," McNabb chuckled on Wednesday.

There also seems to be no stopping McNabb, who has rebounded nicely after a halftime benching last season by coach Andy Reid. The 11-year veteran has thrown 12 touchdown passes to just four interceptions this season despite missing two games because of a rib injury. But the Philadelphia Eagles have lost three of five, and are without star running back Brian Westbrook (concussion).

Despite facing a very inconsistent Bears defense, the veteran quarterback is taking little for granted.

"I see a defense that really flies around the ball and has some great athletes," McNabb said. "I still see Tommie Harris shooting off the ball and being a force. I see [Adewale] Ogunleye and [Mark] Anderson coming off the corner, and their linebackers flowing around. Even though they are missing Brian Urlacher, Lance Briggs is playing at a Pro Bowl level, and their secondary guys are getting their hands on some footballs."

Maybe the Bears are getting their hands on some footballs, but they're not taking them away. Lovie Smith's team ranks 26th in turnover ratio (-5), while Philadelphia is second (+10). That's a scary statistic when you consider how much difficulty the offense has had protecting the football the past few weeks.