We noted this week that Chicago linebacker Brian Urlacher said he believes the Bears, not the Packers, are the best team in the NFC. Now Bears coach Lovie Smith has said he agrees -- sort of.
Smith says he shares Urlacher’s confidence in the Bears’ ability to beat anyone, but he has to acknowledge that what really matters isn’t being the beat team in Brian Urlacher’s mind or Lovie Smith’s mind. What matters is having a Super Bowl ring to put on your finger.
“Of course I agree with him. You’d be disappointed if any of our players didn’t feel like we were the best around. But reality says the Packers are there right now. They have the Super Bowl ring. They’re the champion right now. And it’s up to us to do something about it.” Smith said in an ESPN interview (video here).
Obviously, Smith is right: As Herm Edwards might say, NFL teams don’t play for the right to call themselves the best team, they play to win the Super Bowl. The Packers won the Super Bowl, and whether it’s Brian Urlacher or Rex Ryan or anyone else, just thinking you’re better than the Packers doesn’t mean much.