Bears defensive back
D.J. Moore
wasn’t surprised when
Lovie Smith
chastised him over comments he made related to
Jay Cutler’s
tirade against and shoving of
J’Marcus Webb.
Moore said the coach pulled him aside as the two crossed paths inside Halas Hall.
Monday, Moore spoke out against Cutler’s treatment of Webb, saying the quarterback was “wrong” in his actions with Webb on the sideline during Thursday night’s 23-10 loss in Green Bay.
“Coach basically just told me that you can’t say that because we’re a team,” Moore said Wednesday evening.
Moore also got a short lecture from nickel backs coach
Mikal Smith
— the coach’s son — to keep matters in-house. The fourth-year player from Vanderbilt hopes the issue won’t affect his playing time against the Rams on Sunday.
Moore, however, stood by his statements.
“I don’t regret nothing,” Moore said. “I don’t really mind what people think or what people feel about what I said. But people are acting like this is … this is football. Calm down.”
Smith was asked about addressing players over what they say publicly.
“I talk to our players, but I don’t tell them what to say and don’t stop them from saying anything,” Smith said. “If you have something to say, just make sure you put your name behind it. That’s the message.
“But, of course, the message to our football team is that we’re a team. … There are things that you should keep within our group.”
Hands-on approach:
Several players, including Rams cornerback
Cortland Finnegan,
have discussed how the replacement officials have called — or ignored — physical play between receivers and defensive backs down the field. Finnegan even told the St. Louis Post Dispatch the replacement refs, “Just let you play football.”
Bears cornerback
Charles Tillman
offered his take.
“You have to look at it the same way they do,” Tillman said. “But as time goes on, the refs will be better and be more consistent about making the right calls.”
Tillman recalled how the Colts and Packers receivers approached him in the first two games.
“You mean after 5 yards? I haven’t seen a big difference, personally,” he said.
Injury update:
Julius Peppers
(foot) and
Matt Forte
(ankle) were held out of practice Wednesday. Smith said Peppers foot is “sore” and Forte is “making progress.” Peppers entered the season battling plantar fasciitis — an inflammation of the thick band of tissue at the bottom of the foot. Peppers did not reveal which foot contains the problem, but it hasn’t affected his play. He has two sacks.
Linebacker
Brian Urlacher
(knee) practiced Wednesday but is likely to be held out Thursday, as part of a normal routine.
In St. Louis, running back
Steven Jackson
did not practice because of a groin injury. Rams coach
Jeff Fisher
told the media in St. Louis that Jackson is “day-to-day.”
Twitter @vxmcclure23
