Smith maintains friendship with Cardinals quarterback

Lovie Smith typically roots for Kurt Warner, but that obviously won’t be the case on Sunday.

The Bears coach became close with the Cardinals quarterback when the two were together with the Rams in 2001-03. Smith served as St. Louis’ defensive coordinator, while Warner operated a high-octane offense that was known as “The Greatest Show on Turf.”

“Kurt is a lifetime friend, I’ll start off with that,” Smith said. “It was great being with him in St. Louis. He’s a competitor, a great player and all that, and a great guy. After the game I’m looking forward to seeing him. I cheer for him whenever they’re not playing us, but this week it’ll be a little bit different.”

Warner and Bears quarterback Jay Cutler have similar statistics. Both have thrown 11 touchdown passes and 11 interceptions this season. Cutler has a better yards-per-attempt average (7.02-6.76), while Warner has slight edges in completion percentage (65.4-64.0) and passer rating (81.5-80.8).

Payton Foundation hosting toy drive at Sunday's game

The Walter and Connie Payton Foundation will be conducting a toy drive Sunday at Soldier Field when the Bears host the Arizona Cardinals.

Members of the Payton family and other volunteers will be stationed at most stadium entrances to collect new unwrapped toys from fans.

According to its mission statement, the foundation is “dedicated to the emotional healing of neglected, abused and underprivileged children by providing tools and opportunities to build self-esteem and encourage a better family unit giving hope for a brighter future.”

The foundation is committed to giving new gifts to as many in-need children as possible during the holiday season. The organization works closely with the Department of Children and Family Services (DCFS) to ensure that the neediest children in the state of Illinois receive the gifts.

For more information about the Walter and Connie Payton Foundation, logo onto www.payton34.com.

Bears seeking balance with run, pass on offense

Even though the Bears have had more success moving the ball through the air than on the ground this season, they’re not going to give up on their running game as they seek to achieve balance on offense.

“We definitely have to run the ball and we definitely want to run the football,” said offensive coordinator Ron Turner. “So, yeah, we’re going to continue to do that. But we also have to have balance. You have to be able to run the ball to win, there’s no question about it. But you also have to score points to win, and it’s hard scoring points just running. You’ve got to make plays in the passing game.

“We want to run the ball, we will run the ball, but we also want to have balance. We’ve got a pretty good guy back there taking those snaps [in quarterback Jay Cutler], so we’re going to give him some opportunities to make some plays as well.”

Running back Matt Forte enters Sunday’s game against the Cardinals having rushed for 408 yards and three touchdowns on 118 carries. His two best games of the season have come in the Bears’ last two home games with Forte rushing for 121 yards on 12 carries in a 48-24 win over the Lions and 90 yards on 26 attempts in a 30-6 victory over the Browns.

The Cardinals had the NFL’s top run defense before they slipped to eighth after allowing 270 yards on the ground in last Sunday’s 34-21 loss to the Carolina Panthers. 

Hester, Manning should be good to go Sunday

Wide receiver Devin Hester (ankle) and defensive back Danieal Manning (back) were listed as questionable on the injury report after practicing on a limited basis Friday. But both are expected to play Sunday when the Bears host the Arizona Cardinals at Soldier Field.

“My ankle’s fine,” Hester said after practice. “No worries.”

The Bears will enter the game relatively healthy. Seven other players practiced without limitations Friday and were listed as probable: Linebacker Lance Briggs (shoulder), defensive tackles Tommie Harris (knee) and Matt Toeaina (calf), defensive lineman Israel Idonije (knee), defensive end Adewale Ogunleye (ankle), tight end Greg Olsen (ankle) and safety Craig Steltz (bicep).

The Cardinals don’t have any serious injuries. Wide receiver Anquan Boldin (ankle) was limited Friday and is questionable, but he is expected to play Sunday. The same is true of defensive tackle Darnell Dockett (ankle), who was listed as probably on Arizona’s injury report.

Tillman's father, friend safe after Fort Hood massacre

The massacre on the Fort Hood army base in Texas Thursday hit close to home for three Bears players.

Cornerback Charles Tillman, defensive tackle Tommie Harris and receiver Juaquin Iglesias all grew up near the base, which covers 339 square miles and is located halfway between Austin and Waco.

A 39-year-old Army psychiatrist set to be deployed overseas went on a shooting rampage, killing 13 people and wounding 30. The gunman, Major Nidal Malik Hasan, was wounded but survived.

Tillman lived just outside of Fort Hood when he was in high school, and his father still works at the base. The Bears cornerback also has a friend who works at the Soldier Readiness Center where the attack took place, but no one Tillman knew was killed or injured.

“It’s just an unfortunate situation,” he said. “My heart goes out to the families and loved ones.

"What we do is so small considering what just happened. Just being around that environment ... knowing what those families go through—they're working for months and years at a time, then being deployed—it just puts everything in perspective what they go through on a daily basis."

Iglesias revealed that he could see Fort Hood from the home where he was raised.

“I grew up listening to helicopters fly over,” Iglesias said. “I feel bad. It’s just unfortunate that stuff like that happens.”