LAKE FOREST, Ill. – Near the end of his 88-yard touchdown reception in Sunday’s NFC Championship Game at Soldier Field, Saints rookie Reggie Bush turned around and pointed at Brian Urlacher before somersaulting into the end zone.

The All-Pro middle linebacker didn’t seem to care, but a couple of Urlacher’s teammates were incensed by the taunting. Defensive end Adewale Ogunleye raced down the sideline and got in Bush’s face to let him know just how he felt.

Reggie Bush tumbles into the end zone to celebrate his 88-yard TD reception in Sunday's NFC Championship Game.

“I told Reggie that was unprofessional,” Ogunleye said. “He’s a rookie and he’s going to be a hell of a player in this league. But for him to point back and taunt, that was no class. I swear I was a second away from punching him. I’m glad I didn’t. I ran right to him and said, ‘Be professional in this league.’”

“I could go on and on about why he shouldn’t have done that,” said center Olin Kreutz. “When I saw it I was just kind of like, ‘What an idiot.’ He’s a young idiot, just a guy who doesn’t understand that you have to earn the right to do that.

“He hasn’t done anything this year in the league to do anything close to that, pointing at a guy like Brian Urlacher. I mean that’s just ridiculous.”

When Urlacher stepped to the podium following the Bears’ 39-14 win, he was asked what he thought about Bush’s taunting.

“I think we’re going to the Super Bowl,” Urlacher said.

As soon as Bush reached the sideline after scoring, he reportedly apologized to Saints coach Sean Payton, explaining that he was just caught up in the emotion of the game.

Feel-good story: There was plenty of emotion in the Bears locker room after Sunday’s victory. While general manager Jerry Angelo hugged defensive tackle Tank Johnson nearby, Kreutz sat on the floor for a moment, clutching the George S. Halas trophy on his lap.

“I was really trying my best not to cry,” said the six-time Pro Bowler. “I’m not allowed. The guys were getting on me a little bit, but I held it together pretty well.”

Kreutz and long-snapper Patrick Mannelly are the longest tenured Bears, having arrived in the 1998 draft. Together, they’ve combined to appear in 268 regular-season games.

“I’m excited for the team, the organization and the city mostly,” Kreutz said. “We worked hard. We’ve been the best in the NFC from the beginning to the end and we proved it (Sunday).”

Buddy system: Shortly after Kreutz entered the locker room following Sunday’s win, he handed the championship trophy to injured safety Mike Brown, who held it aloft. Brown was lost for the season Oct. 16 when he tore a ligament in his foot in a Monday night win in Arizona.

“I wish he was out there playing with us,” Urlacher said. “Every time he’s out of the game we miss him. He’s still telling us how bad we are when we’re not playing well. I wish he was out there, but this is great for him. He’s a big part of this team.”

Roster notes: Wide receiver Mark Bradley sat out Sunday’s game with an ankle injury. Other Bears inactives were safeties Tyler Everett and Nick Turnbull, fullback J.D. Runnels, linebacker Leon Joe, center/guard Anthony Oakley and defensive tackle Antonio Garay.

For the Saints, wide receiver Joe Horn (groin) and safety Omar Stoutmire (hip) missed the game with injuries. Other New Orleans inactives were running back Jamaal Branch, cornerback Curtis Deloatch, linebacker Alfred Fincher, guard Montrae Holland, defensive tackle Rodney Leisle and tackle Rob Petitti.