FINISH LINE: Why won’t the Bears talk to NBC’s Costas?

For Bears, mum’s the word

Chicago Bears general manager Jerry Angelo, coach Lovie Smith and quarterback Jay Cutler have turned down an opportunity to talk with Bob Costas for an NBC pregame show that would air before the Bears’ game Sunday night with the Philadelphia Eagles.

Chicago Tribune columnist Rick Morrisey suggested several possible reasons as to why the Bears aren’t talking, including:

— “They’re worried Costas is going to tell the Eagles about the top-secret interceptions Cutler plans to throw Sunday night.

— “How many different ways can the Bears say, ‘Titanic, gigantic iceberg and can’t swim?’

— “They’re concerned Costas is going to ask Cutler deeply personal questions, such as, ‘What’s up with losing to the 49ers?’

— “They’re concerned Cutler is going to answer, ‘Hey, you try winning with the wide receivers I’ve been given. Or the linemen. Or the running back.’

— “The Bears looked to defensive line guru Rod Marinelli for guidance on the issue, and a twitch of one of his messianic eyebrows seemed to suggest they shouldn’t talk with the NBC announcer.

— “They got wind that Costas is going to wear a Tommie Harris-like nasal strip that says, ‘Eagles 28-7.’

“Angelo says the flap with NBC is one big misunderstanding. He says he will be happy to answer any questions, as long as they don’t have to do with his draft record, any personnel matters or, come to think of it, the Bears.”

PARTING SHOT

“The hippie kid won.”

— A St. Louis Cardinals fan

Posting to stltoday.com after Tim Lincecum, the San Francisco Giants phenom and former University of Washington star, won his second consecutive NL Cy Young award, beating out two Cardinals pitchers.

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