Bears head to Super Bowl as underdogs

LAKE FOREST, Ill. (AP) _ Adewale Ogunleye is returning to the city where he kicked off his career. And now he's got a chance to win the Super Bowl. <br/><br/>``For me it brings it full circle,''

Wednesday, January 24th 2007, 6:07 am

By: News On 6

LAKE FOREST, Ill. (AP) _ Adewale Ogunleye is returning to the city where he kicked off his career. And now he's got a chance to win the Super Bowl.

``For me it brings it full circle,'' the Chicago Bears defensive end said. ``Going back to Miami is big because that's where I started in this league, and it's going to be a little surreal.''

Ogunleye was traded from the Dolphins to the Bears during the preseason in 2004. While in his fourth season with Miami in 2003, he led the AFC with 15 sacks.

Last week against the New Orleans Saints in the NFC championship, Ogunleye had a sack and recovered the fumble he forced from Drew Brees as the Bears rolled to a 39-14 victory.

Now he'll have to chase Peyton Manning, whose Indianapolis Colts are favored with their high-powered offense.

``As far as us being underdogs, if you look at what all the Colts bring to the table I could see why they would make us underdogs, but we've been in that role before and our guys like the underdog role,'' Chicago coach Lovie Smith said.

``I wouldn't bet against the Bears if I were a betting man.''

The Colts and Bears last met in the 2004 season at Soldier Field and Manning riddled a Chicago defense missing injured linebacker Brian Urlacher for four touchdown passes in a 41-10 runaway victory.

Chicago cornerbacks Charles Tillman and Nathan Vasher will be on the spot against the Colts, trying to contain Marvin Harrison and Reggie Wayne. Tight end Dallas Clark also gives the Colts a big threat over the middle.

The Bears did clamp down on the Saints and their top-rated offense last week, coming up with four turnovers and a safety, and yielding only two TDs, one an 88-yard pass to Reggie Bush.

``We've got to win it. You don't make it this far and not win it. Our goal all year has been to win the Super Bowl,'' linebacker Hunter Hillenmeyer said.

The Bears defense got a lift Tuesday when a judge granted a request to allow defensive tackle Tank Johnson to leave the state of Illinois as he awaits trial on gun possession charges. So, there's a Tank going to the Super Bowl.

Chicago's defense sagged in the final stages of the regular season, missing defensive tackle Tommie Harris and safety Mike Brown, both lost with injuries. Now it will be tested as much as it has all season.

In addition to Ogunleye, another player who will have a homecoming of sorts in Miami is rookie return specialist Devin Hester, who set an NFL record this season with six returns for touchdowns.

He played three seasons at University of Miami, doing a little bit of everything for the Hurricanes _ returning kicks, while also playing running back, receiver and defensive back.

There are also several University of Florida players on the Bears, still celebrating the Gators' national championship romp over Ohio State. Quarterback Rex Grossman, defensive tackle Ian Scott, defensive end Alex Brown and safety Todd Johnson all played at Florida.

``We're trying to keep that going with all the Gators playing well,'' Scott said.

Smith welcomes the two weeks separating the conference championship games and the Super Bowl. The Bears are expected to leave for Miami on Sunday after a shortened practice week.

``There is a lot of stuff to get ironed out. First off, taking care of all of your relatives and getting them down to Miami, that takes a couple days in itself right there,'' Smith said.

``And then you can get down to football from there. It's a special time and I think just having the two weeks helps you enjoy it more.''

This will be the biggest media mob the Bears have ever seen. But Smith, who was in a Super Bowl as the Rams' defensive coordinator, doesn't see any problem there, either.

``Well this is what we do. ... As far as dealing with the media, we're going to answer your questions the same way we always do,'' he said.

``I think as much as anything you just remain you, true to yourself with everything that you do, and that's what we're going to do.''