On Aaron Rodgers Day, Bears-Packers Rivalry Heats Up

"It's exciting," said Rodgers during his weekly media session.  "It's really special, it's a great honor.  I want to thank all the kids out there that are wearing my jersey to school today, and those that aren't as well.  Thank my teammates for wearing my jersey for like 20 minutes, and getting scared and taking them off.

Many of Green Bay's offensive lineman and a few tight ends wore No. 12 jerseys for the start of practice Wednesday.

Talk was back to the heated rivalry when word got around about Bears WR Brandon Marshall's press conference earlier in the day.

"I don't like the Green Bay Packers," Marshall said.  "I'm not going to use the word hate, but I really dislike the Green Bay Packers and their players."

Marshall was held to just two catches, for 24 yards against Green Bay in week two and seemed peeved over comments he says came from Packers CB Tramon Williams and CB/S Charles Woodson following the 23-10 Packers win.

"If they want to give me 1-on-1 coverage, they will pay," Marshall said while adding that the Packers never covered him with one player and Dom Capers was the reason he was contained in Week 2. 

"For their players to be over there talking about how awesome of a job they are shutting down certain players, I don't respect that," Marshall added.

Marshall also said he was glad Woodson (collarbone) was returning this week, but Packers Head Coach Mike McCarthy announced Wednesday that Woodson will not play Sunday.  Williams and Woodson were not available for comment in the Packers locker room.

McCarthy was asked what advice he gave players when discussing the heated rivalry with the media this week.

"The only advice I gave them was what my dad used to tell me, 'don't tell 'em nothin','" McCarthy said.

Packers' veteran defensive end Ryan Pickett was asked if players generally just laugh off comments like Marshall's.

"We laugh it off, but you take note of it," Pickett said.  "You notice them talking.  You shouldn't go off running your mouth, but some people do.  They have to answer for it Sunday."

Many players immediately said the team has bigger goals than winning any war of words this week.  If they win this week it will be the team's 12^th straight divisional game win and 6^th straight against Chicago.  More importantly, a victory at Soldier Field clinches the NFC North for Green Bay.

"We're coming in hungry," said Rodgers.  "We've got a chance to win the division.  I've got a lot of respect for Lovie and what he's done down there.  I know a lot of the guys down there enjoy the competitive rivalry.  It's always a good game. We've played a number of close ones over the years, and this should be another one."