Dionne Miller's 'Happenings at Halas' - September 6 - FOX 35 News Orlando

The schedule said "select defensive players" available at 12:15 p.m. So we all arrived at Halas eager to see if Brian Urlacher would again be the Thursday regular at the podium. We got word Lovie Smith selected said players so we were even more curious.

Lance Briggs was the first to chat with us. And it's really a shame he doesn't have a personality (kidding...he's hilarious!). Line of the day was him saying he's especially excited about talking to us (the media) this season. He said he used to dread it, but now he's looking forward to it. Why? "I'm better prepared. I came in this morning with a list of answers for you guys." We all laughed, but I swear there is a script they pass around. You guys know it - you hear the same things...a lot!

Anyway, we asked Briggs if there was anything we didn't ask about. He said he expected a few more questions about 5-4. Truthfully, I was waiting to see if the man himself would come in. Better to go to the source. Briggs was asked if he thinks the Colts may try to take advantage of a less than 100 percent Urlacher. Number 55 said "they can try...but they will fail."

Then Urlacher stopped in. He laughed when asked about his knee. "First question, huh...it's good." But the news was more about the fact that he confirmed the knee scope was because he aggravated his knee in training camp and not because he sprained his MCL/ACL against the Vikings in January. Either way - he says it's all - "no big deal." He plans to be on the field for every snap on Sunday against the Colts. And he's not worried about the Colts trying to specifically attack the middle because of the injury. "If they test me - I'll just make more plays."

Izzy Idonije said if anyone thinks Brian is going to be a weak part of the defense, go ahead and try to run at him. "He's a physical speciman." This is true. I don't know about you, but I am so anxious to see him play Sunday so he can show all of us that it really is "no big deal."

But look, he's a future hall of famer and the face of this team. His stats and the teams record without him prove he's a difference maker.

Rod Marinelli said he's such a great leader and he knows the defense so well. You could tell it was hard for the defensive coordinator to put into words just what it means to have him on the team.

A season with such high expectations starts on Sunday. We're a day closer to finding out if number 54 knows his body as well as he claims - that all this knee talk really is "no big deal."