While the Bears come under fire, their fans are taking some heat, too -- from players. When asked about the criticism of head coach Lovie Smith, [Brian Urlacher] said he doesn't care about the fans and believes the Bears get booed more at home than any team in the NFC North. ... Now Lance Briggs is getting in on the action. While taping The Lance Briggs Show Tuesday night in the CSN studio, the Bears linebacker backed up his teammate. "I understand where he's coming from," Briggs said. "I've been here a long time, too and I've [heard] a lot of boos. For a lot of the wrong reasons. Nobody, on any team I've seen, gets booed more at home than here in Chicago. ... Everyone is passionate, but everyone in Chicago doesn't know how to run a football team." (CSN Chicago) Comment

While his father opined last week that Jabari Parker's college choice was likely "between Duke and Michigan State," the high school star insists that's not the case. ... [Tom Izzo] and his staff have spent the better part of three years recruiting Parker, and if the importance of signing him wasn't evident enough by his ranking -- the Spartans have signed zero players to next year's class. "Clearly, he has been almost the sole priority for almost three years now," said Eric Bossi, national basketball analyst for Rivals.com. It's a high-risk gamble, especially considering the other teams involved feel they have as good a shot as the other to land Parker. (Detroit News) Comment

Whether Amar'e Stoudemire will be home for Christmas -- and not with the Knicks in Los Angeles -- remains to be seen, but one thing is certain: He's willing to become a $100 million sixth man. [Stoudemire said Tuesda] he will do "whatever it takes," including accepting a role off the Knicks' bench, to win and avoid disrupting team chemistry once he returns following left knee surgery. ... "You guys [media] know me. Ever since I've been here, I've been all about winning and been a total team player. So whatever it takes to win, that's the goal." Even if it takes coming off the bench. "I'm totally open to it," he said. "I've been here for three years now. You should know how much of a team player I am." (New York Post) Comment