"Technically speaking, Seahawks receiver T.J. Houshmandzadeh has bragging rights over Bears linebacker Lance Briggs.

Back in 2000, when Briggs was in his second year at Arizona and Houshmandzadeh was in his one and only year at Oregon State, Houshmandzadeh's Beavers pummeled Briggs' Wildcats 33-9.

"I've been playing against T.J since college, so I know what type of competitor he is," Briggs said Thursday. "The guy can play."

He can run his mouth too.

Houshmandzadeh's brash comments that he will best the Bears' defensive backs 95 percent of the time Sunday and show up general manager Jerry Angelo for not signing him in free agency echoed Thursday throughout Halas Hall.

"Sounds like a bitter guy," Briggs said. "Maybe he wanted to play in Chicago. If he's going to show what he's going to do on Sunday, tell you what, so are we. So am I."

The chances of Briggs and Houshmandzadeh having frequent encounters at Qwest Field seem slim, although Houshmandzadeh may want to watch his ailing back on plays over the middle.

This is more about how defensive backs Charles Tillman and Zack Bowman will fare against Houshmandzadeh because the receiver said, "I feel I'm going to win 95 percent of the time and they can get the other 5.""