Covert out, Hilgenberg in

There was mixed news about the Bears' hobbled offensive lineThursday as offensive tackle Jim Covert was declared out for Sunday'sgame and center Jay Hilgenberg was declared in.

Covert, who has a badly sprained ankle, did not practice andlikely will be placed on the inactive list. Covert tried to playMonday after missing a game, but reinjured himself.

Second-year man Paul Blair will start in his place.

Hilgenberg was considering season-ending shoulder surgery, butThursday said he will play through the pain after consulting withphysicians Michael Schafer and Frank Jobe. Both told Hilgenberg hisrotator cuff problem and the bone chips in his elbow would not bepermanently worsened by playing the rest of the season, he said.

"I was worried about lasting injuries," Hilgenberg said. "ButI'm not doing any lasting damage to it."

Hilgenberg said his thoughts of having immediate surgery weredue to frustration.

"I just had a bad attitude the last six weeks of the season," he said. "I really don't want to talk aboutit. I feel like I've been contributing and that's why I'm going tocontinue playing."

DITKA TALKS: Although Bear coach Mike Ditka is refusing to speakwith the Chicago media and turned down a network television requestThursday, he spoke with Seattle writers on a teleconference call.

Ditka is upset at the Chicago press for the way it handled hisgum-tossing incident and other stories.

He analyzed the 41-0 loss to the San Francisco 49ers for theSeattle press:

"When you lose like that, you start to question a lot of things. Nothing looks very good. Hopefully that won't create a hangoverfor our players. We've got a lot of pride and character, they'llbounce back."

Ditka said the Bears are eager to erase the memory of the SanFrancisco loss.

"The main idea the last two games is to improve going into theplayoffs with a little bit of momentum," he said. "Right now wedon't have very much, but it can come back in a hurry."

WHIPS AND CARROTS: Ditka admits to being in somewhat of aquandary when it comes to motivating defensive linemen William Perryand Richard Dent.

Ditka said Perry loses 2,000 pounds a week.

"It doesn't do much good to rant and rave about it," he said."It's too hard on me mentally and physically. I beat a dead horseto death before."

Ditka said Dent's play has been sporadic.

"We expect production," Ditka said. "We pay our players prettywell, not as well as Seattle pays some of it's players. I don'tknow if you can motivate a guy like that (Dent). The greatestmotivator is personal pride."