SAN DIEGO - The war of words is on even before the "Lights Out" dance makes its first appearance of the season.

Chicago Bears linebacker Brian Urlacher delivered some stinging criticism of Shawne Merriman's trademark celebration in Chicago newspapers earlier this week, and the Chargers' star linebacker responded in explosive fashion Thursday.

"Say what you want, but you have bigger problems than my 'Lights Out' dance Sunday," said Merriman, referring to the day the two teams meet at Qualcomm Stadium. "I wouldn't be too concentrated on my dance or what I do."

Urlacher made the following comments about Merriman's flamboyant dance, which includes frantic leg kicks and ferocious fist pumps: "The thing is, if you're going to do it, do it all the time. Do it when you make a bad play, too. You'll never see me doing any stupid (stuff) like that after a play. The only thing I'll do is get a little happy with my teammates."

Merriman said he wasn't surprised by Urlacher's comments and said they will have no effect on him.

"Nothing they can say or do can fire me up more than I already am," Merriman said. "It doesn't matter. People have took shots at me before -- players, people period -- so that stuff doesn't even break the first layer of my skin."

Asked if he knows Urlacher, Merriman responded: "No. I really don't care to know him, actually. … I've got plenty of things to say about him, but it's not important. I'll see him Sunday."

At one point, Merriman rose from his locker stool, grabbed his shoulder pads and began shaking them, making a smacking noise. He said the pads will be speaking a lot for him Sunday, and he was asked if Urlacher would be able to hear the smacking.

"Oh, he'll hear it," Merriman said. "Ever hear of the Fourth of July when you're outside? You don't have to see the fireworks, but you can hear them."

Merriman then slapped the pads together again.

"That's all the talking I need to do right there," Merriman said.

Running against the Bears

Chicago's defense was sixth best against the run last season, and the Chargers' LaDainian Tomlinson led the NFL with 1,815 rushing yards. That makes for an intriguing matchup.

"They have a good defense and they have good players over there," Chargers guard Kris Dielman said. "They move around the ball real well. It will be a good challenge for us."

Bears coach Lovie Smith knows that it's imperative for his defense to contain Tomlinson.

"It's very important, but most teams have gone in trying to do that," Smith said. "Every team they've played has tried to do that. It's hard to keep great players down. We're going to try and do that as much as we possibly can."

This will be just the second time Tomlinson has faced the Bears. In 2003, he was held to 61 yards on 16 carries in a 20-7 loss in Chicago.

Et cetera

RB Michael Turner (ankle) and C Cory Withrow were full practice participants on Thursday. Both players should play against the Bears. … Chicago TE Greg Olsen (knee) was a limited participant at Bears practice. … As expected, LB Anthony Waters missed practice. He was in South Carolina after the death of his grandmother earlier this week.