Urlacher makes a pretty strong case to re-sign him.

 

"Chicago is my home. ... Whether I play for the Bears or not, that's my home," Urlacher said Tuesday on "The Waddle & Silvy Show" on ESPN Chicago 1000. "I want to be there and hopefully we can work something out, but if not I'll go somewhere else."

 

Urlacher, who will be 35 by training camp, acknowledged that a pay cut is "fair" for a player of his age.

 

"When you look at my age, it's going to be hard to not give them a discount," Urlacher said. "I'm not going to make what I was making in the past, how about that? Does that make sense? That's fair."

 

I thought his wording was interesting. He seems to understand that to stay on this team, he is going to have to take a pay cut. I wouldn't mind bringing him back for a 2-year incentive laden deal. This would allow us to focus the draft on other needs.

 

More at the link:

 

http://espn.go.com/chicago/nfl/story/_/id/...n-chicago-bears

 

Urlacher makes a pretty strong case to re-sign him.

 

 

 

I thought his wording was interesting. He seems to understand that to stay on this team, he is going to have to take a pay cut. I wouldn't mind bringing him back for a 2-year incentive laden deal. This would allow us to focus the draft on other needs.

 

More at the link:

 

http://espn.go.com/chicago/nfl/story/_/id/...n-chicago-bears

 

Notice how he refers to Chicago as "there" and not "here". I sense a bit of disconnect....it could be nothing, but I thought I'd mention it.

According to ratings he was awful last year. He's clearly lost a step or 2. It's really hard to say goodbye to a guy like him though. If he comes at enough of discount to do what we need to do then I guesssss.

Notice how he refers to Chicago as "there" and not "here". I sense a bit of disconnect....it could be nothing, but I thought I'd mention it.

 

Technically since he's a UFA (soon to be), he's been diconnected. It's up to the Bears to welcome him back. Seems like a good choice even if he's 75-80% of the former player. He can give us time to find a replacement and be able to delcare his retirement as a memeber of the Bears.

Urlacher makes a pretty strong case to re-sign him.

 

I thought his wording was interesting. He seems to understand that to stay on this team, he is going to have to take a pay cut. I wouldn't mind bringing him back for a 2-year incentive laden deal. This would allow us to focus the draft on other needs.

 

More at the link:

 

http://espn.go.com/chicago/nfl/story/_/id/...n-chicago-bears

 

4 million? I just don't know how to value him. He was not very good last year IMO. How much can a player his age recovery/improve after injury?

Regardless of whether or not the Bears re-sign Urlacher, they still need to get younger at LB. Signing him should have no baring on what direction they go in the draft.

Regardless of whether or not the Bears re-sign Urlacher, they still need to get younger at LB. Signing him should have no baring on what direction they go in the draft.

 

I disagree, if 54 is back you grab a LB prospect in the later rounds, if he's gone an early round should be used.

I disagree, if 54 is back you grab a LB prospect in the later rounds, if he's gone an early round should be used.

Why? He's not 25 years old anymore, and frankly, not really that good either. You have to look at the bigger picture. We NEED youth at LB. Urlacher's time is up at some point, whether it's right now or after the year. Briggs isn't getting any younger either. I think it would be incredibly dumb to use Urlacher's re-signing as a reason to diminish the level of need at that position.

Because I'd rather not have a high draft pick sit on the bench...Either draft an unfinished product in the mid-late rounds to develop or draft an LB that can start right away when Brian is gone.

 

If they draft an LB in the 1st or 2nd this year and Brian is back I'll be ticked.

I would think we could sign him to a 2-yr deal and draft a MLB in the first 2 rounds next year, then have the rookie learn from Urlacher in his first year before taking over for him the next year.

Because I'd rather not have a high draft pick sit on the bench...Either draft an unfinished product in the mid-late rounds to develop or draft an LB that can start right away when Brian is gone.

 

If they draft an LB in the 1st or 2nd this year and Brian is back I'll be ticked.

Who says he would sit on the bench? You could plug him in at SAM until Urlacher gets hurt, or retires at season's end. The value wouldn't be as great playing on the strong side but if you know he's eventually going to take over as MLB within a year, why would you not do it?

Who says he would sit on the bench? You could plug him in at SAM until Urlacher gets hurt, or retires at season's end. The value wouldn't be as great playing on the strong side but if you know he's eventually going to take over as MLB within a year, why would you not do it?

 

If they don't have the money to resign Roach then sure. Roach was pretty good a MLB when Brian went down.

Let him walk away. Grab his replacement. He is one of the best defensive players in the franchise's history, but he's no longer that player. Draft Te'o or Ogletree. The time is now.

Let him walk away. Grab his replacement. He is one of the best defensive players in the franchise's history, but he's no longer that player. Draft Te'o or Ogletree. The time is now.

I have read they are looking at other LBers in FAgency, of which there isnt much to select from. Anybody know much about Wheeler that played in Oak last year?

I'm shocked at the willingness some of you have to just let him go. You don't do that to franchise players like Urlacher. He should retire a Bear.

I'm shocked at the willingness some of you have to just let him go. You don't do that to franchise players like Urlacher. He should retire a Bear.

 

I agree with you Jason. No, he did not have a great year in 2012. I know it, you know it, and HE knows it. If he can stay healthy this year I think we will see him return to form, however, probably 80-90% of his peak due to age. 80-90% of his "Peak" is awesome and much better than what we would obtain in FA or with a rookie, IMO, especially when considering the intangibles he brings.

 

Yes, we need to develop a replacement. However, to say he should be let go, cut, thrown aside, crazy, crazy, crazy!

I'm shocked at the willingness some of you have to just let him go. You don't do that to franchise players like Urlacher. He should retire a Bear.

 

I agree and disagree at the same time...he's my all time favorite player and thats saying a lot.

 

However, he has walked across bridges through the years with the Bears organization and nearly set them on fire. Did anyone else think Urlacher was out of line to ask for a new contract back in 2008? I sure as hell did.....reading about his child custody battles while he had a different babe on his arm every time I saw him on TV got annoying. He was essentially in the middle of a mega deal and got an extra $18 mil because he asked for it.

 

Urlacher, 30, had four years and approximately $25.5 million remaining on his contract. Under the terms of the upgraded deal, Urlacher will receive a $6 million signing bonus along with a $1 million bump in salary each of the next four years. The sides also have agreed to extend the pact into 2012, at a salary of $7.5 million. Urlacher can earn an additional $500,000 in a workout bonus in 2012.

That's a total of roughly $43.5 million over the next five years, with $18 million in new money for the six-time Pro Bowler and four-time All Pro.

 

Urlacher publicly ripped the Bears for their cancellation of Family Night at Solider Field a few years ago because the field wasn't ready. I felt Urlacher was right to do so, but I can't imagine the McK's appreciated the public bashing from the franchise player they took care of even AFTER having neck surgery in '08.

 

Urlacher also really ticked off a lot people (a lot of us) just a few months ago in regards to his response to the booing. He didn't help himself here and looked like a jackass IMO.

 

With all of this being said- you can't keep Urlacher just because he's a franchise player. If Phil Emery gets good word on Urlachers medical state and feels he can be the Bears MLB for a certain period of time- then we'd all be happy to have Urlacher back. However....if the Bears decide to move in another direction from Brian- that's fine, too. The organization has done enough for him.

I agree with you Jason. No, he did not have a great year in 2012. I know it, you know it, and HE knows it. If he can stay healthy this year I think we will see him return to form, however, probably 80-90% of his peak due to age. 80-90% of his "Peak" is awesome and much better than what we would obtain in FA or with a rookie, IMO, especially when considering the intangibles he brings.

 

Yes, we need to develop a replacement. However, to say he should be let go, cut, thrown aside, crazy, crazy, crazy!

He is not under contract. They would not be cutting him.

 

Peace

I'm shocked at the willingness some of you have to just let him go. You don't do that to franchise players like Urlacher. He should retire a Bear.

You mean like Jerry Rice, Joe Montana, Joe Namath, Junior Saeu, etc.... Happens all the time. Here's a list of a whole bunch of them. http://bleacherreport.com/articles/714377-...-the-wrong-team

 

Loved Urlacher as a player. He is a Hall of Famer. He also is not the player he used to be. Unless he is willing to come back for somewhere around league minimum, its time to move on.

 

Peace

Agreed.

 

As long as the bank isn't broken, he can be a very solid contributor in many ways for hopefully 2 years.

 

I agree with you Jason. No, he did not have a great year in 2012. I know it, you know it, and HE knows it. If he can stay healthy this year I think we will see him return to form, however, probably 80-90% of his peak due to age. 80-90% of his "Peak" is awesome and much better than what we would obtain in FA or with a rookie, IMO, especially when considering the intangibles he brings.

 

Yes, we need to develop a replacement. However, to say he should be let go, cut, thrown aside, crazy, crazy, crazy!

 

What does everyone think his price tag will be? I'm not sure how to value him...

You mean like Jerry Rice, Joe Montana, Joe Namath, Junior Saeu, etc.... Happens all the time. Here's a list of a whole bunch of them. http://bleacherreport.com/articles/714377-...-the-wrong-team

 

Loved Urlacher as a player. He is a Hall of Famer. He also is not the player he used to be. Unless he is willing to come back for somewhere around league minimum, its time to move on.

 

Peace

 

This has been gone over before. Why does nobody have a memory on this board.

 

YES. EXACTLY LIKE THOSE GUYS.

 

And nearly every single one of those guys looked like a fish out of water in the new uniform. Nearly every one of those guys caused their fans a bit of disgust every time they were seen in the different uniform.

 

And you're being ridiculous with the league minimum stuff. He wasn't a dominating force this year, but he's much, much better than league minimum.

This has been gone over before. Why does nobody have a memory on this board.

 

YES. EXACTLY LIKE THOSE GUYS.

 

And nearly every single one of those guys looked like a fish out of water in the new uniform. Nearly every one of those guys caused their fans a bit of disgust every time they were seen in the different uniform.

 

And you're being ridiculous with the league minimum stuff. He wasn't a dominating force this year, but he's much, much better than league minimum.

 

You don't win by keeping a player for sentimental value. Professional sports teams know when it's time to move on. If the player doesn't know it's time to retire, what is the team supposed to do - keep them as long as they want to play? Ridiculous.

 

I didn't said league minimum - I said somewhere around league minimum. League minimum for a veteran with over 10 years of experience is $940 k this year. I wouldn't pay him more than 2 million a year on a 2 year deal to keep him (much closer to the league minimum than his previous salary). Urlacher made millions playing for the Bears. If he is not willing to give a big hometown discount to stay with the team then it is time to thank him and move on.

 

Peace

You don't win by keeping a player for sentimental value. Professional sports teams know when it's time to move on. If the player doesn't know it's time to retire, what is the team supposed to do - keep them as long as they want to play? Ridiculous.

 

I didn't said league minimum - I said somewhere around league minimum. League minimum for a veteran with over 10 years of experience is $940 k this year. I wouldn't pay him more than 2 million a year on a 2 year deal to keep him (much closer to the league minimum than his previous salary). Urlacher made millions playing for the Bears. If he is not willing to give a big hometown discount to stay with the team then it is time to thank him and move on.

 

Peace

 

Agreed, his speed and burst is just not there anymore and due to the nature of his knee injury probably won't get that burst back...If they continue with the lame float him in the middle every play he might still be able to contribute but he won't be anywhere near the same sideline to sideline player. If they wanna bring him back at no more than 2 mill then sure but it may end up being a detriment to the team cause you know he's gonna start as long as he's here.