Urlacher, Bears, no agreement reached.

[jackal]

I think Urlacher still seems himself in the past..

[Cliff]

Brian Urlacher: Maybe no NFL team 'wants me'

http://www.nfl.com/news/story/0ap100000 ... m-wants-me

"I'm also excited. I get a chance to look around and see what's out there, if there's anything out there at all. I don't know; maybe nobody wants me," Urlacher told The Dan Patrick Show on Friday. "Who knows? We're going to find out, I know what much."

It's not that nobody wants you, Brian ... it's that nobody wants to pay old you prices for new you ability.

[Mothman]

Brian Urlacher: Maybe no NFL team 'wants me'

http://www.nfl.com/news/story/0ap100000 ... m-wants-me


It's not that nobody wants you, Brian ... it's that nobody wants to pay old you prices for new you ability.

LOL! Nice use of Baby Huey.

[dead_poet]

Brian Urlacher - LB - Free Agent

Quizzed by the Chicago Sun Times, 12-of-13 NFL executives agreed the Bears' one-year, $2 million offer to free agent Brian Urlacher was fair.

It was more than fair. "He’s an aging guy who can’t run," said one NFC personnel exec. "Bold move — and the right move — by [Bears GM Phil] Emery. Better to get rid of a player a year too early than a year too late." Another GM suggested the Bears "could have offered nothing." The one executive who disagreed believes the Bears should have offered up to $3 million because clubs "generally pay a premium to keep a beloved, homegrown player happy." The Urlacher camp's final offer was a one-year, $3.5 million deal. They may have rejected that, anyway.
Source: Chicago Sun Times

[The Breeze]

i sure thought the offer was fair, if not generous. i think he's a little blinded by pride and will regret not taking the bears offer.......unless he gets a contract and has a decent year. i'm betting against it. i don't think anyone will hold it against him though, cause it's just his personality/mentality, which is large part of what made him such a great player.

[VikingHoard]

‘‘I think their offer is off the table, and after the way they handled it, I don’t know if I want to play for them,’’ he [Urlacher] said. ‘‘Who knows? I may play for $2 million for someone else.’’

http://www.suntimes.com/sports/football ... -2013.html

Urlacher sounds as if he may have become more realistic about his market value now. Has the price come down enough for the Vikings to look at him?

Personally I think if they can get him and still have enough left to resign Winfield without getting into major cap trouble they should do it. After this offseason Urlacher will definitely have something to prove and might surprise people. Also, whomever they draft at MLB (they're going to have to draft one regardless) will benefit greatly under Brian's tutelage. I really don't see a drawback to this, unless giving Audie Cole less playing time is a drawback.

[Cliff]

LOL! Nice use of Baby Huey.

I wasn't sure if anybody would get that or not.

[dead_poet]

I really don't see a drawback to this

A drawback could be playing Urlacher when a guy like Brown or Ogletree would offer more at the position. It's entirely possible that Urlacher is more of a liability than he is an asset at this point. I suppose I could see him being a two-down LB for a year (perhaps he'll have an amazing 2013 as Favre did in '09), but I'm not sure the advantage of what he brings to the table outweighs the potential liabilities in terms of athleticism right now.

I'd also question his desire to effectively tutor a younger LB. It's certainly possible, but I've seen many cases where guys are hesitant about doing it, as you're essentially teaching someone how to better replace you. I've seen a few documentaries about this issue as it relates to QBs. Urlacher might be a great guy that would love providing as much input as possible, but he's not obligated to do it and might not.

I suppose I'm in the camp that if we for whatever reason don't sign a starting caliber MLB in the first couple of rounds of the draft that signing Urlacher for $2 million for a year wouldn't be an awful backup plan. But not at the expense of possibly getting Winfield back (who I think brings more to the table at his position than Urlacher does at his). YMMV.

[losperros]

I suppose I'm in the camp that if we for whatever reason don't sign a starting caliber MLB in the first couple of rounds of the draft that signing Urlacher for $2 million for a year wouldn't be an awful backup plan. But not at the expense of possibly getting Winfield back (who I think brings more to the table at his position than Urlacher does at his). YMMV.

If signing Urlacher would in any way inhibit the chances of getting Winfield back, then it's all the more reason to look to the draft for a MLB.

Winfield has been a Viking for 9 years, knows the system and its players, and has been vocal about wanting to play for Coach Frazier. I also think he has more left physically than Urlacher, not to mention that Winfield's playing time can be reduced by being a savvy and efficient nickel back.

[mondry]

Should definitely wait and see how the draft plays out, and if we get a MLB we want starting from day 1. I doubt Brian's going anywhere so worst case scenario we can't pick up a quality starter in the draft we can toss the 2 mil at Urlacher and who knows, by then it might be down to 1.5 million haha.

I agree I want winfield back over getting Urlacher though. 100% think winfield can play the slot much more effective than Urlacher could play MLB at this point in their respective careers. In that sense, Winfield is asked to be the 3rd best corner on the team, while we'd be asking Urlacher to be the middle of the entire defense.

[Demi]

A drawback could be playing Urlacher when a guy like Brown or Ogletree would offer more at the position.

Maybe more athletically. But 13 years in this defense doesn't make up for that? Bringing in a rookie to plug into the middle of this defense? 9 years for Winfield and that counts for him, but Urlacher is shot? The guy was hurt, and he's healthy now. This season and next I find it hard to believe Urlacher wouldn't contribute more in this defense then a rookie or Audie Cole!

As far as Winfield, he was already working on being a part time player and half-coach before he was even cut. At a position we already have a few young guys fighting for time at. We have bodies at corner, we have Audie Cole in the middle. A bit more of a need!

I'd also question his desire to effectively tutor a younger LB.

Not even a question with Jennings, but it is with Urlacher? Is there something that makes you think this? Or just that you wouldn't like the signing? Winfield was here for 9 years, fat lot of good he did our corners during that time!

Just like Jennings we have a need at the position and at least for the short term future they're the best option available. If Brown and Teo are gone or we go another direction we just roll with Cole or some later pick that's there? Urlacher had a knee issue, then hamstring later on. According to him both are healed and he's able to workout again fully. Players all the time get the injury excuse, including our very own Jerome Simpson. But it isn't even brought up with Urlacher to explain issues he had last season?

[jackal]

I could see hanging them up if he has to play very little than in previous years

[dead_poet]

Maybe more athletically. But 13 years in this defense doesn't make up for that?

That's a big question in my mind. Just because he knows where he needs to be doesn't mean he can GET to where he needs to be as fast as he needs to get there. His lateral agility has been sapped. There were many times last season I caught him lumbering like an offensive lineman after a receiver or running back that got free. It was, frankly, a bit sad.

Bringing in a rookie to plug into the middle of this defense? 9 years for Winfield and that counts for him, but Urlacher is shot? The guy was hurt, and he's healthy now.

First-round rookies have been known to do well (Kuechly, for example). Again, it's the whole question of athleticism vs. experience and how much of a gulf is between Urlacher and, say, a high-round rookie. Winfield's 2012 was significantly better than Urlacher's. Plus, he'd be a nickel player which would keep him fresh. Comparing the two isn't exactly apples-to-apples. But if you do, Winfield would be the better veteran pickup (IMO).

This season and next I find it hard to believe Urlacher wouldn't contribute more in this defense then a rookie or Audie Cole!

So much love for Urlacher. I don't get it. I'd understand 3-5 years ago but now? After it's obvious he's running on fumes? Weren't you always bashing EJ for the same reasons you're defending today's version of Urlacher? I just find it hard to believe you think Urlacher would be a significant advantage to our defense over a rookie or Cole. I guess I don't see it that way.

As far as Winfield, he was already working on being a part time player and half-coach before he was even cut. At a position we already have a few young guys fighting for time at. We have bodies at corner, we have Audie Cole in the middle. A bit more of a need!

We're thin at both positions. I'd agree that LB is probably a bit more dire, but I'm not sure Urlacher is worth $3 million to simply "fill a hole" when it can be done much cheaper with likely comparable results (or a high-round rookie in lieu of a 35 year-old injury-plagued declining stopgap). It's important to remember that if Urlacher still had something, why is he still available and has yet to make any visits?

Not even a question with Jennings, but it is with Urlacher? Is there something that makes you think this? Or just that you wouldn't like the signing?

I have questions that Jennings is going to be a productive mentor, but it's possible. And it's possible both will. But I simply think that Urlacher would have less of a desire to do so as he'd be here for a year, and likely just playing out of spite at this point. I'm just speculating, obviously, he could be very generous with his time and be a fine mentor to our LBs.

Winfield was here for 9 years, fat lot of good he did our corners during that time!

It's been reported on numerous occasions how well-liked/respected Winfield is in the locker room. He's a defensive leader and I have no doubt he's done what he can to help corners that reach out to him. However, he's not magic. It's impossible to attribute a player's success or improvement to the mentoring of another player.

Just like Jennings we have a need at the position and at least for the short term future they're the best option available. If Brown and Teo are gone or we go another direction we just roll with Cole or some later pick that's there? Urlacher had a knee issue, then hamstring later on. According to him both are healed and he's able to workout again fully. Players all the time get the injury excuse, including our very own Jerome Simpson. But it isn't even brought up with Urlacher to explain issues he had last season?

That's largely because of his age and the fact that he's declined steadily since 2007. He's had back, neck, hamstring and knee injuries in the last several years, the most recent (knee) he has three separate surgeries. He even conceded in September of last season that his surgically-repaired left knee "just isn't the same anymore" and is "never going to be the same." That's different than Simpson, who's significantly younger and hasn't had the chronic injuries Urlacher has.

[Demi]

So much love for Urlacher. I don't get it. I'd understand 3-5 years ago but now? After it's obvious he's running on fumes? Weren't you always bashing EJ for the same reasons you're defending today's version of Urlacher? I just find it hard to believe you think Urlacher would be a significant advantage to our defense over a rookie or Cole. I guess I don't see it that way.

Not so much love for Urlacher, as there are no other good options. Force a rookie linebacker into the role, or Cole. None of which will have a single NFL snap under their belt. EJ never belonged in this defense and was a liability from day one. Urlacher is the perfect fit for this defense and even now is better than EJ or Brinkley ever were in coverage. And who knows about whatever linebacker they *have* to draft just to have someone to fill the spot, or throw a late round second year guy at one of the more important positions in the defense.

If we don't get Urlacher, I see a number of years of continued incompetence at the position. Another player they have to start there defending more passes with the back of their head and their butt cheeks then anything else!