Bears Blitz

Published by Darrell Horwitz on June 30, 2012
Article Source: Bleacher Report - Chicago Bears

Chicago Bears linebacker Brian Urlacher came out this week with a very revealing comment regarding his previous contract squabble with the team.

In an interview at “Lunch with a Legend” on the Waddle and Silvy Show on WMVP radio in Chicago, what Urlacher said should make the Chicago Bears and every franchise in sports take notice.

“Even when I was being a little baby and I wanted a contract extension, they gave it to me.” He then went on to say that he “signed it” when speaking of the original contract. In other words—since he signed it, he should have honored it.

But that’s not how it works in professional sports today. Signing a contract only means the player gets paid for expected performance—but in his mind—if he exceeds that performance—he should get a new contract.

It’s funny nobody ever comes to the team when they’re playing poorly and says, “I’m not earning this money, and I don’t feel right accepting it. I would like to give some back.”

At the time of his extension, Urlacher still had four years and $25.5 million remaining on his contract. With the new pact, he received a $6 million signing bonus plus a $1 million-a-year increase for his remaining years. In addition, the Bears extended his contract to 2012 with a salary of $7.5 million and an additional $500,000 workout bonus

His crying netted him $18 million.

It definitely benefited him, but not so much the franchise when he was already under their control for four more years. What it showed him was that if you whine—you get your way.  

That’s the problem with sports. Players know if they kick and scream, their team will cave in to their demands. It’s a tried and true system that seems to work for them. 

As a public service, I will tell them how to handle the situation the next time it comes up based on my personal experiences.

Many years ago I was dating this very attractive young lady who said to me that she had been working very hard and wanted to stay in a nice hotel and get massages, and wanted to know what I would contribute to it.  

I said to her, “You’re a very pretty girl, and I’m sure a lot of guys would do that for you, but just the way I met you, I could meet someone else. You’re not that big a deal to me, and the only way I’m going to kiss your a** is if my two lips are planted on it.”

She was shocked and said she didn’t mean it. I told her she said it, so she knew what she meant.

The players are doing the same thing. They’re trying to see what they can get out of the team and if they’ll fall for it.

Example No. 2 was another lovely lass I dated in the past. She was 5’9″ and looked like a model.

A former girlfriend invited me to her housewarming party and said I should bring my new girlfriend. When we arrived, my ex-girlfriend was wearing a tight dress and dancing to music.

My new flame was jealous and said she wanted to leave.

I told her, “Go ahead, you can go, but I’m staying.”

Of course—I drove. She didn’t leave and we left a couple of hours later.

When we were walking to my car, she said, “I really respect you.” She mentioned her former boyfriend would have immediately got the car and left if she said that to him.

All she was doing was testing me and I passed the test.

That’s where professional sports franchises are failing. They are giving in to the whims of these players when they have signed contracts that they are required to honor.

They don’t have to give in to them—yet they constantly do.

All they have to do is be a man and say no.

Trust me—it works.

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