Bears Blitz

Published by Alexander Crowe on May 29, 2012
Article Source: Bleacher Report - Chicago Bears

Brian Urlacher has been a Chicago Bear all of his professional career. Since 2000, he has worn nothing but blue and orange and couldn’t be happier about it.

Back in April, the eight time Pro-Bowler was quoted by the Chicago Sun Times as having said, ‘‘There’s no doubt in my mind I’ll finish my career with the Bears. However that works out, it works out. I can’t imagine playing anywhere else.’’

So why is there all of this buzz about Urlacher now showing interest in being a free agent? 

Yes, he thinks it would be fun to be a free agent. But anybody would think that, wouldn’t they? Come on, the excitement of something new after 13 years, having everybody chase after you telling you how good you are and how much they want you. It would be like being back in high school and having two people fight over you because they want to date you. Who didn’t want that, right?

So yes, Urlacher is showing some interest in the free agency market this offseason when his current contract is up. He even went on the Waddle and Silvy Show on ESPN 1000 in Chicago to discuss the possibility (h/t Chicago Sun-Times). He said that it would be “kind of exciting” and said that though he wants to finish his career with the Bears, “we’ll see what happens.”

This, to me at least, is not a matter of wanting to leave the team. It is a matter of business.

Take a look at franchise running back Matt Forte. He has openly expressed multiple times that he wants to get a long-term deal done and remain a member of the Chicago Bears. And what do the Bears do? Well, let’s just say that negotiations are still ongoing and are not going well. 

Urlacher has been in this game for a while. As a former first-round pick (ninth overall) in the 2000 NFL Draft, he learned from an early age how the business of this league works. He has done multiple contracts and deals not only with the Bears, but with sponsors as well, and this offseason will be no different.

Urlacher doesn’t want to come right out and beg the Bears for a new contract like Forte did, because then the team and management would have the upper hand. They could throw Urlacher’s age in his face. They could tell him that the team wants to get younger. They could even go the Forte route and tell him they are worried about his knees (Urlacher did just get offseason knee surgery).

Brian Urlacher is a very smart individual. He knows that by saying he thinks free agency would be exciting and showing some interest in it, all people in the Bears’ front office had a mini heart attack. Imagine the best player on your team for years, the record holder for tackles in your team’s history, the No. 1 jersey seller and face of your franchise leaving to go and finish his career somewhere else.

Yes, this did happen with Peyton Manning and the Indianapolis Colts, but he had a No. 1 overall pick as a replacement, and the fans were at peace with him going. I can’t imagine Chicago Bear fans being at peace with Brian Urlacher finishing his career with another team.

Uralcher wants to remain a Chicago Bear for the rest of his career. The Chicago Bears want to keep him there, not only for his outstanding play on the field, but also for his popularity among the players, coaches, and perhaps most important, the fans.

When the 2012 season is all said and done, and before OTAs start next year, Brian Urlacher will be back in a Chicago Bears uniform. Both sides know it; they just aren’t saying it. After all, this sport is a business, right?

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