NFL 2013 Season Thread

[-Jrabbit]

Just posted by WGN Radio:

Chicago Bears announce they were unable to reach agreement with Brian Urlacher for 2013 and the team and free agent will part ways.

At least they won't be dragging it out over months of uncertainty.

[Ming]

You never know. Maybe after he finds out that NOBODY is willing to pay him what HE thinks he's worth, they might start talking again

[Donegeal]

He was good, but don't let the door hit you on the way out. I don't want any player on the Bears that "doesn't care about the fans".

[Demonbinder]

According to Vaughn McClure, Urlacher told him Bears would only offer one year at $2M, so it was an ultimatum, basically. I am not surprised by that at all. On Sports Talk Live they are wondering how Bears players will react to Trestman on this, but how much did he really play a part in that? It is more from Emery and I doubt he will get any better offer from any other team. But they do have a problem at LB now with Roach signing elsewhere and that is a big hole to fill. Can you draft two starters or is there enough cash to get guys in FA? Urlacher is obviously upset with Bears but I think they made the right move.

Also, I liked that tuck rule is gone, but not happy about the rule stopping RB's from leading with crown of helmet. It's a opinion call by referees.

[SlowwHand]

It's a stupid rule.

[-Jrabbit]

He was good, but don't let the door hit you on the way out. I don't want any player on the Bears that "doesn't care about the fans".

Dude, that means you hate them all, and they should all be off the team. Do you really think the average player truly "cares about the fans"?? Caring about the fans (or the city) is a convenient illusion, just like team loyalty.

If anything, you're hating Urlacher for being one of the few players to be honest about it. What he said (that he doesn't care about the fans or the media, but does care about the 54 guys on the team) was (a) truthful, and (b) obviously said out of frustration in seeing the team lose while he couldn't play, and hearing them get booed at home.

Urlacher is gone for football reasons, which is how it should be.

[Donegeal]

Call me old fashion, but I like the illusion of team loyalty and that players like the fans of their teams.

[-Jrabbit]

Yup, you are old-fashioned.

And loyalty in pro sports is definitely an illusion.

[Demonbinder]

Urlacher's comments from Sirius Talk Radio:

“They said basically their offer was one year, two million. It was an ultimatum, it wasn’t really an offer, it was either sign it or we don’t want you,” Urlacher said.

He conceded that although $2 million is a lot of money, the ends simply don’t justify the means: “For me to go through a season, put my body through what it goes through during a season at my age, I’m not going to play for that, not for the Bears at least.”

Urlacher said his agents tried to balance the Bears’ disappointing counteroffer with various incentives and benefits, but it was to no avail.

“They said this is what we have--take it or leave it. And I obviously left it,” he said. “I just don’t feel like that was fair to me.”

Also: Wherever he ends up, Urlacher is certain of one thing: “I’ll always be a Chicago Bear. No matter where I end up, or where I retire, or whatever happens.”

[Ming]

I’m not going to play for that, not for the Bears at least.”

I’ll always be a Chicago Bear

Talking out of both sides of his mouth....

[MRT144]

Bears, nay, chicago fans are some of the most meta relationship fans out there.

[rah]

Good luck to him.
I will be pissed if he ends up playing for the vikings for 2 mil.

[-Jrabbit]

This whole thing reminds me of Olin Kreutz last year. He ended up signing with the Saints but couldn't make the team and "retired."

[snoopy369]

I think Urlacher could make plenty of teams, but I think it'll be hard to get a very big contract. I think they probably handled it the right way - basically holding some space for him and telling him to look around, and if he can find better, good luck; if not, there's a spot for him - and then letting him know when they had to move forward with that held aside cap space. Too bad he didn't really handle it right. Ah well.

[-Jrabbit]

The problem is that Urlacher's limitations are in precisely the skill areas that made him special -- the deep drop, the incredible lateral quickness, and the ability to stop on a dime, plant and tackle. And unfortunately, that's what you need in your MLB when playing the 4-3 Tampa-2 defense.

He's probably fine as a straight-up hole-plugger, which fits a lot of schemes. On the Bears, Urlacher '13 would likely be best as SLB - on running downs only. Which *might* be worth $2MM.