-
Urlacher Makes His Pitch.............
Urlacher makes proposal to Bears
Veteran linebacker pitches new deal but it's unknown if sides can agree on money
CAPTIONS
By Vaughn McClure, Chicago Tribune reporter 9:00 p.m. CST, March 7, 2013
The Bears apparently want Brian Urlacher back. The question is at what price? Both parties moved a step closer to a resolution on the matter when Urlacher's agent submitted a contract proposal to the Bears on Thursday a league source confirmed.
The 34-year-old middle linebacker just finished the final year of his contract and made $7.5 million last season. He wants to play at least two more seasons and likely wants a new deal in the $5 million-per-year range on par with recent contracts earned by veteran linebackers Ray Lewis (since retired) and London Fletcher.
If a deal is not reached, Urlacher becomes a free agent at 3 p.m. Tuesday. His agents can negotiate with other teams starting at 11 p.m. Friday as part of a new three-day negotiating period. General manager Phil Emery has said Urlacher would not be "slighted'' in contract talks. Urlacher's camp has viewed Emery as a "straight shooter'' throughout the whole process.
Bears coach Marc Trestman has reached out to Urlacher and the new Bears defensive coaches have made it clear they want Urlacher in the mix. His reputation for being a coach on the field would come into play more than ever as new defensive coordinator Mel Tucker plans to keep the same system intact — with some tweaks expected, of course.
The proposal, first tweeted by WFLD-Ch. 32's Lou Canellis, indicates Urlacher wants to remain with the Bears as he continues to work out daily in Arizona in preparation for next season. Urlacher believes his knee is fine now and he's over the hamstring strain that prematurely ended his 2012 campaign. It has allowed him to condition his body this offseason rather than focus on rehabbing an injury.
The Bears stand about $3.55 million under the cap, meaning they will have to create more room to sign Urlacher and others.
vxmcclure@tribune.com
Twitter @vxmcclure23
I'm getting to that age where a lifetime warranty just doesn't mean as much to me anymore as an afternoon nap. 
Honey Badger Don't Care. Honey Badger Don't Give a Shit.
-
-
Well now that Brian has laid his cards on the table we'll see how the Bears react. Personally I think he's about a mil higher than the most Emery would like to go and about $2 mil higher than what he'd prefer to pay him. That's a pretty wide gap to bridge.
The other issue Emery may have is a two year deal versus the one he cut with Izzy essentially giving him as one year deal and asking him to pick up his game. Izzy did and the Bears would like him back. Urlacher feels he'll be back to form but he should also appreciate the Bears position via the decline in his play last year.
I'd rather see a one year deal with some incentives that could easily earn him $5 mil this year maybe coupled with a promise to extend the deal another year and guarantee it if he does play closer to his former level. If there anybody out there who can do it it will be Urlacher. He's not the kind of guy looking for good contract just to play out the string.
His agent can also put that same offer in front of some other teams beginning Friday night so it should be very interesting to see what happens between now and Tuesday at 3PM. It looks like we're finally gonna see some action on contracts coming from Halas Hall.
I'm getting to that age where a lifetime warranty just doesn't mean as much to me anymore as an afternoon nap. Honey Badger Don't Care. Honey Badger Don't Give a Shit.
-
High Fives / Like - 1 BEAR DOWN!, 0 Dislikes
-
What I don't understand... Urlacher got lots of money already. He has earned all his money already. Why does it make a difference for him to get 5 million now instead of say just 3 million? That's still a lot of money for a guy that doesn't need any more money already. HE now has the chance to be a career Bear and maybe even win with us a SB. He has the chance to crown his legacy. Why don't go for it when you have the chance and don't need any more money?
-
If Brian truly wants to come back to win A Super Bowl, he needs to look at what Tom Brady just did for his team to stay competitive to go after MORE Super Bowls. I don't expect him to put his body on the line for free, but diminishing returns and all says the guy should be a team player on this negotiation.
-
Originally Posted by
soulman 
"Brian Urlacher was a game-day scratch for The Chicago Bears. Trainers said he appeared to be suffering from a bulging disc.
Jenny McCarthy could not be reached for comment."
-
High Fives / Like - 4 BEAR DOWN!, 0 Dislikes
-
Junior Member
Originally Posted by
GermansbombedPH What I don't understand... Urlacher got lots of money already. He has earned all his money already. Why does it make a difference for him to get 5 million now instead of say just 3 million? That's still a lot of money for a guy that doesn't need any more money already. HE now has the chance to be a career Bear and maybe even win with us a SB. He has the chance to crown his legacy. Why don't go for it when you have the chance and don't need any more money?
Tough thing is these guys are at the upper tax bracket and they have to pay 10 percent to agent.. So I would think they would receive roughly 35% of the contract they make. So you do the math, I think it would make a difference to some guys
-
And they have to pay 50% for child support.......hey pimpin ain't easy!
-
Junior Member
5mil a year, I'll pass. Maybr half that. I also read Izzy where wants to be a bear for life and thinks he has good 2-3 years left which I took that he also wants a multi year deal.
Last edited by Coolhandluke; 03-08-2013 at 06:55 AM.
-
-
High Fives / Like - 1 BEAR DOWN!, 0 Dislikes
-
Junior Member
Originally Posted by
motownbear And they have to pay 50% for child support.......hey pimpin ain't easy!
lol i think travis henry got a negative check every week
-
High Fives / Like - 4 BEAR DOWN!, 0 Dislikes
LinkBack URL
About LinkBacks
Reply With Quote
__
