Urlacher talking to the Vikes

**Henry Burris** · 03-13-2013, 10:05 PM

By Mike Mulligan, Special to the Tribune8:11 p.m. CDT, March 13, 2013

Middle linebacker Brian Urlacher has been flirting with the enemy, specifically the NFC North division rival Vikings.

A Vikings source confirmed talks with Urlacher's camp, but said the team was "monitoring" the situation and still believed Urlacher eventually would remain with the Bears.

The Vikings are expected to lose linebacker Jasper Brinkley, who visited the Giants on Wednesday and is to meet with the Cardinals on Thursday.

The Cardinals and Cowboys are also teams with some interest in Urlacher. The Bears still haven't responded to the two-year contract proposal Urlacher's representatives gave the team last week. Instead, they let him hit the free agent market, presumably to let him gauge his value after 13 seasons with the Bears.

"We have approached him about coming back,'' general manager Phil Emery said Wednesday at a news conference introducing big-money free agents, left tackle Jermon Bushrod and tight end Martellus Bennett. "As far as working it out, that is ongoing.''

Urlacher is looking for a deal in the range of the $5.5 million Ray Lewis earned in his last season with the Ravens, a source said. It's unlikely the Bears would pay that type of money and not responding to the offer may be a less-than-subtle way of avoiding an embarrassing negotiation.

Urlacher can't be thrilled but Emery does not believe Urlacher feels slighted by "the process," something the GM vowed to avoid when he last talked about the subject last month.

Is Urlacher interested in wearing purple or is he just trying to create a market? Have the Bears motivated him to seek revenge against them?

"Well, the talks are ongoing so I don't know why anybody would feel slighted,'' Emery said.

Bears coach Marc Trestman might not have given the linebacker a ringing endorsement, but he was as strong on the subject of an Urlacher return Wednesday as he has been since he replaced Lovie Smith.

"I think Brian is a very, very capable player,'' Trestman said. "I am excited about him being a part of this football team if that happens.'' If that happens, it seems certain to come at a price less than Urlacher wants.

Line shakeup: J'Marcus Webb will compete at right tackle with Gabe Carimi and probably one other player as Emery said the team hopes to re-sign Jonathan Scott. Carimi also will get a look at guard again.

"We'll see what is the best fit for Gabe," Emery said. "I am excited to see how he comes back and competes."

The Bears might need help inside as Lance Louis began a free-agent visit with an unidentified club Wednesday night. Trestman seemed high on working to retain Louis.

Emery indicated the team met with Webb after his recent arrest for marijuana possession and "we definitely let him know what our expectation level is."

Extra points: Linebacker Nick Roach is visiting the Raiders who have a host of defensive needs and could sign there and linebacker Geno Hayes signed with the Jaguars. … Webb led the Bears in performance-based pay, an allocation of $3.46 million to each club that uses a formula of playing time and salary to distribute funds. The more playing time and lower the salary, the higher the bonus. Webb earned $275,360, the fifth-highest total in the entire league. Safeties Chris Conte and Major Wright ranked behind Webb, earning $203,877 and $200,879, respectively.

**Riczaj01** · 03-13-2013, 10:12 PM

I don't want to see BU in another jersey, let alone that gay ass purple and yellow....but if they want to over pay for his services....feel free, b/c he is not the pro bowler he once was and he's not worth putting a ton of money into.

Wonder if this has anything to do w/the Bears forcing the price up on Lodholt.

**MPBears68** · 03-13-2013, 10:35 PM

Originally Posted by Riczaj01

I don't want to see BU in another jersey, let alone that gay ass purple and yellow....but if they want to over pay for his services....feel free, b/c he is not the pro bowler he once was and he's not worth putting a ton of money into.

Wonder if this has anything to do w/the Bears forcing the price up on Lodholt.

Sox said that exact thing in another thread I believe. And that is precisely what this is about. Nothing to see here, move on.

**Kyle1022** · 03-13-2013, 10:42 PM

No need to fret guys. They're only doing this because it's in both parties' interests; Urlacher pressures us to pay him more, Vikings make us waste cap space. It's not gonna happen because if I can see that, Emery certainly can.

BU will be back with us cheap this year, or retire this offseason as a Bear. As a fan, I'm hoping for the former, preferably at no more than $2 mil per, with some incentive based pay if he can stay healthy and reach some milestones.

**Henry Burris** · 03-13-2013, 10:46 PM

No, he's not as good of a run stopper, but so what? he calls the defense and interrupts the passing game. He's being undervalued by many fans here.

**lklrlolnlilklsox** · 03-13-2013, 10:51 PM

Originally Posted by Kyle1022

No need to fret guys. They're only doing this because it's in both parties' interests; Urlacher pressures us to pay him more, Vikings make us waste cap space. It's not gonna happen because if I can see that, Emery certainly can.

My thoughts exactly, common fans see he's negotiating with a division rival and the pressure mounts on Halas Hall as reporters ram questions down their throats and they cave. I just wish Brian was being a bit more adult and not turning to media negotiations and milking out every last cent when logic dictates he has earned a paycut. These legends and their egos are troublesome, but I can understand the guy wanting one last big paycheck for the $$$$$$ he's put into Ginny's coffers with his blood, sweat and tears.

Having said that, if he stays, chances are high that he won't have to pay for a meal or drink in Chicago so long as he lives. There's also the MANY endorsements that will stay in his pocket and grow with his legacy.

**TheBaschnagelnator** · 03-13-2013, 11:01 PM

Urlacher remembers McCaskey singing a song to him a few years ago about "never leave us, Brian."

But things change. Time to surprise him and sing "Leave the Memories Alone."

**soulman** · 03-13-2013, 11:16 PM

Originally Posted by Kyle1022

No need to fret guys. They're only doing this because it's in both parties' interests; Urlacher pressures us to pay him more, Vikings make us waste cap space. It's not gonna happen because if I can see that, Emery certainly can.

BU will be back with us cheap this year, or retire this offseason as a Bear. As a fan, I'm hoping for the former, preferably at no more than $2 mil per, with some incentive based pay if he can stay healthy and reach some milestones.

I'm not sure about the $2 mil being the final offer but I am sure that the only way he'll even get close to $5-$5.5 mil on a one year deal is through incentives that will pay post season and be charged against next years cap. I think somewhere around $3.5-$4.0 mil for base is more realistic with another $1 mi in incentives that he should easily earn if healthy. It's pretty tough to get any decent vet LB for just $2 mil let alone a future HOFer. I don't think $2 mil will get it done.

**soulman** · 03-13-2013, 11:34 PM

Originally Posted by lklrlolnlilklsox

My thoughts exactly, common fans see he's negotiating with a division rival and the pressure mounts on Halas Hall as reporters ram questions down their throats and they cave. I just wish Brian was being a bit more adult and not turning to media negotiations and milking out every last cent when logic dictates he has earned a paycut. These legends and their egos are troublesome, but I can understand the guy wanting one last big paycheck for the $$$$$$ he's put into Ginny's coffers with his blood, sweat and tears.

Having said that, if he stays, chances are high that he won't have to pay for a meal or drink in Chicago so long as he lives. There's also the MANY endorsements that will stay in his pocket and grow with his legacy.

But the only way that legacy fully attaches is if he finishes his career here and he knows that too. So the Vikings reveal they have had talks with his agent. That doesn't tell us much in the way of quantifying anything. Maybe it's "Hey is Brian at all interested in coming here or is he really set on staying in Chicago"? "Well to be honest he prefers to remain with the Bears". "OK, well stay in touch and let us know if that changes". I've been through about the same thing asking women out on dates who may still have been seeing someone else.

I expected a little gamesmanship to start happening just to keep the Bears from dragging their feet too long and move him up on the priority list and maybe that's not all that unfair. So far he's done far more to confirm his desire to return than the Bears have done to confirm their's to bring him back. Just sayin'.

**Kyle1022** · 03-13-2013, 11:40 PM

Originally Posted by Henry Burris

No, he's not as good of a run stopper, but so what? he calls the defense and interrupts the passing game. He's being undervalued by many fans here.

He's not a leader in the sense that Ray Stabby Lewis was, he's not a rah rah guy who gives long speeches. He just led by example through his elite play. But that elite play is one or two years removed and will unfortunately never return. He's just old and injured. It's a much better business move to not pay him $5 mil per. Look at how Flacco and the rest of the Ravens D had to carry Ray Lewis. The difference is that for us, we wouldn't be paying that money for a charismatic leader who can fire up the rest of the D.

I want him back too, but not for $5 mil per. We just don't have the money.

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