As you read this right now, Brian Urlacher is a free agent for the first time in his 13 year career, looking for a place to finish out his career.
The time for chasing money passed Urlacher a long time ago. At this point in his career, the only thing he should be chasing is a ring. A Superbowl ring. Teams like the Patriots, Cowboys, Bears and yes, even the Packers, are teams he should be looking at. He shouldn’t be looking at teams that are having a quarterback competition. If he’s looking for somewhere to finish his career then that place shouldn’t be in Minnesota.
Hence, this is why I believe the contract talks with the Vikings are nothing more than a ploy to increase his future salary. Why Urlacher is trying to do that now is beyond me. He is not going to get a huge contract or long term security. He is going to get a two year deal that will have some incentives and that’s it.
Urlacher is no longer the elite player that once roamed the middle of the field on defense and even he knows it. The face of the Bears’ franchise for the past 12 years is starting to show signs of his age with injuries and his speed deteriorating. Urlacher has to see that Father Time is catching up with him because everyone else does.
The once great player that impacted the game on a day to day basis is now just another cog. Another player that plays his position. Nothing more. Nothing less. Urlacher rarely wins his battles with his strength or speed anymore. He wins his battles with his knowledge of the game and with the hours spent watching tape. He wins his battles by outsmarting the quarterback and by putting his teammates in the best position to force a turnover, which is what the Bears were quite good at last season.
The majority of Urlacher’s teammates and comrades have either retired due to age or injuries. It has to hurt Urlacher’s pride knowing that very soon even he will have to hang up his cleats and retire. Whether he retires a Chicago Bear will be up to him.
I believe Urlacher has one last fight in him. One more season to achieve the chance to ride off into the sunset is there. My advice to Urlacher is to pick a winning team where he can finish his career. There is an opportunity to do so in Chicago. All Urlacher has to do is take whatever contract that Phil Emery and Cliff Stein have written up for him.
Follow me on Twitter, ErikGrogan @ErikGrogan for the latest information on the NFL for anything. Trades, Free agency, or players getting cut. I follow and know the right people.
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