Comments on: Bears make Urlacher insulting offer before walking away

By: gavriloprincip33

gavriloprincip33 — Sat, 23 Mar 2013 12:22:27 +0000

“I wish the Bears would insult me with a $2 million offer.”

- Every moron making $50K

By: acdc84

acdc84 — Thu, 21 Mar 2013 16:53:39 +0000

“For those crying over “greedy athletes”, most people don’t take kindly to being offered 20 – 25% of the money they made last year to do the exact same job. It’s just human nature.”

If I was less than 20% as efficient at my job I would understand, especially knowing my employer could easily find a replacement that could do my job better than me for half of my reduced salary.

By: capslockkey

capslockkey — Thu, 21 Mar 2013 16:37:36 +0000

Boo freaking hoo. This is the same Brian Urlacher that after the Bears bent over backwards giving him a huge long term deal, making him the highest paid player on the franchise, threatened to holdout only a few years later because he wanted even MORE.

Love the guy on the field, one of my favorite players of all time but his whining about money off the field hasn’t gotten old. If you don’t want to “put your body through that for that kind of money” then by all means don’t.

By: iowahbr

iowahbr — Thu, 21 Mar 2013 15:54:42 +0000

From reading a majority of the posts (and there were hundreds) concerning this whole Urlacher issue it’s clear that most of the posters have never played either div I college level or pro sports. At a certain level the physical abilities even out and the mental issues become more important. I don’t know where Urlacher stood in the locker room or with his teammates but if he was a leader in that sense this will cause a great deal of turmoil among the returning Bear players. Yes I know the NFL is a business first but the business is about winning and if the locker room is lined up against the management and the new coach 2013/14 will be a lousy year to be a Bear fan.

The Bears owners might not care as all the Soldier’s Field tix are sold whether the Bears go 10/6 again or wind up at 4/12 this year but it’s not a good way to start a rebuild year with a new coach.

By: wnstonchill

wnstonchill — Thu, 21 Mar 2013 15:29:35 +0000

The Bears are doing the right thing here , from a BUSINESS standpoint. The issue is, they’ve not handled the end of the Urlacher era in a fashion that allows him to keep his dignity. Had they simply not counter offered and said, “Brian, we’re strapped due to cap rules and we can’t do it’, it would be over already!

By: purplehaze12

purplehaze12 — Thu, 21 Mar 2013 14:40:20 +0000

Come to MN, and bring the playbooks. The playbooks alone are worth that…

By: hatesycophants

hatesycophants — Thu, 21 Mar 2013 13:45:58 +0000

Where do we find these “fans” who say, “I wish someone would insult me with a $2 million offer”?

Listen, parasites, you don’t do anything as well as a slow Urlacher plays football. No one is going to pay a plug nickel to watch you do whatever you do for $50k. Stop comparing yourself to people who are actually good at something.

Does that explain it?

By: kabasaman

kabasaman — Thu, 21 Mar 2013 13:10:25 +0000

Jeeze, I wish someone would disrespect me that much.

By: jagsfan1

jagsfan1 — Thu, 21 Mar 2013 13:01:39 +0000

Probably could have been handled better – however – he has nothing left and in truth does not even belong on a roster…and if that is the case – what is the dollar value put on someone who can’t play?

By: irishphilly87

irishphilly87 — Thu, 21 Mar 2013 12:58:39 +0000

It’s sad. Teams should respect greatness more. As a diehard Eagles fan I watched them basically snub Brian Dawkins who was the heart and soul of the team for a decade+. He loved the city of Philadelphia and wanted to end his career here and Urlacher loves Chicago and wanted the same thing and we always criticizes the majority of players for not caring about anything but the paycheck. Those are 2 exceptions to that and there teams should have kept them for them and for the fans who love them and can’t picture them in another jersey.

By: uangerme

uangerme — Thu, 21 Mar 2013 12:33:45 +0000

He was a great LB in his time, but that time has passed. He is injury prone, old and can’t make the plays he used to make. No need to overpay the name. He should hang up his cleats and retire from Chicago with dignity.

By: vikescry1

vikescry1 — Thu, 21 Mar 2013 12:32:05 +0000

where are all the bears fans who called the packers cheap for not giving greg jenning’s big money??? lol stay classy chicago…

By: neworleanscheaters

neworleanscheaters — Thu, 21 Mar 2013 12:29:37 +0000

“Green Bay fans are hoping MN signs Urlacher.

Resulting headline:

Finley scores 3 TDs in GB romp over MN.”

I think the headline is more likely to read:
“Finley drops 2 easy TDs”

By: anrockray

anrockray — Thu, 21 Mar 2013 12:02:58 +0000

I know it’s relative and all, but someone PLEASE insult me with a 2 million/year offer…hey, I’m also old and slow and have twiggy legs.

By: crazycane

crazycane — Thu, 21 Mar 2013 11:54:24 +0000

As 54 said numerous times throughout his career, it’s a business.

You will be missed, sir.

By: hodag54501

hodag54501 — Thu, 21 Mar 2013 11:32:44 +0000

With the Packers-Bears rivalry near the top of NFL hate relationships, I have to give Urlacher his due: he was worth every penny the Bears paid him. You have to admire his guts and he upheld a long line of great Bears defensive players.
I wish him well. Ted Thompson is too cheap to have Brian come to Green Bay, but I hope he can find a job this year with some team.

That said, having followed the Packers for 52 seasons, I conclude with this: the Bears still suck. They always have, and they always will.

Best wishes Brian, you deserve better.

By: vgferenzi

vgferenzi — Thu, 21 Mar 2013 11:05:20 +0000

I’m Bears fan and I love what Urlacher has done for the team. That said, he can’t stay on the field and when he does he has trouble getting around on the field.

Urlacher has spent the past four years trashing fans, particularly when they were doing poorly. He was a Lovie guy even though Lovie’s defense needed him not the other way around and he failed to see Lovie’s shortcomings as a head coach because they were buddies.

Urlacher told the fans he didn’t care about us or what we thought, and not in the anecdotal I just have to do my job kind of way, he told the fans to F-off.

Fans have been here much longer than him and will be here after he leaves. I think he is realizing that with the regime change, EVERYONE leaves….except the fans. This is a city in which a little good will can go a long way. We love our athletes, until they burn us.

Now he wants charity. Make no mistake that is what giving hi more would be. It isn’t as if the Bears have cap room to throw him a bone. The cap number for this year could be hidden in a long term contract, but he can’t play long term. If he signed we would still need to find our 2014 MLB and there are too many options in FA and the draft this year.

Those huge contract extensions and being able to say whatever you want only come with being irreplaceable and having your people in place. Welcome back to reality. Thank you for the HOF career, but much as you didn’t care about us and we were just part of the business you were forced to deal with, many of us are now finding it hard to feel bad for you. Though I don’t know which I would actually hate more, seeing you do well against us on another team, or fading away as a tired old man by week 8 surrounded by strangers.

By: vicvega422

vicvega422 — Thu, 21 Mar 2013 08:10:38 +0000

If he wanted to stay in Chicago he should have taken the deal… I love how these guys have already made millions and still whine about it.

By: pacoltsguy

pacoltsguy — Thu, 21 Mar 2013 05:51:38 +0000

Too bad the Bears couldn’t step up and honor your service to their team. I wish you fit into the Colt’s new 3-4 defense. Your heart alone would help the Colts to their goal.

By: 6kings

6kings — Thu, 21 Mar 2013 04:55:05 +0000

I am guessing Urlacher caused it. He was an awesome linebacker. Now he isn’t.

By: scratchnpost1234

scratchnpost1234 — Thu, 21 Mar 2013 04:37:06 +0000

Urlacher shoulda retired a Bear. Yeah an insulting offer to a Butkus like Bears player, but he’s not what he once was and players need to know when to say when. What happens now if nobody else really want’s to sign him? Brutal end to a great career. Wish him the best and call it a day Urlacher you were great!

By: geneatals

geneatals — Thu, 21 Mar 2013 04:35:05 +0000

This is a business before a sport. The same people that are cryin for BU are the ones that said “pay da man” last year for forte…how did that go? Granted we had an OC that tried to run him thru the tackles rather than open field, but forte proved the bears were right in not paying him what he wanted.

Now to BU, didn’t play an entire season, plagued with leg injuries and is 35. I’m sure the 2 mil was based on roster bonuses and dependent on games played, which is a fair way to pay someone with his mileage. LB in the draft…let’s gooo

By: chi01town

chi01town — Thu, 21 Mar 2013 04:18:43 +0000

Urlacher got rich in Chicago and now 2 million dollars for 7 and a half games aint enough money. he
cant stay on the field because his knees and back are gone. BUT Some
how the Bears did him wrong. Hey Emery Im still with you. O-line Emery O-line.

By: stillers1229

stillers1229 — Thu, 21 Mar 2013 04:03:28 +0000

2 million is a “slap in the face.” This from a guy who doesn’t pay his child support. Great player, terrible human being. The ego of these guys astounds me.

By: mcdeez22

mcdeez22 — Thu, 21 Mar 2013 03:53:29 +0000

Alright, this whole thing is ridiculous. Urlacher and his agent initially asked for two years and 11.5MM which is ridiculous given his recent injury history and the fact that he’s not who he once was. The Bears countered with their own ridiculous offer of one year $2MM. I read the full article off of the Chicago Tribune’s website. Here’s the key piece we’re missing… Urlacher said he’d be willing to go as low as $3MM per year if the Bears were willing to negotiate. What? So why are we talking about the Bears being the ones who made the “take it or leave it” offer? Urlacher’s camp could have countered, but they didn’t. When they gave their initial 11.5 offer was it done while saying “we know this is ridiculous and we expect you to tell us to go lower”? Am I the only one who understands how negotiation works?? Everything is always presented as take it or leave it and them the other side makes a counter offer. Urlacher could have done that. The Bears should have considered the 11.5 offer a slap in the face to their understanding of the market as well. I’m a Bears fan and I will always wear my #54 jersey but I just think it’s unfortunate the way he and his agents handled these negotiations.

By: banlarson

banlarson — Thu, 21 Mar 2013 03:48:49 +0000

Winfield is no Urlacher, but he’s a great player in his own right and he wasn’t handled well in MN either. I’m a Vikings fan, I understand you can’t pay someone over 35 $7.25M, both of them played at a high level in 2012. I hope MN brings back Winfield and wouldn’t mind seeing Urlacher finish his career in MN with two shots at playing Chicago. He’s a class act, and it would be an honor for him to play for MN. Vikings will no doubt draft a future MLB, who better to sit behind for year than the great Urlacher. $2M, he’d sell more than that in jerseys alone.

By: tabcdef9

tabcdef9 — Thu, 21 Mar 2013 03:45:09 +0000

Brian isn’t the player he was, but this offer isn’t going to help the locker room form around it’s new coaching staff – and that’s hard to put a value on. The Bears should’ve considered this in the mix but that would be a bit too deft for them IMO.

And I have this lingering feeling that there was some payback in today’s event by Ted Philips and ownership for the way Urlacher held the team up for 18 mil in extra money a few years ago in the midst of a pretty good contract IIRC. So I don’t lay this offer entirely on the GM and new Coach.

By: iowahbr

iowahbr — Thu, 21 Mar 2013 03:26:36 +0000

Fans ought to realize that this is the berginning of a total melt down and reshape job and given how the Bears have done on just their o-line rehab I would give it 15 years for something good to develop. ten shares of Apple or 2 Bears season tix. Both a bit risky right now. Urlacher was a legit 3 mill play for next year. Maybe we can find a good all-pro middle lb hiding in Canada just like the new coach.

By: theytukrjobs

theytukrjobs — Thu, 21 Mar 2013 03:16:46 +0000

Most Packer fans won’t admit it, but their most hated rival these days is the Vikings, mostly because of where some of their popular players have went.

If the Vikes scoop up Urlacher for 2.1 mil that would be a nice step in the direction of getting the Bears to hate the Vikes a little more.

Maybe not as much as they hate the Packers, because it is hard to hate any fanbase harder than theirs, but it would be a step in that direction.

By: footballfather

footballfather — Thu, 21 Mar 2013 03:16:07 +0000

I think I speak for all Lions fans when I say: if Urlacher stays in the division, I will be P I S S E D.