The Bears fired a coach who won 10 games last year, so it’s no surprise they’re taking a “just-a-business” approach.
But the way they treated Brian Urlacher on the way out the door borders on insulting.
Urlacher told Vaughn McClure of the Chicago Tribune the Bears offered him a one-year deal that topped out at $2 million, meaning that amount wasn’t guaranteed.
“It was a ultimatum, not a negotiation,” Urlacher said. “I wanted to be in Chicago. I wanted to finish here. . . .
“I wanted to be here. I wanted to be in Chicago. ... Now, that’s not possible.”
Urlacher said he had no intention to retire, and will explore joining one of the teams he’s talked to. The Vikings were reported to have made contact, and such a low-ball offer might make him make a Brett Favre spite-move within the division.
But honestly, if the Bears weren’t interested in having him, they should have just said so. It wouldn’t have been popular, but you could have sold “youth movement.”
Making him an offer you knew he wouldn’t take just makes it look like you’re trying to pass the blame for an unpopular move off on someone else.
And that’s cheap on more than one level.