Non- C. Benson Talk: Urlacher to Miss Mini-Camp?

I don't think this should be a non-issue any longer as many of you on the board and, APPARENTLY, Halas Hall been dubbing it.

When Brian Urlacher made it known that he wanted an extension and THEN sat out of voluntary offseason workouts, many people made it seem as though this was just Urlacher "creating smoke where there wasn't a fire."  Based on statements from Jerry Angelo and a song by team ownership, we were all under the guise that this wouldn't go very far...

... But that's just not the case if you ask Brian Urlacher.

He feels the Bears have had a vary lax attitude toward the subject and in return plans on missing a mandatory mini camp on May 30 to June 1.

Lets be clear... there is a VERY big difference from missing a voluntary training camp and a mandatory one.  But there is a HUGE difference from missing a mandatory mini camp and the ACTUAL training camp.  So, I'm not too worried yet.  But it should send a signal to Jerry Angelo that Urlacher is NOT interested in waiting until LTER to get this squared away.

Thoughts?

Thank you Chi-Marine! I was hoping somebody would be talking about this.  I feel like what's going on with Brian Urlacher now deserves the most attention of any Bears player.  What's happening with Cedric Benson not only can but needs to wait until his day in court.

Urlacher sitting out of mandatory mini-camp is a big deal because it's going to cause a stir in the locker room.  It's not a massive deal yet, but it's a big deal.  It sets the stage for speculation among the players and people taking sides.  We've all seen the effects of a locker room that's not united.

The bottom line is, you need to pay this man.  Even if you lace the deal with bunches of incentives, you need to pay this man.  I would do whatever is necessary to get Tommie Harris and Urlacher deals before mini-camp.  I would tell Devin Hester that we'll work on his contract a little bit now and then try to get it taken care of right away next offseason.  To me, if you're the Bears management, you have to make Brian Urlacher your priority and the sooner the better.

Tool: I generally hear the guaranteed money argument based on one of two ideas.  First is that it protects you against the unexpected.  Decline in play isn't the thought; injury is.  I don't understand the mechanisms of all of this, but I know that if a player is injured pretty badly, then the team and the player can come to an injury settlement.  I think this is based off the guaranteed money.

Second, it's a matter of respect.  You guarantee a player what you feel it's certain (as much as it's possible to be certain of anything) he's capable of earning.  A million a year is a slap in the face in the respect department.  Heck, look at Robbie Gould's contract!  It being a 5 year, 15 million contract tells me that he's probably getting over a million a year in guarantees.

I said the Bears should give an incentive laden contract, and I believe that.  I believe that every team should always give contracts that are just HEAVY with incentives.  But for a player like Brian Urlacher, you need to show some respect with guarantees too.  Though I think this is something that they could/can/will get figured out fairly quickly when they get back to the table.  In the Sun-Times interview it's apparent that there's been little in the way of talking recently.  I just hope that changes now.

Angelo has pretty much made it clear that his priorities lie with Tommie Harris.  Phillips has gone as far to say that Urlacher should appreciate the value of his current contract.   Don't forget the Bears handed the guy $13M up front on this current contract.  He and his agents posturing worry me little.  Even if he refuses to come to TC, the Bears have the leverage.

I do not think the Bears are unwilling to renegotiate.  But, for all kinds of reasons, they definitely do not want to give the appearance of dancing to his tune.  And, I think that it is important that they maintain that perception.

As much as I love Urlacher as a player and realize his importance to their defense, I also think his desire to "jump the line" so to speak is a bit selfish in the "team first" scheme of things. 

Then, there is the back and the surgical procedure on his neck.  With his experience and background in this defense, how much TC does he really need?  I think the Bears realize that and are willing to call his bluff in the short term.  Brian's ego may be a bit bruised because, for now, the Bears have pretty much told his agents to get back in line.