Brian Urlacher, Chicago Bears / Image: Zuma Press

It’s an understatement to say this is a huge loss for the Bears defense, one in which I believe they will have a very difficult time recovering. Starting LB Pisa Tinoisamoa sprained the PCL in his right knee and will also miss some time. That means more playing time for Hunter Hillenmeyer, Nick Roach and Jamar Williams. But the Bears will certainly be scouring the waiver wire for available veteran backers immediately.

Source: Chicago Tribune

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Brian Urlacher Out For the Season

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Brian Urlacher Old Spice Commercial

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Just in time for the start of training camp (funny how it works out that way), Chicago Bears linebacker and team captain Brian Urlacher signed a one-year contract extension today that will give him a $6 million right now and a $1 million bump in salary each of the next four years. The final season on his contract is now 2012 where his base salary will be $7.5 million.

I knew some kind of deal would get done before camp to keep Brian happy after he skipped voluntary OTAs this past offseason. He’s the heart and soul of the Bears defense and while the team has been very busy keeping their own players happy this offseason (Tommie Harris, Robbie Gould, Alex Brown, Lance Briggs, Desmond Clark, Rashied Davis), locking up Brian (a six-time Pro Bowler and one of the best at his position) was perhaps the biggest no-brainer.

Source: ESPN.com, Photo: Newscom

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Brian Urlacher Signs Contract Extension

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Chicago Bears defensive tackle Tommie Harris signed a four-year, $40 million contract extension ($10 million up-front and $18 million guaranteed) with the team today. The deal was the richest ever for the Bears in terms of money per year. And unlike other high-profile Bears players who have gone public with their financial displeasures in Chicago (Lance Briggs and Brian Urlacher), Tommie kept his negotiations private and eventually found the deal he was looking for:

“I’m so thankful that I am a Bear and I would love to finish my career here also after this next term. Hopefully we can come back here, smile and talk about it all over again. I’m going to enjoy this four-year extension and I look forward to putting on a great display.”

It was also shocking (and somewhat refreshing) to hear Tommie say that NFL players don’t deserve the exorbitant money they get for playing “a kid’s game.” Along with re-signing defensive end Alex Brown and kicker Robbie Gould this offseason (eight veterans have re-signed with the team this offseason), Tommie’s deal was a no-brainer for the Bears’ front office. He was a three-time Pro Bowler set to enter the final season of the five-year deal he signed as a first-round draft pick in 2004. With this early extension, he’ll now be a Chicago Bear through 2012 and I will expect nothing less than stellar play from one of the best — and most humble — defensive tackles in the NFL.

Source: ChicagoBears.com, Photo: Newscom

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Chicago Bears’ Tommie Harris Gets $40M

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Chicago Bears linebacker Brian Urlacher is expected to skip OTAs beginning Monday and might even sit-out a mandatory minicamp later this month if his contract is not renegotiated to his liking. He’s also considering boycotting training camp. In an interview with the Chicago Tribune yesterday, Brian said:

“Training camp is a long way away (July 23), and I expect there will be some dialogue between my agents and the Bears before then. I would hope it is resolved by then, but the [Bears] haven’t responded in a couple of months.”

Brian wants more than the one-year extension the Bears have offered him through 2012. The team has rewarded Alex Brown, Desmond Clark and Robbie Gould with extensions this off-season. But not, arguably, their best player and franchise face. I guess they feel their current offer ($5 million up-front and up to $1 million added to his contract per year if he participates in 85% of the team’s defensive snaps) is good enough. I don’t even know what “good enough” is anymore in the NFL, but I don’t think the Bears will budge. So, when the fines start piling up, Brian probably will.

Source: Chicago Tribune, Caricature: Newscom

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Brian Urlacher Won’t Attend Minicamp, Chicago Bears LB Unhappy With Contract

Chicago Bears DT Tank Johnson was sentenced to 120 days in jail for violating his probation in a weapon’s case from two years ago where it was discovered he had in his possession guns, bullets and marijuana. Supposedly the pot belonged to someone else, but that’s always the case, isn’t it? Today at his hearing, he brought head coach Lovie Smith and teammate Brian Urlacher to testify, but it wasn’t enough to keep him from being led off to prison. Coach Smith said that jail time “would be devastating, short-term and long-term” for his defensive tackle. Urlacher added that Johnson was “a good guy” and even referenced his daughter’s affectionate moniker of “Uncle Tank” to describe him.

This is all well and good, and I know this is an old saying, but “don’t do the crime if you can’t do the time.” Johnson’s legal woes began in June of 2005 when he was arrested for having a loaded handgun in his truck. He pleaded guilty to a misdemeanor and was sentenced to 18 months’ probation, which would have ended in May. So, you would think he would have kept his nose clean. Such was not the case. So, I really don’t see how there could be any other decision. As it is, he could have received a sentence of up to 364 days in jail, so it seems he’s getting off pretty easy. And if he’s good, he may only serve 60 days, getting “day for day credit” for good behavior.

I hope Tank does his time, behaving himself all the while, and then returns to society a better and changed man. If he’s embraces the loyalty of friends like Coach Smith and Brian Urlacher, who stepped up for him in his time of need, he’s taken a step in the right direction. But ultimately, he’s got to answer for his own actions and hopefully he’ll stay on a clean path from here on out.

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Tank Johnson Gets Jail Time