Urlacher Willing To Give Bears Hometown Discount

By Chuck Sudo in News on Jan 30, 2013 6:40PM

Now that the Bears’ coaching structure is stabilized with the hiring of Marc Trestman the narrative out of Halas Hall now turns to the future of middle linebacker Brian Urlacher with the club.

Urlacher told WMVP-AM’s Tom Waddle and Marc Silverman he wishes to stay with the Bears and is willing to give the team a “hometown discount” to remain.

"Chicago is my home," Urlacher told "The Waddle & Silvy Show" on WMVP-AM 1000. "Whether I play for the Bears or not, that's my home. So I want to be there and hopefully we can work something out, but if not I'll go somewhere else."

Urlacher is also realistic about his market value and the interest in his services from other teams in the NFL. "I'm not going to make what I was making in the past, how about that? Does that make sense? That's fair."

Urlacher has been hampered by injuries in recent years and missed the final four games of the 2012 season, so a new deal with the Bears doesn’t hinge on the money as much as when it comes in the contract. WSCR-AM NFL expert Hub Arkush intimated on “The McNeil and Spiegel Show” that Urlacher would likely want a long-term deal with money up front. Although Urlacher and Trestman haven’t spoken yet since the new coach’s hiring, Trestman’s hiring of new defensive coordinator Mel Tucker was made partly with an eye toward keeping a semblance of continuation on defense.

Trestman and Bears GM Phil Emery have no doubt done their homework on Urlacher and already have a plan in place if they decide Urlacher’s time in Chicago is at an end. Another thing to consider: Urlacher will have to pass a physical if a new deal is reach and that may be harder than some believe.