Urlacher Offers Contract Proposal To Bears

By Chuck Sudo in News on Mar 8, 2013 3:45PM

Multiple media outlets are reporting that Brian Urlacher’s agents have sent the Bears parameters for a new contract. If the Bears don’t offer a counterproposal, Urlacher becomes a free agent 3 p.m. Tuesday.

Urlacher’s future with the Bears has been subject to as much overblown scrutiny as Derrick Rose rehabbing his knee. The reports have reached a fever pitch since the Bears hired Marc Trestman as head coach in January. Trestman and Bears GM Phil Emery have repeatedly said they intend to handle the Urlacher situation with the “respect” it deserves. Urlacher told ESPN 1000 in January he’s open to giving the Bears a “hometown discount” to remain with the team. How much of a hometown discount we don’t know. Urlacher made $8 million with the Bears last season and, given his recent injury history and age, he won’t make nearly that much this year. Urlacher wants a two year deal that pays him what retired Baltimore Ravens linebacker Ray Lewis made last season: $5 million.

A league source told the Sun-Times it’s possible the Bears could offer Urlacher a base contract worth $2.5 million, with pay incentives based on the number of games he plays. The team currently sits nearly $3 million under the salary cap after applying the franchise tag to Pro Bowl defensive tackle Henry Melton earlier this week. Trestman and the Bears have made it clear they want Urlacher back on the team and Urlacher’s agent views Emery as a no-bullshit general manager. Under the NFL’s new free agency rules, teams interested in Urlacher’s services may begin negotiating with him starting 11 p.m. tonight.