Brian Urlacher Intends To Play 2013, Cardinals Not Interested

Update:

Free agent ILB Brian Urlacher told the Chicago Sun-Times that he intends to play in 2013, and may even be willing to take a similar offer to the one that Bears made him to play for another team.

“I think their offer is off the table, and after the way they handled it, I don’t know if I want to play for them,” Urlacher said Thursday. “Who knows? I may play for $2 million for someone else.”

Urlacher, 34, appears to be very bitter with how things played out with the Bears in recent days. Chicago reportedly offered him a one-year deal worth $2 million, while Urlacher was seeking something in the range of $3.5 – $4 million per season.

The Vikings aren’t believed to have interest in signing, despite being a rumored option. Kent Somers reports that the Cardinals have “no interest” in Urlacher.

We have him listed as the No. 40 player in our recently updated Top 50 Free Agents list.

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Update:

Tom Pelissero reports that the Vikings do not have interest in free agent LB Brian Urlacher.

• Pelissero adds that the only way they even consider the idea of signing him is if his price “price comes way, way down.“

Reports from last night indicated that Urlacher was seeking something close to $3.5 – $4 million per season, but the Bears were willing to offer him a one-year deal worth $2 million.

While Urlacher obviously feels he’s worth more than that, the market seems to be closer to what the Bears were offering.

USA Today lists the Broncos, Falcons, Ravens, Bengals, Cowboys, Lions, Texans and Vikings as speculative options.

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Update:

The Chicago Bears announced that they were unable to reach an agreement with free agent LB Brian Urlacher and are prepared to move on without him next season.

“It was a ultimatum, not a negotiation,” Urlacher said, via Vaughn McClure. “I wanted to be in Chicago. I wanted to finish here.”

• Urlacher told Vaughn McClure that he has “no immediately plans to retire and will explore the possibility of joining one of the teams he’s spoken with.”
• Albert Breer reports that Urlacher was seeking $3.5 – $4 million and the Bears offered only $2 million.

Previous reports indicated that the Cowboys and Vikings could be options for Urlacher, but sources close to the Bears believed that either team was unlikely to have serious interest.

Things have obviously changed now that Chicago is prepared to move on. We’ll have see if a market develops for him in the coming days, or he seriously considers retirement, as veteran have had a tough time finding interest this offseason.

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Here’s the Bears’ statement regarding the decision to move forward without Urlacher.

“We were unable to reach an agreement with Brian and both sides have decided to move forward,” said Bears General Manager Phil Emery. “Brian has been an elite player in our league for over a decade. He showed great leadership and helped develop a winning culture over his time with the Bears. We appreciate all he has given our team, on and off the field. Brian will always be welcome as a member of the Bears.”

Earlier in the day, new head coach Marc Trestman mentioned that he could see Urlacher being a contributor for them next season, so this is certainly a surprising turn of events.

“Over the last 13 years Brian Urlacher has been an outstanding player, teammate, leader and face of our franchise,” said Bears Chairman George McCaskey. “As Bears fans, we have been lucky to have such a humble superstar represent our city. He embodies the same characteristics displayed by the Bears all-time greats who played before him and he will eventually join many of them in the Pro Football Hall of Fame. We thank Brian for all he has given our team and our city. He will always be a part of the Bears family. We wish him the very best.”