Brian Urlacher to meet with Steelers

[hawaiiansteel]

Bobby Brooks @ BobbyBrooksWETM:

Sources close to Brian Urlacher say he's to meet with Pittsburgh Steelers to discuss possible contract negotiations.

[URL]https://twitter.com/BobbyBrooksWETM/status/314769321412923394[/URL]

[Siggy00]

What's the point? They already signed Foote.

[hawaiiansteel]

What's the point? They already signed Foote.

maybe Urlacher plays in the middle with Foote and Timmons moves outside?

[BigRob]

maybe Urlacher plays in the middle with Foote and Timmons moves outside?

Keith Butler already has stated that moving Timmons to OLB in 2011 was a bad mistake. Their not making a similar mistake again.

[Siggy00]

maybe Urlacher plays in the middle with Foote and Timmons moves outside?

Good grief that would suck.

[Sugar]

For the record, I don't want Brian Urlacher or Elvis Dumervil. Jake Long would be great, but he's too expensive so it's not realistic in my mind to pursue him. It would be great if we could just stop the nonesense of the the Steelers "looking at" or "talking to" every name FA out there.

[hawaiiansteel]

Brian Urlacher ready for new team

Updated: March 22, 2013
ESPNChicago.com

A free agent for the first time in his 13-year career, former Chicago Bears linebacker Brian Urlacher said Friday he's not sure if teams will be interested in him, but he's looking forward to finding out.

"I'm disappointed, but I'm also excited," Urlacher told "The Dan Patrick Show." "I get a chance to kind of look around and see what's out there, if there is anything out there at all. I don't know. Maybe nobody wants me. Who knows? But we're going to find out; I know that much."

The Bears announced Wednesday they would not re-sign Urlacher for a 14th season after the linebacker turned down their one-year offer that could have totaled $2 million. Urlacher said his camp made an initial offer to the Bears, which was for two years and $11 million. He considered that a starting point in negotiations and came down to $3.5 million for one year, but Urlacher said the Bears wouldn't budge from their $2 million offer.

Urlacher said "30 seconds" after his agent heard from the Bears that they would not re-sign him the team issued a news release on Twitter announcing the split.

"I would have appreciated a call from, maybe not (from Bears general manager) Phil (Emery), but (from team chairman) George (McCaskey) or somebody else I've been around," Urlacher said Friday on "The Waddle & Silvy Show" on ESPN Chicago 1000. "I haven't been around Phil; he's been here for one year, so I don't know him all that well, but (a call) from somebody else in the organization I've been around for a long time (would have been appreciated)."

On Friday, the Bears signed former Broncos linebacker D.J. Williams to a one-year deal, a source confirmed to ESPNChicago.com. The 30-year-old was suspended nine games last season for violating the league's performance-enhancing drugs policy and for his second arrest for driving under the influence. According to the Chicago Tribune, he can earn a maximum of $1.75 million if he hits all bonuses.

Urlacher, who will be 35 in May, said his agent has talked with the Minnesota Vikings, Dallas Cowboys and Arizona Cardinals. ESPN Twin Cities reported last week that the Vikings would not be interested in Urlacher unless his price comes way down.

Cowboys executive vice president Stephen Jones doubts Dallas would sign Urlacher, noting it wouldn't make sense to sign him as a backup to Sean Lee only to cut him in a year.

"You don't ever dismiss Hall of Famers in my book," Jones told ESPNDallas.com. "It would be difficult. He obviously plays what Sean plays. To move everything around for a year doesn't really make a lot of sense. But at the same time, you don't ever rule it out."

Urlacher, who wants to play as many as three more seasons, said he believes more teams weren't interested because they doubted he would hit the open market.

"The crazy thing is no one thought I would leave Chicago," Urlacher said to Patrick. "All these teams this whole time they've talked to, they're like, 'Chicago is not going to let him go. He's not going to leave them, so why waste our time with this?' I think it's pretty obvious now that that is not the case."

Urlacher said he is open to play for any team, even the Bears' division rival Green Bay Packers, although he would be surprised if he landed there.

"Every team is an option right now," Urlacher told "Waddle & Silvy." "I haven't ruled anything out. I would be really, really surprised if I went to Green Bay. That would be really weird. But like I said, I'd like to play for a team that has a chance to win. They've won. Minnesota won last year. Green Bay has been good for a long time. I don't see that happening, but there's 31 options out there."

Urlacher injured his knee in the final game of the 2011 season and struggled with the injury for much of the 2012 season. He missed the final four games last season after suffering a hamstring injury in a game against the Seattle Seahawks on Dec. 2.

The injuries along with his age might be an obstacle for Urlacher to find a new home at the price he wants, but he said his body feels good and that he is eager to prove he can still play.

"On the field is the only way I can answer it," Urlacher told "Waddle & Silvy." "My body feels great. My knee feels good. I've rehabbed. I'm actually working out now finally, whereas last year all I did was rehab and try to get this thing right and it never was. But now I'm just finally working out and doing the things I need to do to get better, get back on the field and be successful."

[URL]http://espn.go.com/chicago/nfl/story/_/id/9084497/brian-urlacher-find-anyone-wants-me[/URL]

[Siggy00]

PR spin. Nothing else.

[calmkiller]

He couldn't stop the bus years ago. Pass.

[phillyesq]

If the Steelers are going to bring in an old, iconic linebacker, I would prefer James Harrison. James could still help this team. Urlacher does not fit.

The Steelers could use another ILB, but they need youth to groom behind Foote, not a veteran.

[hawaiiansteel]

He couldn't stop the bus years ago. Pass.


one of my favorite all-time Steelers photos:

[lloydroid]

What's the point? They already signed Foote.

What's the point? To trick the fans into thinking they are considering bold moves. He is a 35-year old LB who has spent most of the last few seasons on the sidelines. Brilliant consideration, front office. Just brilliant. I am so sick of the Steelers starting rumors of attempting to sign players they never were even considering. And if they are actually considering signing him, that is even MORE MORONIC than playing the shell game. Just idiotic.

[lloydroid]

For the record, I don't want Brian Urlacher or Elvis Dumervil. Jake Long would be great, but he's too expensive so it's not realistic in my mind to pursue him. It would be great if we could just stop the nonesense of the the Steelers "looking at" or "talking to" every name FA out there.

Winner, winner, chicken dinner.

[lloydroid]

Great. I can't wait to see BU in sweats on the sidelines. If they are truly considering this, they are colossal morons. F this nonsense.

[BigRob]

Winner, winner, chicken dinner.

It has nothing to do with the Steelers. No one but journalist are saying these things. Your "bold moves" analogy is baseless as to the Steelers brass.