Urlacher says he likely won't be at mandatory Bears mini-camp
By Vaughn McClure | Tribune reporter
10:52 PM CDT, May 13, 2008
Brian Urlacher says he will not attend organized team activities starting Monday and is leaning toward skipping the Bears' mandatory mini-camp May 30-June 1, but he insists talk of protesting his contract situation through training camp is premature.
"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," the linebacker told the Tribune via phone Tuesday from Arizona. "I would hope it is resolved by then, but the [Bears] haven't responded in a couple of months."
Urlacher wants more than the one-year extension the Bears have offered through 2012, a deal that is believed to include $5 million up front and up to $1 million added to his contract per year if he participates in 85 percent of the team's defensive snaps. He has four years left on the nine-year, $57 million contract he signed in 2003, which included $19 million in bonuses.
Neither side has budged since the issue hit full steam last month.
If he had agreed to the Bears' terms, Urlacher likely would have rejoined his teammates at Halas Hall next week for OTAs, which are voluntary.
"I'm not even going to be in town," he said, "so I definitely won't be a part of that."
The mini-camp is mandatory, meaning Urlacher could be fined up to a maximum of $8,000 for his absence.
"Yeah, it would bug me to get fined, but it's my choice," he said. "Unless something happens [with the contract] between now and then, I won't be there."
The Bears have rewarded players such as Alex Brown, Desmond Clark and Robbie Gould with extensions this off-season. They were about $16 million below the salary cap when Gould was given a five-year extension Monday worth up to $15.5 million, including a $4.25 million bonus, that made him the highest-paid kicker in the league.
"That's a hell of a deal, and that's good for Robbie," Urlacher said. "People don't understand what he means to the team, the conditions he has to kick under at times. He deserves it."
Urlacher believes he is deserving of a pay raise based on his performance on the field and his status as the face of the franchise. The Bears might be reluctant to go any higher with their offer, partly because they also are negotiating with Tommie Harris and Devin Hester. Plus the team is concerned about Urlacher's health.
Urlacher had minor neck surgery and played last season with an arthritic condition in his back. He has been working out in Arizona and has dropped a couple of pounds from the end of last season, from 255 to 253.
"I'm running, my neck is not an issue, my back is sweet," he said. "If I could bottle everything up right now and save it, that would be perfect."
Asked what the downside of skipping all the team activities would be, Urlacher expressed some regret.
"I want to be at everything. I don't want to miss anything," he said. "I want to be around my teammates. But I have to maintain my stance."
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Urlacher says he likely won't be at mandatory Bears mini-camp
Urlacher says he likely won't be at mandatory Bears mini-camp
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