Open letter to Brian Urlacher

By Os Davis  |   Sunday, April 20, 2008  |  Comments( 0 )

Chicago Bears
Got something to say?

Sign Up and be the first to comment on this article!

Dear Brian,

I’m writing to you today as a fellow University of New Mexico alum, as a rabid NFL fan, and as a father to a son with burgeoning interest in the league. I heard you’re thinking about retirement, and what more can my wounded heart write but, “Dude, say it ain’t so!”?

All right, I know that the story “cited anonymous sources” and that you’ve subsequently denied the story as pure media fabrication. But we’ve yet to hear the denials that you want your long-term contract renegotiated and that you’ll sit out mini-camp and/or training camp until it is.

More power to you on those matters, bro. Stay strong here, ‘cause the media gonna jump on your case if Chicago's ‘D’ gets off to a poor start in 2008. After years of not crediting you enough, they’ll say it’s your fault the Bears might miss the playoffs again.

It’s freaking unfair, isn’t it? When a QB is bad yet wins, he gets all the credit and is called “clutch” and “cool.” If a defense looks good but the team loses, the unit is called “porous” and “invisible.”

Meanwhile, you’re taking the physical abuse, too. The rumormongers have you retiring because of injuries to your neck and back. Heck, man, I can’t fault you for giving up the game while you can still sit comfortably, especially if Lovie Smith and the franchise's brain trust refuse to make the required moves on offense. But if you feel well enough, come back for another year or two.

The same report that has you threatening retirement has your agent possibly pursuing a trade. Can’t blame you there, either; in fact, maybe it is time to move on. Tennessee would present you with a nice playoff-bound team and, heck, putting you in New Orleans alone might make the Saints a true contender.

Come to think of it, any team that leaves its offense on the field for more than the lowly 28:29 the 2007 Bears averaged (meaning anyone except the Detroit Lions and San Francisco 49ers) would represent an improvement for you.

Sure, sure, you’ve demonstrated the requisite team loyalty in stating: “Everybody knows I want to be in Chicago. I've said that from day one. I can't imagine playing anywhere else. I want to be with my teammates.” But, Brian, is it worth it? Do you really want to be the defensive Barry Sanders, frustrated by the lack of support, unwilling to take punishment and retiring in your prime? Remember the disaster of 2004 when you grumbled the defense was carrying the team? Be prepared: It gonna be like that again in 2008.

Some say you’ve lost a step against the run, but I say loudly and publicly to all who will listen, “BS!” Not that you couldn’t use support in the area, but, like a proper MLB and team captain, you’re in there on nearly every play.

And it’s for this reason that you need to stick around, just for another year or two. Dude, you are still a one-man instructional on what a linebacker should do; as a dad expected to be a font of wisdom on guy stuff, you make my job explaining football to the boy easy. It’s down to four words: “Just watch No. 54.” Think of the children.

Look, next season, they’re installing the radio headset into the defensive captain’s helmet. Even if you’re still with the Bears, the technological upgrade teamed with Lovie’s knowhow –hey, the man’s still a defensive marvel – is going to help produce one of your best seasons yet. With a career-year performance and a subpar win-loss record from your team, you’ll have your grounds for a trade demand.

Then, as the biggest name to come out UNM athletics since Michael Cooper and maybe the greatest New Mexican sportsman ever, maybe you can bring a champion’s pride back to Lovington.

Take it easy,

Os

(Class of ’92)
Got something to say?

Sign Up and be the first to comment on this article! (0)

About Os Davis

Os Davis has taken a twisted route to get to RealFootball365.com in his nearly 17 years in professional writing, working in any number of capacities in the sportswriting, news reporting and film criticism worlds. In print media, Os has served as editor at a few publications, including Albuquerque's ...
read more
Article Tools Share!   |  RSS  |  Bleacher Report About Bleacher Report