[bears9]

Lance Briggs threw out the first pitch at Wrigley Field today and sang "Take Me Out to the Ballgame" before making a pitch for a new contract for his teammate Brian Urlacher. He also discussed the negative headlines he generated recently.

Urlacher is planning to skip the mandatory mini-camp later this month and possibly training camp if the Bears don't concede to his contract demands. Briggs was asked on Ch. 9 if he thinks it will be an issue.

"I don't think it should be an issue," Briggs told Cubs play-by-play announcer Len Kasper. "I think everybody in the city of Chicago knows what Brian Urlacher has meant and continues to mean to the city of Chicago.


"Whatever is going on, I believe it will be worked out. He is definitely due. He has outlived that contract, and I'm the biggest supporter of my big brother."

Briggs went through his own contract dispute last year, and Urlacher was an avid supporter of Briggs getting paid.

Briggs believes Bears should pay Urlacher :: CHICAGO SUN-TIMES :: Bears

[Gotham Dark Knight]

If the man is the icon of your team...you gotta pay...that's just the way it is...this is a team known for its D, known for its MLB, know for a hard style of play...and Urlacher is a living icon who is symbolic of the team...that goes beyond the numbers...pay the man.

[bears9]

Originally Posted by Gotham Dark Knight

If the man is the icon of your team...you gotta pay...that's just the way it is...this is a team known for its D, known for its MLB, know for a hard style of play...and Urlacher is a living icon who is symbolic of the team...that goes beyond the numbers...pay the man.

I'm going to have to agree with you even though, they still have one more big contract they'll have to give out soon on that defense.

[Be Da Bear]

Originally Posted by Gotham Dark Knight

If the man is the icon of your team...you gotta pay...that's just the way it is...this is a team known for its D, known for its MLB, know for a hard style of play...and Urlacher is a living icon who is symbolic of the team...that goes beyond the numbers...pay the man.

I disagree. They did pay him back in 03 when he and his agent signed a 9 year deal. At the time it looked great, now it looks stupid. On top of that he's coming off surgery, and toward the end of his career. He's 29, 30 now, how much are you going to give him? Don't forget that Tommy Harris is going to want to get paid and he is going to be asking for a pretty penny and he's only 25. IMO Brian is going to have to suck it up and play under the deal he signed in 03 for at least for this season. If he does get a new deal it will not be untill after the 08 / 09 season.

[GoBears51]

Their gonna pay him, if they don't, he'll sit out preseason and if he doesn't get the money he wants, he'll probably sit out on regular season too, and if that happens the team would lose money on ticket sale.
Alot of fans pay to see him play.

[Lefty Noob]

Originally Posted by GoBears51

Their gonna pay him, if they don't, he'll sit out preseason and if he doesn't get the money he wants, he'll probably sit out on regular season too, and if that happens the team would lose money on ticket sale.
Alot of fans pay to see him play.

Seriously? I mean, no disrespect to Urlacher, but I have a hard time believing that his loss would impact ticket sales.
He's no Barry Sanders or Michael Vick... flashy offensive players are the only ones with the power to put butts in the seats. Not linebackers.

[bears9]

Originally Posted by Lefty Noob

Seriously? I mean, no disrespect to Urlacher, but I have a hard time believing that his loss would impact ticket sales.
He's no Barry Sanders or Michael Vick... flashy offensive players are the only ones with the power to put butts in the seats. Not linebackers.

Urlacher is the face of the franchise, Lefty, but it won't affect ticket sales, Bears aren't bandwagon jumpers like those in towns of dudes he mentioned. It won't affect ticket sales.

[Weird harold]

Originally Posted by Lefty Noob

Seriously? I mean, no disrespect to Urlacher, but I have a hard time believing that his loss would impact ticket sales.
He's no Barry Sanders or Michael Vick... flashy offensive players are the only ones with the power to put butts in the seats. Not linebackers.

You have to put yourself in the mindset of a Bear fan. Defense is the show, other than the running game, the rest is just filler. As for Urlacher himself being the star of the show, I hope he gets better, and can do more than he did last year.