Dec 11, 2011; Denver, CO, USA; Chicago Bears middle linebacker Brian Urlacher (54) during the game against the Denver Broncos at Sports Authority Field. The Broncos defeated the Bears 13-10. Mandatory Credit: Ron Chenoy-USA TODAY Sports

After becoming a free agent for the first time in his career, the Chicago Bear great is still team-less.

Reports were bouncing back and forth, that the Minnesota Vikings and Brian Urlacher were close to a 2 year contract. According to head coach Leslie Frazier, those reports are completely false, at this point. Now when it comes to a hall of fame linebacker who could play at least another 2-3 years in this league, you can never really count yourselves out of signing him.

“Brian has been a great player in our league for a long, long time.” - Leslie Frazier on Urlacher

What the Minnesota Vikings are going to do, is take a look at what they have to work with, see how things go, then they could possibly entertain the thought of bringing in Brian Urlacher. They had one impressive draft, snagging 3 first round picks, none of them bring linebackers, but good picks none the less. In the final few rounds of the draft, the Minnesota Vikings picked up a pair of Penn State Nittany Lions, bring Gerald Hodges a 4th round pick and Michael Mauti a 7th round pick.

“He was a thorn in our side for many years. At this point we want to look at the guys on our roster, give them a chance to compete for the middle linebacker position then we’ll see where it takes us.” – Head Coach Leslie Frazier

Both rookie linebackers have recently signed contracts with the Minnesota Vikings. Gerald Hodges agreeing to a 4 year deal yesterday with the Vikings and his fellow Penn State teammate, Michael Mauti also agreeing to a deal.

“The Vikings told me I have a chance to really come in here and make an impact. I said whatever you guys need me to do, whatever you guys want me to do I’m ready to do it. I’m ready to be a Viking and I’m ready to get started.” - Gerald Hodges on being drafted by the Minnesota Vikings

Erin Henderson, a veteran who was signed as an undrafted free agent by the Minnesota Vikings in 2008, is adding some weight to his frame and making a transition to middle linebacker. With Henderson moving to the inside, it leaves a starting vacancy on the weak side. Next to Erin on the strong side, will be another Vikings veteran, Chad Greenway, leaving Hodges to compete with Audi Colie and Larry Dean for the starting position on the weak side.

So with the transition by Henderson to the inside, who is clearly younger than Brian Urlacher, it will be likely that he will be the man to show the Minnesota Vikings that this team does not need to add the longtime Chicago Bear to this roster. Right now it is hard to tell who could use Brian Urlacher, but in my opinion and I’m not saying this because I am a Chicago Bears fan and would hate to see him in Minnesota. But this team has a lot of young talent in that linebacker core, which should save them an extra $2-3 million from signing a 35 year old veteran.

Now that head coach Leslie Frazier made it clear that they were going to work with what they have, what does Urlacher do now? There were some reports that the Denver Broncos were in the hunt to sign Urlacher, but they quickly denied those reports. Should he have just taken the deal the Chicago Bears submitted to him before he countered it, eventually leading to them losing interest and wishing him the best of luck where ever he may sign?

At this point, I’m wondering if he wishes he could go back to a few months ago and accept that deal that would make him a Chicago Bear again. He would be in OTA’s along with the rest of the guys who are eligible, getting ready for another season. But instead, he sits and waits for a team to contact him, who desperately need his services. It will be interesting to see how this plays out, will a team call him? Or will the veteran decide to call it a career?

September 29, 2012; Athens, GA, USA; Georgia Bulldogs linebacker Cornelius Washington (83) in the game against the Tennessee Volunteers at Sanford Stadium. The Bulldogs won 51-44. Mandatory Credit: Daniel Shirey-USA TODAY Sports

A new look defense in Chicago, having a familiar face no longer with the organization, that face being future hall of fame linebacker Brian Urlacher. Holes have been patched up on this roster and coaching staff, as the franchise nearly received a complete face-lift.

When you think about the Chicago Bears, of course you think about ‘The Monsters of the Midway’, a black and blue defense, in the black and blue division. Players who don’t stop hitting bodies until a whistle blows the play dead. Chicago and its fans, have seen some of the greats of this game on either side of the ball, begin and/or end their career walking through that tunnel that leads to that historic battle-field.

It has been about 2 weeks since the NFL Draft has wrapped up and draft picks are starting to sign with the teams they were drafted too. A spot on this Chicago Bears depth chart that needed to be filled, besides the linebacker slot, was the defensive end position. Israel Idonije, has spent 9 in a half years out of 10,  in the National Football League with the Chicago Bears, played defensive end/tackle for this team where he finished 2012 with 40 tackles, 7.5 sacks and a forced fumble.

With Idonije a free agent and with the Chicago Bears drafting Cornelius Washington, he may be officially off Chicago’s radar now that they have drafted and signed their 6th round pick to a 4 year contract. Washington being a strong pass rushing prospect, should fit well behind Corey Wootton, as he may get the nod to start at left end now that Idonije is gone.

A top performer in the combine in the 40 yard dash, bench press, vertical jump and broad jump, Washington is ready to show what he can bring to this defense. I was surprised he was over looked in this draft, showing how good of a pass rusher he could potentially be in this league. He is currently a project, needing to work on some things like stamina and more hustle if he hopes to be a starter on this defense some day.

He finished his college career with 76 total tackles, 17 for loss and 10.5 sacks. With the way this defensive line looks, they should get to the quarterback quicker, or at least force turnovers, now that you have Julius Peppers/Shea McClellin on one side and Corey Wootton/Cornelius Washington on the other.

“Even though his sack totals were very low, his talent is enormous. I thought he played better in certain games than people gave him credit for. I thought he had a nice Senior Bowl week. He’s got too much talent to last to the sixth round. But when people get that underachiever label, sometimes that hurts you.” – ESPN’s Mel Kiper on Washington

It won’t be easy replacing a veteran who has stepped up his play for this defense over the years, but it isn’t impossible. This defense has had a ton of greats play for this franchise and sooner or later, there has been a player who was picked up by this team either in the draft, trade or free agency and added their name to the list of great players who have worn the same uniform.

“I am a little bit discouraged, but the call came and that is the most important thing. Now I am just ready to go out there and be a Chicago Bear and contribute to their team as much as I possibly can. I’ve got an opportunity and that’s the most important thing. You turn something that’s mildly negative into a positive and it’s still a blessing. I’m blessed to be able to go to Chicago. I’m blessed to even get drafted at all. So I’m not bitter. I’m just ready to go to work.” – Cornelius Washington

This season for the Chicago Bears and that defense will be interesting. As a fan of the team myself, I am a bit nervous. I am excited about this group of rookies that will enter camp and compete for roster spots. A few picks made me scratch my head, but the people in the front office of this organization knows what they are doing so as a fan, I trust them.

Cornelius Washington who played defensive end and outside linebacker at the University of Georgia should be a player, fans of this team should keep their eyes on. I know my eyes will be on him and if he plays his best, as the years go on, quarterbacks who play the Chicago Bears each year, should keep their eyes on him.

As the title reads, the Chicago Bears might have gotten a steal at the #188 pick of the 6th round. Only time will tell. Is it pre-season yet?

Scott Sewell-USA TODAY Sports

With the 20th pick in the 2013 NFL Draft, the Chicago Bears took former Kansas State Wildcats star linebacker Arthur Brown, who was once regarded as a mere third-round pick. Brown has seen his draft stock rise recently, and he deserves it after a terrific season in 2012 with Kansas State. He was one of the best defensive players in college football, and he has first-round value for the Bears if they do view adding another linebacker as a priority.

As Walter Football notes, the Bears can just draft Brown and then slide Williams to the strong-side, and that would be beneficial to the linebacker corps as a whole. Although the Ray Lewis comparisons are convoluted, Brown does have good leadership qualities and was an excellent tackler and downhill run-stuffer at Kansas State. He has much better intangibles than Manti Te’o ever did, and he is the true star-potential MLB in this draft class; it’s taken long enough for some to realize that.

However, he isn’t the most athletic player, and he does have issues in coverage at times. But make no mistake, Brown is not a two-down linebacker and mostly holds his own in coverage. The Chicago Bears present a very good fit for Brown, and he is well-worth taking at pick number 20 if that’s a position the Bears do indeed view as a priority.

You can follow Joe Soriano on Twitter for more NFL updates and analysis @SorianoJoe.

Nov 11, 2012; Chicago, IL, USA; Chicago Bears middle linebacker Brian Urlacher (54) reacts after making a play against the Houston Texans during the second quarter at Soldier Field. Mandatory Credit: Mike DiNovo-USA TODAY Sports

Since I left school in 1997, I have been in the same job. I work for a large British food retailer (otherwise known as a supermarket), putting in 40 hours a week. Do you want to know how much I earn each year? The grand total of £14,000. For my American friends, that translates to just over $20,000. Hardly a large amount of money, right? Now with various state benefits to compliment my wage, I am able to take care of my wife and our two boys, with a roof over our head and food on the table, and the occasional luxury, here and there.

Want to know how much money NFL linebacker, Brian Urlacher just turned down? $2 million for one year’s work. That’s right – the Chicago Bears reportedly offered the veteran a one-year contract that would pretty much have given him $2 million. If you take my wage of $20,000, it would be 100 years before I earned $2 million. And that’s just what Urlacher was offered this year. It doesn’t take into account all the millions he has earned throughout his successful NFL career with the Chicago Bears.

Now, I am not saying he doesn’t deserve the money. The nature of the business pretty much dictates how much players get paid, and if someone offered me millions of dollars as my wage, I wouldn’t hesitate in taking it. But here’s the truth – It was purely Brian Urlacher’s decision to leave the Chicago Bears. He could quite easily have accepted their generous offer and finished his career in the windy city, which is what I am sure he would have preferred. But no; he decided to turn down $2 million, for reasons which still remain a mystery to me, but I am going to go out on a limb and say it was a decision motivated by nothing more than greed.

Here’s what Urlacher had to say about it:

“I’m not upset. I was never upset. I understand the business side of football. It was just time to move on for me, that’s all there is to it. I was never upset. Disappointed, yes. I want to be a Bear one-hundred percent. It just didn’t work out. But I’ve never been upset about it, just disappointed.”

So, apparently, it just didn’t work out, eh? You know why it didn’t work out, Brian? Because you didn’t want to play football for the Chicago Bears. That’s the only reason it didn’t work out. No one said they didn’t want you to put on a Bears uniform anymore. No one physically stopped you from doing anything. It was your decision not to return to Chicago, and it looks as though it was a move fueled mainly by money. And that makes me feel a little bit sorry for you.

Just exactly how much money does Brian Urlacher or any other football player actually need. While we may not know the ins and outs of their financial affairs, I think it’s fair to say that most football players (especially those with the talent of Urlacher) are rewarded handsomely for their endeavours. And yes, I know that a football career does not last forever, but even with that in mind, most should rake in enough money to ensure they are more than comfortable for the rest of their lives.

If these figures are to believed, Urlacher has earned a butt load of money during his time with the Bears.

So why did he turn down the $2 million that Chicago offered him. Perhaps I have things wrong and Urlacher needs more money, rather than just wanting more. Almost as if $2 million is just not enough for what Urlacher needs. But to me, that just sounds ridiculous.

I think one of the problems with fame and money is that it sort of forces you to live a lifestyle that you might not previously have wanted. I have always said that if I won the lottery, I wouldn’t buy a helicopter or a huge mansion, because I have never wanted those things. I would just be happy to know that I could have the things that I can’t right now, due to lack of funds. But how frequently do you see NFL players with huge houses and a multitude of expensive sports cars. Why? It’s as if they feel duty bound to live that way, just because their income allows them to.

But I am sure they have advisers who let them know how they are expected to live, and how big their house should be, and how many cars they can afford. What’s wrong with a nice three bedroom property and a decent family car?

The sad truth is that we still hear horror stories of former NFL players that are now sitting at home without a penny to their name. Whether that is through poor investments, or just squandering the money away, it still paints a painful picture. But unless they had their money stolen from them, they realistically only have themselves to blame. I am positive that they would have earned enough money during their playing days to set them straight for the rest of their lives. But for some, this doesn’t seem to be the case.

Like a lot of famous people who are suddenly faced with a large influx of wealth, they find themselves having to maintain a very lavish lifestyle that costs a lot of money. But do they really need to live that way. For the most part, NFL players don’t end up broke or having to work elsewhere once their football career is over. And these are the players who don’t subscribe to the millionaire lifestyle, and continue to live within their means, investing their money wisely and planning for the future.

Bear in mind that Urlacher also had this to say about the 2 frikkin million dollars he was offered:

“Which is a lot of money, don’t get me wrong, but for me to go through a season, put my body through what it goes through during a season at my age, I’m not going to play for that, you know, not for the Bears at least. So we made a counter offer and that was never acceptable to them.  They said, basically, our offer is one year, two million.”

There you have it folks. He is NOT going to play football for $2 million. Nope, Brian Urlacher is worth a lot more than that. He turns his nose up at your little $2 million. He finds that sort of offer insulting. For me, this tarnishes his career with the Bears. It doesn’t negate all the great things he did for the team, but it has left a bitter taste in many people’s mouths. And I for one, can’t shake it.

We’ll never really know why the offer from the Bears wasn’t enough for Urlacher. But I find it hard to believe he needed more than what was on the table. It’s more of a case of Urlacher just wanting as much money as he could lay his hands on.

Dec. 30, 2012; Detroit, MI, USA; Chicago Bears linebacker Brian Urlacher on the sidelines in the second against the Detroit Lions at Ford Field. Mandatory Credit: Andrew Weber-USA TODAY Sports

This will be a tough list to do, considering I am a Chicago Bears fan. Just in case you didn’t notice the picture of the hat on my big head next to the biography about me that mentions that small fact.

But, the future Hall of Fame linebacker has his name in the free agency pool for the first time in his career.

Considering his age and the injuries hes faced in his career, this season may be his last. Now a field general like Urlacher, you would think it is possible that he could get decent money to represent another organization. It shouldn’t be a problem right? Wrong.

Don’t get me wrong, there are teams out there that are interested, I mean, come on now, it’s Brian Urlacher. But I’m sure they would rather have him lower his price tag if he wishes to continue his career. He gave the Chicago Bears a ‘home town discount’ which the front office offered Urlacher $1.5-$2 million, but that number didn’t quite seal the deal as a counter offer of $3.5 million for one season was made. Things fell apart, Chicago and Urlacher parted ways and now here we are.

So, if the Chicago Bears couldn’t bring in Urlacher for the $1.5-$2 million they hoped for, what would it take to sign this man? If the team you played for, for over a decade wouldn’t bring you back for $3 million, what does that show other franchises across the league? It could force him to either retire or lower his price tag.

Green Bay Packers Quarterback Aaron Rodgers shared his thoughts on Brian Urlacher by saying the following:

“I always appreciated the approach he takes to the game. Against the Bears you never had to worry about cheap shots around the pile after the whistle. They played the right way and it was led by Brian.”

If or when he does get signed, it will be interesting to see what type of contract he was offered and accepted. I just know it is going to look and feel different without 54 calling the shots on defense. So who should take a chance on Brian Urlacher? Let’s start off with our #1 spot.

1. Denver Broncos - They lost D.J. Williams who signed with the Chicago Bears and slipped up with Elvis Dumervil who left for the Baltimore Ravens. Two guys who have faced each other in their first Super Bowl appearances, Urlacher should jump at this opportunity if they do call him, considering Peyton Manning is their quarterback. This team looks to be Super Bowl ready so this could be Brian’s last chance if this indeed is his last season. They could use his leadership and his ability to make plays the way he does as long as he stays healthy.

2. Pittsburgh Steelers - Last season, not 1 single defensive player for the Pittsburgh Steelers recorded double digit sacks. With the power house defense that they have, how could this happen? Urlacher could be a cheap replacement for Harrison. Although the Steelers run a 3-4 style defense, with the former Bears ability to call out audibles and adjust the defense as the quarterback does for his offense, could make the right calls and get positive production from teammates in hopes of double digit sack numbers and more take aways. They have the right talent, they just need a general like Brian Urlacher.

3. Houston Texans - When the Houston Texans came into the windy city to play the Chicago Bears on Monday Night Football last season, Brian Urlacher was criticized by fans for congratulating former Chicago Bear and good friend Danieal Manning after he intercepted Jay Cutler. The Chicago Bears lost the game and fans who were upset about Urlachers sportsmanship, didn’t hesitate to speak out about it. Houston could use another veteran linebacker like Urlacher and it shouldn’t take him long to get adjusted as the Texans still have his good friend Danieal Manning, on the roster. Manning knows the skills the veteran linebacker could bring and could definitely play the same role in Houston as he did in Chicago.

4. Cincinnati Bengals - They haven’t spent that much money this off season on new talent, but could use a veteran like Brian Urlacher even though they re-signed linebacker Ray Maualuga but could use Urlacher as a mentor or a back up (can’t believe I said that) in case something were to happen to the young linebacker out of USC. A definite playoff team with a big budget could give Urlacher the contract he was looking for from the Chicago Bears, possibly more. I would doubt they offer him a giant contract, maybe see if he would settle for the $2 million or maybe even $2.5 million. It wouldn’t be that bad a move in my opinion, could possibly make Maualuga better.

5. Buffalo Bills - They need some sort of leadership and could definitely get that and more if they take a chance on Urlacher. It couldn’t get any worse, not to bash the team but they aren’t exactly a threat in the league, or even close to being one, maybe in the future (might get heat for that), but could bring him in and draft a linebacker in April to take pointers from Urlacher for as long as he is in Buffalo. It would be weird to see him in a Buffalo Bills uniform, I mean, going from the Monsters of the Midway, to the Buffalo Bills, we all have to admit that would come across as crazy. But if they could afford him, they need to roll the dice and bring him in. If he isn’t able to stay healthy, he can still be that leader he was in Chicago and inspire the guys around him to make plays, in Buffalo.

Dec. 18, 2011; Chicago, IL, USA; Chicago Bears middle linebacker Brian Urlacher (54) takes the field before the game against the Seattle Seahawks at Soldier Field. The Seahawks defeat the Bears 38-14. Mandatory Credit: Mike DiNovo-USA TODAY Sports

Brian Urlacher and the Chicago Bears agreed to part ways after failing to agree to a mutually beneficial contract. It has the face of the Bears franchise for the past 13 years facing free agency for the first time in his career and looking for a new team. But when Urlacher joined ESPN Chicago, he had a message for the fans.

“Well, I had a great time here,” Urlacher said, via Sports Radio Interviews. “Thirteen years is a long time to play in one place in any sport, especially football. … But the fans have always been great here, especially to me. Whether we were good or bad, they still came out and froze their butts off in the winter. … Much appreciation to the fans. I’ll always hold our fans to a higher standard than other fans.”

And while Bears fans are upset that Urlacher is leaving, he isn’t.

“I’m not upset. I was never upset,” Urlacher said. “I understand the business side of football and it was just time to move on for me. That’s all there was to it. I was never upset. Disappointed? Yes. Did I want to be a Bear? One hundred percent. But it just didn’t work out.”

He was however, shocked by how quickly the news came out.

“It was amazing how fast they released it. They got off the phone with my agent at I don’t know what time it was, and 30 seconds later they already had the email on Twitter. So they already has the statement prepared, obviously. … They knew what was going to happen. They were ready for it, obviously. … I would’ve appreciated the call.”

On a final note, he explained how the offseason negotiations went.

“Honestly, it wasn’t a shock to me that it went like this. I said this before, I told my agent at the beginning of the offseason that I don’t have a good feeling about the Bears. There was no dialogue going back and forth; they didn’t even talk to my agents. I specifically told my agents not to call the Bears because I wanted to see if they really wanted me back or not. They didn’t contact us until the combine. They met and asked us to send a proposal over. … Just never could get a deal worked out. We had another proposal sent back after they sent theirs over. … The Bears were stuck on their offer; that’s what they had in mind and they weren’t moving. So it just didn’t work out, and I wasn’t surprised one bit.”

January 8, 2012; Denver, CO, USA; Denver Broncos linebacker D.J. Williams comes onto the field before the first quarter of the 2011 AFC wild card playoff game against the Pittsburgh Steelers at Sports Authority Field. Mandatory Credit: Chris Humphreys-USA TODAY Sports

As a Chicago Bears fan, I have to admit it was sad to see the Chicago Bears and Brian Urlacher part ways, the way they did.

It is pretty much a ‘he say, she say’ type situation where Urlacher says the Bears really had no interest in bringing him back but just wanted to make it sound like they did. The way things played out, left a hole in the middle of the defense where we are used to seeing Brian Urlacher adjusting the defense and making plays.

Exit Brian Urlacher, enter D.J. Williams, a former Denver Broncos LB. In my opinion, along with colleague Erik D. this is a solid pick up, as we were unsure on what the Chicago Bears had in mind now that Urlacher is looking for a new place to call home.

It won’t be easy coming into a city where an organization has had the same middle linebacker for over a decade and expect the fans to adjust to his style of play right away, but he is a solid player if he can keep himself out of trouble.

The deal is said to be a 1 year contract which could add up to $1.75 million depending on his performance. Last season he faced a couple of suspensions 1 being a 2 game suspension, a 6 game suspension for violating the leagues performance enhancing policy and was arrested for driving under the influence.

Things like this worry me, I know players are humans themselves and will make mistakes, but when representing a professional football team and a franchise investing money in your talents, why take it for granted? It will be a tough spot to fill,  replacing a future Hall of Fame linebacker in a city that is all about their defense, it will be interesting to see if D.J. Williams can shake free from his past and be that field general the fans and this team are looking for.

Nov 11, 2012; Chicago, IL, USA; Chicago Bears middle linebacker Brian Urlacher (54) makes a tackle on Houston Texans running back Arian Foster (23) during the second half at Soldier Field. The Houston Texans defeat the Chicago Bears 13-6. Mandatory Credit: Mike DiNovo-USA TODAY Sports

Brian Urlacher is looking for a new NFL franchise for the first time in his career after the Chicago Bears and him agreed to part ways. There were rumors initially that the Minnesota Vikings could be interested in Urlacher, provided he lower his asking price. And now it seems he might want to lower his price if he is afforded the opportunity to chase that Vince Lombardi Trophy.

“I’m an old fart, so I want to go in there and win,” Urlacher told The Dan Patrick Show.

”Maybe nobody wants me,” Urlacher said.  ”But we’re gonna find out.”

Urlacher speculated that no one has contacted him because no one thought the Bears would let him go. He has said that aside from the Vikings, his agent has been in contact with the Arizona Cardinals and Dallas Cowboys. None of those really come across as teams destined for the Super Bowl.

While he is familiar with the 4-3 he isn’t locked into that formation.

”I think I could learn a 3-4,” Urlacher said.

He also politely turned down the notion that he could go to Baltimore and fill in for the retired Ray Lewis with a “no thanks.”

But Urlacher thinks the Bears might have low-balled him with their 1 year $2 million offer intentionally, to save face publicly.

”I really don’t think they wanted me back,” Urlacher said.

Dec. 23, 2012; Glendale, AZ, USA: Chicago Bears injured linebacker Brian Urlacher prior to the game against the Arizona Cardinals at University of Phoenix Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Mark J. Rebilas-USA TODAY Sports

The Chicago Bears and middle linebacker Brian Urlacher have agreed to go their separate ways. And the Minnesota Vikings could be adding another divisional rivals scraps. They recently signed Greg Jennings, the long time Green Bay Packers wide receiver.

But for the moment the Minnesota Vikings aren’t interested in Brian Urlacher, unless he lower’s his asking price.

RE: Brian Urlacher, I was told in Phoenix that #Vikings aren’t interested. Only way that *maybe* changes is if price comes way, way down.

— Tom Pelissero (@TomPelissero) March 21, 2013

The offer that Brian Urlacher reportedly turned down from the Bears was a one year deal for up to $2 million dollars. Urlacher turned it down saying that it wasn’t enough money for him to put his body through a 14th NFL season.

There is no word yet what the Vikings think would be a reasonable asking price but it likely is similar to what the Bears offered Urlacher. If Urlacher decides to continue playing, and the free agent market is barren he would essentially have two options. He could retire after 13 NFL seasons or take the Bears at their “sub par” offer. But likely someone will shell out big bucks in free agency for him.

May 23, 2012; Lake Forest, IL, USA; Chicago Bears players Brian Urlacher (54) , Charles Tillman (33) and Lance Briggs (55) during organized team activities at Halas Hall. Mandatory Credit: Jerry Lai-USA TODAY Sports

If you haven’t heard, the Chicago Bears and Brian Urlacher are going their separate ways. Let that settle in for a second, the Bears won’t have Urlacher in the middle. Or even weirded, Urlacher in a different uniform possibly. But while Bears fans held onto hope that Urlacher would work out a deal with their team, corner back Charles Tillman thought it was going to happen too.

“Yeah, I was hopeful. I was very optimistic about Brian coming back to this team for another year.”

“I’d probably say that it’s a sad day for Bears fans and players and the organization,” Tillman said on WSCR in Chicago, via Sports Radio Interviews. “It’s a business. I think he was a guy who represented the city well for Chicago. He represented himself, the city, the organization. He was a leader, he was a great teammate, great team guy. Love him. Just a sad day. But I’m sure, whatever organization picks him up, I think he’ll go on and make them proud.”

While it is rare to see a player stay with one organization for his entire career now a days, some think Urlacher might retire. Tillman isn’t one of those people.

“This year? No. I think he’s got some football left in him. I hope he don’t retire,” Tillman said. “No, I don’t think he’s retiring. I think he’ll do all right by him playing for another team, somebody else. Whatever team lands him, they’re getting a great guy, great team player, great person. He’s gonna represent himself; he’s not going to embarrass anybody. One of those guys you don’t have to worry about. He takes care of himself and his players.”

And it not only creates a void in the defense, it creates a hole in the leadership group of the team.

“Somebody will have to step up. I feel like I take a leadership role for my room. I think [Julius Peppers] takes it for the D-line, and obviously Brian had it in his room and for the whole defense. So other guys will just have to step up and just take that leadership role.”

“The white knight is gone.”