Urlacher latest to be unhappy over contract
A year after Bears Pro Bowl linebacker Lance Briggs swore he would never play for the Bears again in response to receiving the franchise tag, teammate and real franchise player, middle linebacker Brian Urlacher is communicating discontent with the nine-year contract extension he signed in 2002.
Urlacher has four years left on the extension but believes now that he is underpaid. When he signed the deal, $57 million over nine years was presumed to be alot of money. Apparently, now, with the market as wild and generous as it is, the extension simply no longer offers the type of cash that is fair for a top-tier player. At least, this is the logic Urlacher will employ to sleep at night.
Part of me believes that players like Brian Urlacher and Lance Briggs need to shut their mouths and just play football. When you start complaining about the amount of millions that you make, it comes off as selfish, arrogant and unappreciative. Then, there is another part of me that wants to strangle idiots like Oakland Raiders owner Al Davis. Davis has played maybe the most active role in driving the market so ridiculously high, evident in the charitable, if not laughable, contracts of Javon Walker, Gibril Wilson and Tommy Kelly.
If anyone on the Bears roster should be complaining, it’s defensive tackle Tommie Harris. Harris has one year left on his rookie contract of $9.8 million over five years. The three-time Pro Bowler is arguably the best defensive tackle in the NFL and has easily outplayed the contract’s value. Yet, Harris has been surprisingly poised and calm in any contract talk with the media. Admittedly, this is probably because he knows that a huge payday is coming — something north of $50.5 million over seven years. You can thank the good ‘ol, before-mentioned Al Davis for that one.
As the NFL grows and salary caps rise, you can expect more and more money to be dished out to lesser-talented players. I’m all for rewarding those who deserve so but let’s not get carried away. My advice to Brian Urlacher would be to handle his contract situation quietly. In reality, it’s not about if he’s justified in demanding a raise or not, it’s about setting a precedent that a contract is something to be honored.
I’m sorry. I’ll just never understand why these guys complain over getting paid millions of dollars. Whether is $10, $57 or $63. It’s still a ridiculous amount of money to get for doing something they supposedly love. I love complaining, I’m not making millions.
While Urlacher is a great player, I think he should be happy with the $57 million. Change your lifestyle if you’re not making enough. Shut up, play the game, get over it.
I know what you mean. It’s scary to think that as as the NFL gets bigger, the money becomes more readily available. Can you imagine giving Robbie Gould an extension in the future somewhere close to 3 yrs/13 mil. because that’s where the markets at?!!
[...] used material. You mean, the Bears don’t have a proven quarterback? What! Brian Urlacher is unhappy with his contract? Girl, you is too [...]