Bears to retire Ditka’s #89
Two sources have told the Tribune the Bears will retire Ditka’s No.89 in a ceremony during the Dec. 9 “Monday Night Football” game against the Cowboys at Soldier Field.
Brian Urlacher retires, saying “I didn’t want to play for anyone else.”
Brian Urlacher, former Chicago Bears All-Pro linebacker, announced his retirement from the NFL via Twitter on Wednesday, three days shy of his 35th birthday.
Urlacher was an unsigned free agent but spent his entire career in Chicago and retires as a Bear.
“After spending a lot of time this spring thinking about my NFL future, I have made a decision to retire,” Urlacher wrote in a statement.
“Although I could continue playing, I’m not sure I would bring a level of performance or passion that’s up to my standards. When considering this, along with the fact that I could retire after a 13-year career wearing only one jersey for such a storied franchise, my decision became pretty clear. I want to thank all of the people in my life that have helped me along the way. I will miss my teammates, my coaches and the great Bears fans. I’m proud to say that I gave all of you everything I had every time I took the field. I will miss this great game, but I leave it with no regrets.”
You guys have a good one.
Lance Briggs’ response to reporters when asked how he felt about Brian Urlacher not finding work in the NFL.
He’s hungry to prove people wrong and has taken time and work for him to get to this point mentally and physically. He is light years from where he was.
LeCharles Bentley on Gabe Carimi. Bentley’s a former NFL lineman who now runs O-Line Performance Academy in Arizona, where Carimi has been training in lieu of going to Bears OTAs.
Former Bear QB Jim Miller to take communications position with team
Fan favorite (and my personal favorite Bears QB) Jim Miller is apparently returning to the team in some fashion:
Former Bears quarterback Jim Miller is returning to the franchise he spent four seasons at quarterback with.
According to a report from the Detroit News, Miller will leave his position as the radio analyst for Michigan State football to take a “communications position” with the Bears.
“It was an opportunity Jim couldn’t pass up,” Will Tieman, owner of the Spartan Sports Network, told the Detroit News.
The details on Miller’s new role have yet to emerge.
Miller is still scheduled to work as the television analyst for Chicago Bears preseason games for the second straight year.
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Whoops.
Gabe Carimi missing from OTA’s has fans, teammates vexed
According to multiple sources, Carimi hasn’t been with the team since he participated in the club’s voluntary three-day minicamp held from April 16-18. Following the conclusion of the minicamp, Carimi informed the Bears he planned to skip the second phase of the Bears’ offseason program that included individual on-field work and positional meetings in favor of returning to Arizona to continue his offseason training.
Carimi felt working out in Arizona gave him the best opportunity to return to the field healthy and avoid the knee problems that have plagued him the last two years, a source said.
Pro Football Talk has speculated that he’ll be released, per this link.
Actually it was the Bears that were mad at the way Carimi and his dad handled it. The Bear wanted him to have the dislocation surgery right away so he’d be ready for the next season. Carimi’s dad didn’t want him cut so he rehabbed, hurt the loose knee, got it scoped and later ended up with the more serious surgery the Bear wanted in the first place.
“Is that a correct reading of how his knee injury played out? i hadnt read anything about his dad apparently being a doctor and having influenced his decisions with his knee.”
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I tell these guys every day, ‘Compete to play, compete to stay.’ And that’s going to be fun. It’ll be like steel sharpening steel.
Bears defensive coordinator Mel Tucker discussing the infusion of youth into the Bears defense.
Cool old article highlighting Peanut’s drafting. Neat!
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