Turbulent Times Ahead for Chicago?

Brian Urlacher turned 34 on Friday, and took the time to scare the city of Chicago. On the prospect of potential Free Agency, Urlacher said “It’s kind of exciting. I’ve never been a free agent. So if I can get to free agency we’ll see what happens. I no doubt want to finish my career here. There’s no doubt about that. But you bring in free agency and all that you just never know what’s going to happen.”
 
This is a contradiction from a previous statement this offseason, where Urlacher said he “has no doubt in [his] mind” that he will finish his career with the Bears. Perhaps the way the Chicago front office has handled Matt Forte’s contract dispute has Urlacher second-guessing.
 
Urlacher is in the final season of a 5 year, $40.6 Million dollar contract. He’s due $7.5 Million dollars this season. Urlacher had a minor knee injury earlier this offseason, but he is confident he’ll be 100% by Training Camp.
 
Although Urlacher is sometimes questioned because of his lack of health, he has managed to piece together two very successful and healthy seasons. Brian’s statistics aren’t where they were five years ago, but he’s still a premiere middle linebacker.
 
With talk from Brian Urlacher dropping in positivity, the growing concern in Chicago that Matt Forte’s contract dispute won’t be settled anytime soon is cause for more concern.
 
The Chicago Tribune ran a story stating that the Bears now believe that Matt Forte’s knees are questionable moving forward, and perhaps even more importantly, that they are now a passing team.
 
The Bears reunited Quarterback Coach Jeremy Bates with their Franchise Quarterback Jay Cutler and Wide Receiver Brandon Marshall. The trio that led the Broncos to the playoffs a total of zero times during their time together.
 
The Bears are doing everything in their power to not pay Matt Forte. The Texans and the Eagles both paid their Running Backs, so if the Bears do not pay Forte, he may look to leave sooner rather than later.
 
With the decreasing value of Running Backs, if Forte holds out, it’s possible the Bears could be forced into trading him for pennies on the dollar.
 
Forte will get paid eventually, but it doesn’t appear likely that it’ll be in Chicago.
 
It seems as though there is a looming changing of the guard in Chicago. Especially if Brian Urlacher were to leave, a culture change would surely follow. It appears as though there are turbulent times ahead for the Bears.