Urlacher Has 'Minor' Neck Surgery, Which Doesn't Mean Bears Will Sign Briggs

According to a recent Chicago Tribune report, Chicago Bears middle lineback Brian Urlacher recently had 'minor' neck surgery. According to another Tribune report, judging by the specifics of Urlacher's case and the announcement he'll be fully healed and ready for training camp leads some to believe he had what is known as a foraminotomy, which is to relieve pressure on the nerves being compressed by the bones. Per local sports radio ESPN 1000 WMVP-AM, Urlacher had the surgery somewhere around January 28 2008, using the false name Richard Kimble (yes, the same Dr. Richard Kimble from The Fugitive).

Urlacher is 30 and is in the middle of a 7-year $52.5 million contract with the Bears that originally paid him a $13 million signing bonus. He has $22.4 million spread out over 4 years left on the deal, including a base salary of $7.35 million in 2011, when he'll be 33. Even if Urlacher doesn't regain his All-Pro skills after the surgery, $5.5 million a year for an above average linebacker is about par for the course in the modern NFL landscape, so look for the Bears to let Urlacher play out the deal, and then possibly retire or sign a short extension in 2010 or 2011.

What this doesn't mean is that the Bears will suddenly feel the need or urgency to ink outside linebacker Lance Briggs to a long term deal. Bears GM Jerry Angelo's philosophy has historically been to not tie up too much money at one positional group if you can help it, and the Bears probably won't be able to re-sign Briggs without breaking the bank, as he is arguably the top free agent lineback on the market (with Baltimore's Terrell Suggs and Arizon's Karlos Dansby being other contenders). Last year's top free agent linebacker Adalius Thomas hauled in a 5-year $35.04 million contract with the Patriots, including a $12 million signing bonus and actual money of $22 paid out in the first 2 years of the deal. Several teams, including the San Francisco 49ers and Washington Redskins, have been already rumored to have legitimate interest in Briggs, and if the Bears weren't going to sign him the last two year with plenty of cap room, they probably won't do so this year either.

So will the Bears tie up $12-14 million a year total for their two top linebackers for the next 4 years? Probably not, as Angelo will most likely will spread some of that money out to help rebuild the offensive line (ala Alan Faneca and/or Max Starks, for example), and possibly target unrestricted free agent running back Michael Turner, who is the top UFA RB available. Look for the Bears to let Briggs walk, and to let 2006 4th rounder Jamar Williams and 2007 3rd rounder Michael Okwo battle in training camp to see who can nab the starting OLB position opposite Hunter Hillenmeyer.