Highlights
He was the player the Bears virtually lucked into at No. 9 in the first round of 2000 draft after running back Thomas Jones and wide receiver Plaxico Burress went in the two previous picks, eliminating two of the three players the Bears had targeted. A former safety at New Mexico, Urlacher lost his starting job at outside linebacker during the preseason, then became the starting middle linebacker when Barry Minter was injured in game two. The rest was franchise history. Urlacher, 6-foot-4, 258 pounds with freakish speed, became defensive rookie of the year with his 8 sacks and 165 tackles and earned the first of his six Pro Bowl honors. He was named NFL defensive player of the year in 2005,...
He was the player the Bears virtually lucked into at No. 9 in the first round of 2000 draft after running back Thomas Jones and wide receiver Plaxico Burress went in the two previous picks, eliminating two of the three players the Bears had targeted. A former safety at New Mexico, Urlacher lost his starting job at outside linebacker during the preseason, then became the starting middle linebacker when Barry Minter was injured in game two. The rest was franchise history. Urlacher, 6-foot-4, 258 pounds with freakish speed, became defensive rookie of the year with his 8 sacks and 165 tackles and earned the first of his six Pro Bowl honors. He was named NFL defensive player of the year in 2005, just the second Bear (along with Mike Singletary) ever to receive that honor. In 2003 he signed a nine-year contract and was instrumental in the Bears reaching the playoffs in 2001 and 2005 and the Super Bowl in 2006.
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Hey baseball fans; Bears are doing fine
Once either the shock or medication has worn off, sports fans in Chicago who have been obsessed with their baseball teams since the start of September might notice a surprising development.
There is a football team in town that actually bears watching....Tags: Terrence Metcalf, Kevin Payne, Corey Graham, John St. Clair, Lance Briggs
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Bears cornerbacks hurting to face Detroit
Chicago Tribune reporterAs Nathan Vasher walked off the practice field Friday, he all but ignored the cast wrapped around his right hand. "I expect to be out there 100 percent," the Bears' cornerback said of Sunday's game at Detroit. "I had a full practice today and I'm looking...Tags: Corey Graham, Devin Hester, Brandon Rideau, Charles Tillman, Football
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Goal-line stand a key moment
If this indeed goes down as the week the Bears saved their 2008 season, as it very well could, it will be thanks to two tough stands. One involved Tommie Harris. But the biggest one did not. When the Giants were preparing for the Patriots before Super...Tags: Lou Piniella, Washington Redskins, Charles Tillman, Lance Briggs, Anthony Adams
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Wujciak sniffs out big plays
Maryland defensive linemen Jeremy Navarre and Dion Armstrong crouched low on the Death Valley turf trying to protect a 20-17 fourth-quarter lead.
It was fourth-and-inches for Clemson - the biggest play of the young season for the Terps - and the two...Tags: Maryland, Football, Maryland Terrapins, August, Movies
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Time to shine for Terps' Wujciak
Maryland defensive linemen Jeremy Navarre and Dion Armstrong crouched low on the Death Valley turf trying to protect a 20-17 fourth-quarter lead. It was fourth-and-inches for Clemson -- the biggest play of the young season for the Terps -- and the two...Tags: Maryland, Football, Maryland Terrapins, August, Movies
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Buccaneers steal OT victory from Bears
Tribune reporterAs long faces dominated the locker room, Bears receiver Brandon Lloyd had reason to be optimistic, based on his breakout 124-yard performance. Instead Lloyd was as annoyed as any of his teammates, knowing Sunday's 27-24 overtime loss to Tampa Bay was the...Tags: Kevin Payne, Devin Hester, Charles Tillman, Football, Mike Brown
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BEARS GROUND EAGLES
Chicago Tribune reporterThere was no need for an impromptu pep talk from Mike Brown or Brian Urlacher, no need for Lovie Smith to be anything but his typically reserved self. The Bears' defense knew what was at stake as their grasp on a four-point lead Sunday night started to...Tags: Devin Hester, Greg Olsen, Football, David Akers, Rashied Davis
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Nick Roach skips Jamar Williams in Bears' linebacker line
Tribune reporterJamar Williams tried to bite his tongue, but the Bears linebacker couldn't disguise his latest frustration. With Hunter Hillenmeyer struggling the first three games, the coaching staff decided to give another linebacker a chance with the first team: Nick...Tags: Christianity, Corey Graham, Kevin Payne, Hunter Hillenmeyer, Lance Briggs
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Red-hot McNabb ready to air it out against Bears
Chicago Tribune staff reporterIf Brian Griese can throw 67 passes against the Bears, as he did last Sunday, Donovan McNabb thinks he can top that. "Absolutely,'' the Eagles quarterback told the Chicago media Wednesday during a conference call. "I am going to go for 70, 75.''...Tags: Donovan McNabb, Football, Tampa Bay Buccaneers, National Football League, Multi-Sport Events
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Practice a big step for injured rookie Williams
Tribune staff reporterRookie offensive tackle Chris Williams,sidelined in training camp with back surgery, returned to the practice field Wednesday. His sense of humor seemed to reappear too. Asked when he might be cleared to play, Williams said, "Soon as they turn me loose....Tags: Donovan McNabb, Devin Hester, Adewale Ogunleye, Charles Tillman, Lance Briggs
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Dvoracek a 'beast' on Bears' defensive line
Tribune reporterThe routine starts with the heavy metal sounds of Metallica or Pantera thumping in Dusty Dvoracek's eardrums. Then the Bears nose tackle breaks out the war paint and splashes it on his checks and underneath his eyes. " Tommie Harris does it, too,"...Tags: Anthony Adams, Mike Brown, Football, Dusty Dvoracek, Tampa Bay Buccaneers
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No excuse for Peanut Tillman's penalty
IN THE WAKE OF THE NEWSCharles "Peanut" Tillman, WHAT were you thinking? What possessed you? Why would you let an opponent provoke you that way? How could a smart football player like you pull such a stupid stunt? Good thing for Tillman he is a valuable and popular member of...Tags: Adewale Ogunleye, Football, Mike Brown, Tampa Bay Buccaneers, Nathan Vasher
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