Bears middle linebacker Brian Urlacher made his biggest hit of the season in blasting his critics, as reported by Vaughn McClure in the Chicago Tribune on December 31st.

“I’m tired of criticism that is unwarranted,” he said. “People who say stuff about me, they don’t know our defense. They don’t know football.

“Yes, I wish I would have made a lot more big plays. Obviously, everyone could say that on our defense. I wish I was around the ball more, but I wasn’t. Just the way things worked out this season.”

OK Brian, I get it.  I understand your frustration.  If I worked for a guy like Bob Babich, who handed me the weekly game plan written in crayon, I would be ticked too.  But the scheme the Bears employ did not cause you to get blocked like this.

That’s not a 300 pound lineman blocking you; it’s Maurice Jones-Drew, the 5’7″ 208 lb running back for the Jacksonville Jaguars who appears to have you blocked.  Maybe that’s the scheme.  Maybe it’s the fact that you’ve never been able to shed blockers and enjoyed your greatest success when Mark Hatley dropped 700 pounds of ass into the middle of the Defensive Line with Ted Washington and Keith Traylor to keep blockers tied up.  Maybe it’s the fact that your skills have diminished and you’ve lost a step.

It’s tough to realize that you’ve lost a step.  I came to grips with that as I nursed a hangover yesterday after drinking an amount on New Years Eve that wouldn’t have phased me ten years ago.  I’ve lost a step.  There, I said it.  Brian, it’s time for you to say it too.

BEAR DOWN!!!

Yesterday, Bill Parcells, Miami’s new Head of Football Operations made his biggest move to correct a team that went 1-15 that season.  Nine players were cut from the team in a decision that the team needs to go in a drastically different direction.  In an NFL where teams covet their star players, Miami cut many of their marque players and team leaders.  The list of names includes quarterback Trent Green, wide receiver and former Bear Marty Booker, tackle L.J. Shelton, defensive tackle and former Bear Keith Traylor, and five others.

According to USATODAY.com, Marty Booker was paid $3.7 million for the 2007 season.  Considering the Bears are prepared to pay upwards of $9 million to keep Bernard Berrian with the franchise tag, I’d say another tour with Marty wouldn’t be a bad idea.  I can make the same argument for Keith Traylor who made $1.2 million last season and can contribute at a position where the Bears always have a need with a high tempo defensive tackle rotation.  I don’t know much about L.J. Shelton but after the performance by the offensive tackles last season, any new starting tackle would be an improvement.

But without a doubt, the biggest name on that list is Trent Green.  After all the talk about Rex, Brian Griese, and Kyle Orton it could all become a moot point with a solid, accurate passer like Trent Green.  Last year he was paid $6 million by the Dolphins but ended up being little help from the injured list.  The Bears are not paying that much for Rex and Brian combined, but there is no doubt the Bears can use an upgrade at the position.

Most of my reservations about dumping Rex is due to the incredible lack of talent at quarterback throughout the NFL.  Regardless of how you feel about Rex, there are not many suitable replacements to entertain.  Low and behold, Trent Green, a quarterback known for his great accuracy and ability to run an offensive drive is now available.

This is all just a pipe dream because the Bears will not tie up $6 at the quarterback position when they have much larger issues at running back, tackle, safety, and linebacker.  There are also issues if Green is healthy and if he is joining a long list of aging quarterbacks with problems taking hits.  I would probably be borderline cruel to the Bears organization if they signed Green and not free agent running back Michael Turner, but it still sounds nice.  I have no doubt that dozens of NFL teams are working through their salary cap to see if they can fit Green on to their roster.

I would still like to see the Bears try to sign back Marty Booker, a top receiver who has fallen out of popularity while stuck in a non-existent Miami offense.  The Bears offense can always use another big threat and based on his lack of production, they may be able to get him for a discount.