Urlacher gets reworked deal, will be at Bears camp on time
The threat of a Brian Urlacher training-camp boycott has been avoided.
The six-time Pro Bowl linebacker and the Bears have agreed on a one-year extension that will pay Urlacher a $6 million signing bonus, an additional $1 million in each of the four years remaining on his original nine-year $56.65 million deal that runs through 2011, and a $7.5 million base salary in 2012, when he also can earn an additional $500,000 in workout bonuses.
The deal was first reported late Monday afternoon on ESPN.com. If Urlacher, 30, plays out the contract, he will receive $17.5 million in new money and a total of $43.5 million over the next five years.
Urlacher boycotted almost all of the team's voluntary off-season activities in the spring to help force the Bears' hand, and there was speculation that he might miss part or all of training camp, but that is no longer an issue.
The Bears originally offered $5 million up front, $1 million in each of the four years left on the original deal and an additional year at $9 million.
But Urlacher declined to accept the deal, although he did return to Halas Hall for some of the final organized team activities, which may have sparked talks that led to the new deal.
The late agreement made coach Lovie Smith look prophetic, since he predicted in June that all his players would be in camp on time.
Everyone is scheduled to report today with the possible exception of first-round pick Chris Williams, whose deal should be completed soon. The opening training-camp practice is at 3 p.m. Wednesday.
"I know the players will show up once training camp comes," Smith said at the end of organized team activities. "We'll have all of our players there ready to go. I'm not expecting anyone to hold out or anything like that. It's a whole different mind-set once we get down to Bourbonnais."
Urlacher failed to make the Pro Bowl last season for just the second time in his eight-year career and was unable to practice for much of the season because of an arthritic back.
He also had off-season surgery on his neck that he says is no longer a concern.
Despite the aches and pains, though, Urlacher still easily led the Bears with 158 total tackles and 98 solos.
He also led the team with 5 interceptions and 101 interception-return yards, tied for the team lead with 5 pass breakups, was second with 2 fumble recoveries and tied for third with 5 sacks.