Phillips says Urlacher can help case by showing up

Bears president and CEO Ted Phillips indicated Brian Urlacher might help speed negotiations on a contract extension by showing up to practice with his teammates at organized team activities, where attendance has been nearly 100 percent -- minus Urlacher.

"It's not a written rule that we have," Phillips said of having to be in the building to get a deal done. "But I think most teams feel, and we feel the same way, that it makes sense. If you want us to engage in any kind of discussions, whether anything gets done or not, it makes sense that you're here and showing your obligation to the club."

Urlacher's absenteeism has been noticeable.

"I think the coach has done a great job of impressing how important it is, and we've had great turnouts," Phillips said. "So whenever you have anybody, in particular a starter, not come, it's disappointing. But we understand it."

According to general manager Jerry Angelo the Bears are continuing to talk to Urlacher and his representatives about a lucrative contract extension for the six-time Pro Bowl middle linebacker, but there is no progress to report.

"I told them that everything we talk about stays between us and them," Angelo said, "so I'm going to leave that at that."

That evidently leaves Urlacher absent from the remaining two weeks of the voluntary organized team activities, which conclude June 18. He's stayed away from all of the team's voluntary workouts and practices in a ploy to get more than the $18 million package the team has on the table. That reportedly includes $5 million up front, an extra $1 million in each of the four years remaining on his nine-year, $56.65 million contract and an additional year (in 2012) for $9 million.

Urlacher did attend last weekend's mandatory minicamp and spoke with Angelo the day before Friday's first practice.

"That was encouraging," Angelo said. "The other thing is, he really wants to be here. He wants to be a Bear. He made that real clear to me. I visited with him. He's just going through things that are not abnormal around the league, and we talked. But I feel real comfortable that his head's in a good situation with us."

The Bears would like to have a situation where all of Urlacher is with them before training camp begins on July 22, but that might be wishful thinking.