Acquiring the greats of NFC North Rivals

[indianation65]

I learned something yesterday on talk radio down here in Dallas land; in 20 years Jerry Jones has never traded an older player for youth or draft picks. He trades draft picks for history. He always bites at the last couple seasons of a veteran's remaining highlights. Opting for another team's older castoffs is risky and usually rewards with a middle-of-the-pack player, occasionally stardom. Go to the tree Vikings brain trust, it's a young man's game! Stardom, age and injury rarely results in another dose of "stardom."

Addendum: ...but what do I really know, I'm just a Monday morning coach

...wisdom

[Eli]

I learned something yesterday on talk radio down here in Dallas land; in 20 years Jerry Jones has never traded an older player for youth or draft picks. He trades draft picks for history. He always bites at the last couple seasons of a veteran's remaining highlights. Opting for another team's older castoffs is risky and usually rewards with a middle-of-the-pack player, occasionally stardom. Go to the tree Vikings brain trust, it's a young man's game! Stardom, age and injury rarely results in another dose of "stardom."

Addendum: ...but what do I really know, I'm just a Monday morning coach

The Cowboys haven't appeared in a Super Bowl in 17 years. Dallas fans just may have to wait for ol' Jerry to croak before seeing another one. At least the Vikings' brain trust is relatively new.

[vikeinmontana]

Even a 'finished' Urlacher is better then anything we have now, or that can play this year if we draft one. Unless hes asking for a ton of cash. I personally dont think hes finished. I bet he can still cover better then Greenway.

i agree with you. and though i have never been in an nfl locker room i always think what gets overlooked is the value a respected veteran brings to the team besides his physical abilities. while urlacher isn't the same as he was 10 years ago, i think he could be very valuable for this team both on and off the field. the guy is a football genius.

[Mothman]

i agree with you. and though i have never been in an nfl locker room i always think what gets overlooked is the value a respected veteran brings to the team besides his physical abilities. while urlacher isn't the same as he was 10 years ago, i think he could be very valuable for this team both on and off the field. the guy is a football genius.

I don't think genius is a word that should ever be applied to Urlacher.

Urlacher's best days as a player are far behind him. They could sign him as a stopgap but I doubt he's all that interested. I think he wants to stay put and if he can't, I'm betting he'll retire.

[vikeinmontana]

have you ever heard the guy in the film room breaking down tape? or even just talking about the game with other coaches and players? i have and it's amazing. the guy knows everything there is to know about defense. i remember favre saying one time that urlacher would know everything the packers were trying to do before they did it. he's of the same mold as ray lewis as far as being a coach on the field.

i don't care of the guy has an IQ of 4 and scored a 200 on his SAT's. when he's on the field he's as smart as they come.

[dead_poet]

i don't care of the guy has an IQ of 4 and scored a 200 on his SAT's. when he's on the field he's as smart as they come.

I don't care about his on-field smarts if his body can no longer be enough of an asset to take advantage of it.

[mansquatch]

I agree with Paul Allen’s take on Urlacher. Even in geriatric old man state, he will be better on the field than Brinkley. He brings two things to the table: He can still play the Tampa 2 MLB drop into coverage and he is very well seasoned to a point where he will recognize on the field whatever is coming at him. He is a liability against the run since he can’t get off blocks fast enough. Ultimately, biggest selling point is that he is probably still a net improvement over Brinkley. He doesn’t fit Spielman’s mold though. Not young and not cheap.

IMO the reason to sign him is that otherwise as it stands now Audie Cole is the best guy on the roster at MLB. I don’t view him as developed enough to start, but the coaches know more than all of us, so who knows?

Another possible scenario is they draft OLB and shift EH to MLB which he can play. Currently MLB is rather weak in this draft, compared to OLB.

[vikeinmontana]

I don't care about his on-field smarts if his body can no longer be enough of an asset to take advantage of it.

i agree to a point. i don't think the vikes are signing him nor do i care. i guess i'm just saying that i think TEAMS look at the entire package more than fans. we just look at a guy that isn't the best player in the league on defense like he was ten years ago. but i don't think i can be convinced that there is no value whatsoever. what if we learned urlacher could be had for $500,000? (completely unrealistic i know. ) we'd be idiots to not jump on that even though urlacher isn't tops in the league anymore.

guess in a nutshell my thought is that if we could get urlacher for a reasonable price he'd be worth it more for his knowledge of the game and ability to teach it rather than his physical presense.

won't happen anyway. i think he'd retire before not being a bear...

[PurpleKoolaid]

I dont think Urlacher is here if he isnt fairly cheap. It goes against everything thats happened so far.

He is still good enough to play MIKE. And maybe teach Cole or whoever we have to play it in the future.

[vikeinmontana]

I dont think Urlacher is here if he isnt fairly cheap. It goes against everything thats happened so far.

He is still good enough to play MIKE. And maybe teach Cole or whoever we have to play it in the future.

i guess that is all i was getting at. i'm an idiot.

[Mothman]

have you ever heard the guy in the film room breaking down tape? or even just talking about the game with other coaches and players? i have and it's amazing. the guy knows everything there is to know about defense. i remember favre saying one time that urlacher would know everything the packers were trying to do before they did it. he's of the same mold as ray lewis as far as being a coach on the field.

Sure, I've heard that and living here in Chicago, I've heard him interviewed dozens of times too. The guy knows the game inside and out. I just don't think he's a genius.

No biggie... that's just one of those words I feel gets thrown around too casually. There's no doubt that Urlacher has been a superb NFL linebacker and he's a smart football player.

[mondry]

Sure, I've heard that and living here in Chicago, I've heard him interviewed dozens of times too. The guy knows the game inside and out. I just don't think he's a genius.

No biggie... that's just one of those words I feel gets thrown around too casually. There's no doubt that Urlacher has been a superb NFL linebacker and he's a smart football player.

It's kind of like calling brett favre smart you know, sure he's played football for like 25 years straight so he knows everything about the game, but I wouldn't call him smart by any means. Of course if you're looking for a football player, Brett Favre was an amazing one, anything else, i'd pass heh.

[PurpleMustReign]

It's kind of like calling brett favre smart you know, sure he's played football for like 25 years straight so he knows everything about the game, but I wouldn't call him smart by any means. Of course if you're looking for a football player, Brett Favre was an amazing one, anything else, i'd pass heh.

Right. For example, I am very intelligent. Now I've lost my train of thought.

[ViciousBritishVike]

Jennings is 29, so it might be more accurate to suggest this is his prime. He had a torn groin...tough injury.

The more I think on it the more I like Jennings. Don't know how serious he is about leaving GB though.

Urlacher? I can't imagine he has a whole lot left. But I don't know. Is he better than what we have....I'd guess, maybe.

Lovie Smith is gone and so is the Tampa 2...he's a cover 2 MLB. At first blush I thought this was crazy...now I'm not so sure.

It's the Vikings after all....they might be in pillage mode.

Usually that would be the case but I'm taking into account the ailment that is likely to linger and affect his production to some extent.

Although the Packers have now shown interest in a possible re-sign, initially it seemed as though they had accepted a departure and I have to believe that they've now upped their anti in order to prevent Jennings from joining a division rival.

Admittedly Urlacher will never lose the qualities of heart and understanding, his physical presence has diminished to a point where I'd much rather see him in a coaching role. Perhaps not consistent in pass coverage but I thought Greenway fares better than usual last season, particularly against TE's. His leadership cannot undervalued either and I would hate for this to be overshadowed by an ex bear. Here's to hoping we stick with our own.

[dead_poet]

@TomPelissero: Poking around down here in Phoenix, I am only getting stronger in my conviction Brian Urlacher to the #Vikings ain't happening.