Up until today I was only aware of two negotiating stances taken by teams faced with players asking for more money. You could either give it to them or you could refuse to give it to them. They say you learn something new every day, though, and today's lesson, courtesy of the Chicago Bears front office, is the third way of dealing with a holdout. Brian Urlacher skipped the start of offseason workouts Monday because he wants more cash and Bears CEO Ted Phillips said that the team has opened some dialogue with the linebacker and his representatives. They aren't talking about a new deal, though.
"I never said we were talking about an extension. I said we're talking to his representatives about how to look at his contract and try to educate them on the value of his deal. ... The money was (good). It still is.""Oh, our bad. We thought it was a bad deal. He'll be there tomorrow," was not the response of Sherwin J. Huckleberry, agent for Urlacher.
I'm guessing that the problem isn't that Urlacher's agents don't know how to look at a contract or that he has issues with the quality of the money. Unless the Bears are passing bad checks, the issue is the quantity of it. Unless you're going to cut him, the choice in Urlacher's mind is his current deal or a newer better deal. Innovative approach or not, this dog ain't gonna hunt for the Bears.
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Reader Comments ( Page 1 of 1)
1. I would choose the second option.If he isn't man enough to honor the contract he originally signed,he would just sit and make nothing.
Posted at 7:10PM on Apr 8th 2008 by Mr.G
2. Just give Url the money. Look around at what others with less talent are making. I pay out the @SS to see URLACHER play. I'd like to know that he's getting a big chunk of that money !!!
Posted at 12:21PM on Apr 9th 2008 by UrlFan
3. If he's signed thru 2011 then he should play thru 2011. (Obviously he's no Sweetness or this wouldn't be an issue.) He isn't the player he used to be. Age and injuries are catching up to him. Give him incentives and see what he can do.
Posted at 2:54PM on Apr 10th 2008 by Joanne
4. I am so sick of people saying that Url isn't the player he used to be. This is crap. Look at the stats. Watch the film. Quit listening to that baby Mariotti and watch the freaken' games. Url is everything he has always been and he deserves more $. GEEZ !!!
Posted at 11:57AM on Apr 13th 2008 by UrlFan