The Bears still have not countered the contract offer presented by the player reps for free agent Brian Urlacher. Urlacher's agents faxed the team their offer last Thursday. GM Phil Emery is understandably "showing no urgency" to re-sign the franchise stalwart after Urlacher fell off the cliff in 2012. Dallas is said to have some interest.

The player reps for free agent Brian Urlacher have made a contract offer to the Bears. The agents are awaiting the club's counter offer. GM Phil Emery realizes Urlacher is on his last legs and has been lukewarm about bringing him back. At the same time, letting Urlacher go would make Emery no friends among the fan base.

The Bears and free agent Brian Urlacher are engaged in contract discussions. Chicago was mum on the topic of Urlacher early in the offseason, but they've come around and have been talking with the soon-to-be 35-year-old for the past couple of weeks. Urlacher has said he's willing to give a hometown discount, and CSN Chicago recently opined that he would have to play for about half of his 2012 salary of $7.5 million. The two sides will likely work something out.

CSN Chicago believes free agent Brian Urlacher would have to play for about half of his $7.5 million 2012 salary to return to the Bears.

Seven of eight sources surveyed at the Combine believe free agent Brian Urlacher could still contribute in 2013. Seven of the eight also expect Urlacher back with the Bears. "I think he's got another year left," one GM said. "And he still has value as a leader." According to beat writer Sean Jensen, the "sentiment" is that Urlacher will have "other options" if Chicago decides to move on.

The Bears have met with free agent Brian Urlacher's agents at the Combine. It's the first known contact between the two sides after the Bears have been ultra-noncommittal when it comes to the topic of their soon-to-be 35-year-old middle linebacker. Urlacher says he's willing to give the Bears a hometown discount, but it wouldn't be a shock if Chicago prefers to get younger and more athletic at the postion.

Coach Marc Trestman said the evaluation of free agent Brian Urlacher remains an "ongoing process." The Bears have refused to publicly tip their hand on plans for their starting middle linebacker of the last 13 seasons. It's not a great sign for Urlacher, who badly wants to stay in Chicago and has stated he'd be willing to give a hometown discount.

The Bears remain noncommittal on free agent Brian Urlacher's future. Per NFL.com's Ian Rapoport, Urlacher wants "very badly" to stay in Chicago, but is "essentially waiting on the Bears to decide whether they want him back." Coach Marc Trestman has passed up multiple opportunities to publicly assure Urlacher will be back for a 14th season in the Windy City. Urlacher is on the record as being amenable to a "hometown discount." Going on 35, Urlacher is a diminished player, but we'd still expect him back with the only team he's ever known.

When asked about Brian Urlacher's future with the team, new head coach Marc Trestman was complementary but noncommittal. "I've watched the man play for a lot of years. He exemplifies what being a Chicago Bear is all about, and we all know that," Trestman said. "When I step out of this room, we'll begin to study, and I'll talk to Phil [Emery] about where personnel fits on this football team and how it works." Emery added, "The things that are very difficult to replace for Brian, if we were ever to move in a different direction, is the leadership that he has and the knowledge base that he has with our system." Free agency begins March 12, and Urlacher told ESPN Chicago he's hopeful he'll remain a Bear.

Free agent Brian Urlacher says he'd be open to taking a hometown discount to remain in Chicago. "Chicago is my home," Urlacher said in a Tuesday radio interview. "When you look at my age and everything, it's going to be hard to not give them a discount. I'm not going to make what I was making in the past, how about that? Does that make sense? That's fair." However, Urlacher has yet to speak with new coach Marc Trestman, and said "either way I'll be good." Although he's lost a step (or three), it's hard to envision Urlacher wearing a different uniform next season.