Bears MLB Brian Urlacher hints he might test free agency next offseason. Urlacher is currently set to make $7.5 million in the final season of the five-year, $40.6 million deal he signed in 2008. He believes the Bears are going to wait until after the season to open up talks. "It's kind of exciting," Urlacher said Friday. "I've never been a free agent." Urlacher's comments came on the same day he celebrated his 35th birthday. It's highly unlikely he'll be more valuable to a team other than the Bears next offseason.

Bears MLB Brian Urlacher (MCL, PCL) says he's "100 percent on track for training camp." Urlacher did allow that he's "highly unlikely" to get in much work before camp, however. He is not participating in Bears OTAs. The lack of offseason work should be a non-issue for the 12-year veteran.

Although Brian Urlacher said Tuesday that his severely sprained knee (MCL, PCL) feels "good," he hinted that he won't be back to full health until training camp. "I still have four months [until training camp]. I'm definitely not in a big hurry," said Urlacher. "I've done everything to this point I've been asked to do. I'm sure when the time's right, I'll be ready to play. I have six months before the season starts to get ready."

Veteran MLB Brian Urlacher has "no doubt in [his] mind" that he will finish his career with the Bears. Urlacher is scheduled to earn $7.5 million in the final year of a five-year, $40.6 million contract he signed in July 2008. Turning 34 in May, Urlacher has no plans to retire any time soon. Although the Bears may balk at paying a premium for a player who is no longer ascending, the two sides will likely meet in the middle on a new contract.

Bears MLB Brian Urlacher said in a Tuesday radio interview that he still isn't completely healthy following his Week 17 knee injury last season.

Coach Lovie Smith confirmed that MLB Brian Urlacher (torn MCL, PCL) is completely healthy. Urlacher suffered the injury in the season finale when he landed awkwardly in the end zone. Smith expects him to be a full participant in offseason workouts.

Bears MLB Brian Urlacher's torn left MCL and PCL will keep him out of the Pro Bowl on Sunday. Urlacher's rehab is on track, but he still can't play golf, much less a football game. He did acknowledge, however, that he would have taken an injection of the suddenly controversial pain-killer Toradol and tried to play had the Bears qualified for the Super Bowl.

The Chicago Tribune suggests that the Bears will approach contract-year MLB Brian Urlacher about a short-term extension this offseason. It may be in part due to Urlacher's 2012 cap number; he's owed $8 million, including a $500,000 workout bonus. The Bears could lessen the number by spreading out his initial signing bonus over two or three more years. Urlacher will turn 34 in May and is coming off MCL and PCL tears in his left knee. His 102 tackles in 2011 ranked second on the team behind WLB Lance Briggs' 105.

Bears MLB Brian Urlacher (torn MCL and PCL) says "the word" is he won't need surgery. That's typical of Urlacher's injury, but the Bears had him undergo an MRI just to be sure. Even though he's avoided going under-the-knife, Urlacher is still facing roughly 10 weeks of rehab, putting him in danger of missing some OTAs. Four months shy of his 34th birthday, Urlacher graded out as one of the best inside linebackers in football by Pro Football Focus this season.

ESPN's Adam Schefter reports that the Bears fear MLB Brian Urlacher tore his left MCL and PCL in Sunday's Week 17 win over Minnesota. MCL and PCL tears don't typically require surgery, although the Bears will give Urlacher an MRI to make sure. The good news is he appears to have avoided an ACL tear. Urlacher is going on age 34, so any knee injury is still concerning. He's likely headed for multiple months of rehab, at the very least.