Urlacher has always been a force in the middle. And, his knowledge of the NFC North could have aided the Steelers this season. Credit: Rob Grabowski-USA TODAY Sports

It’s not everyday that a player announces his retirement through Twitter, but that’s just exactly what former Chicago Bears ILB Brian Urlacher did on Wednesday morning.  In a photo he posted in the ol’ tweet tweet, Urlacher says that he thought long and hard this spring about whether to return and play for another team once he was released by the Bears this offseason.

When considering [my level of performance], along with the fact that I could retire after a 13 year career wearing only one jersey for such a storied franchise, my decision became pretty clear…. I’m proud to say that I gave all of you everything I had every time I took the field.  I will miss the great game, but I leave it with no regrets.

Those are just some of the things Urlacher had to say in the photo announcement.  Classy words from a classy human being and world class athlete.

Urlacher would have been 35 years old going into his 14th season in the league.  He is just about as tough as they come, and he played with a level of intensity and skill that oozed Steeler defense (my apologies to Bears fans).  After he was initially released by the Bears, I thought to myself, ‘Hey, wouldn’t it be great if the Steelers could eek out a one or two year contract with Urlacher to help stave the bleeding in the linebacker core?’  Of course, Urlacher would have been off the charts expensive, and I’m sure he would have been highly hesitant to join a franchise that at the moment is in a slight rebuilding phase (my apologies to Kevin Colbert).  He had options, but I guess none made him salivate enough that he could taste the elusive Lombardi Trophy that he never obtained while being a Bear.

But, can you imagine having #54 line up on the inside next to Lawrence Timmons (my apologies to Larry Foote)?  It would have been an adjustment for Urlacher, having played in a 4-3 scheme his whole career.  However, he is a true ‘insider’ in the sense that he knew how to cover the middle of the field and take on tight ends and slot receivers.  He knew how to play a zone blitz and confused the hell out of quarterbacks as to whether he was in coverage, in spy mode, or on a delayed blitz.  His numbers were never splashy in the amount of sacks he  racked up per season, but you could guarantee that Urlacher was in or near the pile of tacklers every single down the ball was near the line of scrimmage.

Even at age 35 and two years the senior of Foote, Urlacher would have been a force for the Steelers.  He would fit nicely on the strong side ‘Buck’ position next to Timmons.  Despite his age, Urlacher still has all the intangibles to make an impact on defense – more than what Foote would or even could.  Urlacher’s tenacity to get to the football, 1,229 tackles over 182 games, and more than double the amount of sacks than Foote would (as strangely as it sounds) have been a great band-aid for the defense in 2013.  When Sean Spence was drafted last season, he was clearly the replacement for Foote (or Farrior).  But, his severe knee injury in his rookie year has delayed that transition, and will not likely take place until 2014 (if ever at all).  Until Spence is healthy or until the Steelers gain another option at ILB in the draft, Foote is a liability for the defense – especially in coverage situations.  I’d also like to mention that the Steelers face the NFC North this season – not only would Urlacher’s familiarity with all of those offenses been helpful for at least this season, I’m also sure he wouldn’t mind getting to knock around Adrian Peterson one more time before hanging it up.  You can be sure AP will light up the Steelers current squad.

Well it’s fun to fantasize and dream about ‘what could have been.’  Urlacher has had one hell of a ride despite not ever getting to lay hands on a Lombardi.  I tip my hat to #54, and I hope he is starting the write his HOF acceptance speech.  I’m sure the clock for that has already begun.

You wouldn't know it, but Troy Polamalu at this very moment is sustaining a concussion from the onslaught of the media. Credit: Charles LeClaire-US PRESSWIRE

Steelers Safety and resident Captain Insano, Troy Polamalu, stated today on the Dan Patrick Show that he has hidden concussions in the past.  Those ‘lies’ helped keep him on the field for the rest of the game in order to finish out with his ‘brothers.’  It’s not a new revelation – Brian Urlacher admitted to it back in February – but as Polamalu steps forward, it makes me wonder how many other football players sneak a concussion or two past the on field docs during a game.

I’ve played my fair share of sports growing up, and with that has come a fair share of getting my clock cleaned from time to time.  I’ve ‘seen stars’ or had my vision become slightly out of focus – for even just mere seconds.  Were they concussions?  I have no idea.  Being a product of the 80′s and 90′s, high school sports lacked the thoroughness that it has today in enforcing strict safety in sports.  I’ve played through every one of those moments (probably half a dozen) and was never officially diagnosed with a concussion by doctors.  But that doesn’t take away the strong chance that I indeed suffered one.  And that knowledge is the Holy Grail in the NFL.

In the case of Polamalu, Troy admits that he’s played through potential head injuries as well as other kinds of injuries.  He equates it to a knee injury where you just play through something like that because you don’t want to let your team, your brothers, down.  Polamalu smears the line of what a concussion is and what a hard hit that just leaves you woozy.  And should he really feel qualified to do that?

‘When you get your bell rung they consider that a concussion — I wouldn’t … If that is considered a concussion, I’d say any football player at least records 50 to 100 concussions a year.’

I’m not saying that he’s belittling what the function of team doctors are.  But he is certainly downplaying the notion that just because you feel a bit woozy after sustaining a hard hit (or in his case launching yourself at the ball carrier) doesn’t mean you have a concussion.  And, if that feeling does indeed mean you sustained one, then it’s happening practically all the time.  A little bit of a dramatic reach if you ask me.  But it does point the spotlight on one thing – accountability.

If a player lies or hides his condition after sustaining a heavy blow to the head (assuming that they have the ability to do so) and returns quickly to the field, then does that make the NFL liable for any head injury ever sustained?  Sure, the current lawsuit involving 2,400 retired players is mainly focused on the fact that the NFL has potentially hid the fact that they knew the long term affects of head injuries.  But, with guys like Urlacher and Polamalu admitting to going out on the field anyways – does that hurt the current case or subsequent cases against the NFL?  Couldn’t an argument be made by the NFL that even if they had the policies in place then that they do now, players would find ways (like lying) to circumvent the system?  Doesn’t that make the case null and void?

Polamalu’s statements are a bit disturbing.  I applaud him for his fortitude and perseverance during a football game – playing through injury in order to support your team and do anything you can to win the game.  That takes guts.  But admitting that you’ve purposefully hid head injuries won’t help you win Johnny Role Model Of The Year.  I think it sets a bad example to young athletes in whatever sport that it’s ok to hide something like that…. or at least attempt to.  Head injuries are a serious deal in the NFL and in sports.  Playing through injuries like an ankle or knee is one thing.  You can live without your foot or leg.  But your brain is a precious thing.  To go mad is a terrible thing. Ask Junior Seau.

I think I would have been better off having not known the truth behind what Polamalu does when he gets his bell rung.  The question now is – will team doctors be more strict with him knowing that he hides concussions?  Also, what will be the fallout from statements like these?  Will the retired players have a more difficult time seeking reparations against the NFL in their lawsuit?  What about future lawsuits?

I’m not sure why Polamalu decided to ‘come clean’ now.  But this type of head game may certainly have a far greater impact than he could have imagined by just speaking his mind on the Dan Patrick Show.

I began this week by posting a Playboy Playmate wearing Steeler-inspired bodypaint. Since this site has a number of female readers, I feel it’s only fair to finish the week with something for them. Therefore, enjoy these GQ style photos of Chicago Bears quarterback Jay Cutler.

Da Bears, of course, are this week’s opponent of your Super Bowl champion Pittsburgh Steelers. In order to better know our enemy, I reached out to Mike at Bear Goggles On to answer some questions about the modern day Monsters of the Midway.

When the Bears acquired Captain Crybaby Pouty McPouterson Droopy McGee Jay Cutler from Denver, I’m sure you were excited.  How you feelin’ after watching him toss 4 picks in the Bears loss on Sunday night?

Of course it was frustrating to see the centerpiece of the Bears’ offseason fall on his face in the season opener, but we’ve suffered with the likes of Rex Grossman and the clown car of quarterbacks for over 20 years. Jay is going to be fine if he can come to terms with the weapons (or lack thereof) that he has and tries not to fix 20+ years of quarterbacking ineptitude with each pass.

The Bears have lost Brian Urlacher to a season ending wrist
injury.  I don’t mean to rub salt in the wound but we have our own problems with Troy Polamalu.  Anyway, how’s losing him going to affect your defense?

Losing Urlacher certainly hurts, especially with the defensive scheme the Bears run. In the Cover-2 or Tampa-2 as it’s know, the middle linebacker has responsibility for the deep middle of the field in passing situations.

Urlacher’s replacement, Hunter Hillenmeyer, is a nice player, but he doesn’t have the speed to cover that area. It will be a challenge for Lovie Smith to put schemes and personnel groups together to make up for that loss.

I expect the Steelers to challenge the Bears with post routes in that deep middle, especially off play-action.

Who wins in a foot race, Devin Hester or a puma?  Do any of your
other receivers have a chance or are they Meow Mix?

I’ve got Hester by a nose. Speaking of speedy receivers, look out for rookie Johnny Knox. The kid is a burner who has shown flashes in the preseason and had a nice 68 yard catch in Week 1.

Lovie Smith has been your head coach since 2004.  The team made it all the way to Super Bowl XLI while under his leadership.  Right place/right time or is he that good?

I think Lovie is on the Hot Seat this season, injuries or not. If the Bears miss the playoffs again, it will be the third year in a row. That’s not good enough. Lovie added a little pressure to himself by adding the defensive playcalling to his game day duties, so if the defense is messed up, it’s on him. I think it’s playoffs or bust for Lovie.

Speaking of head coaches, the Chicago sports fan became famous
thanks to those old Saturday Night Live skits where they coined the phrase, “Da Bears.”  Is Mike Ditka still a legend to Chicagoans?

Ditka has become a caricature of himself, like on his bottle of Kick Ass Red. All he is around Chicago today is the Next Great American pitchman to hock anything from Salsa to cigars. It goes to show that winning a championship in Chicago is like winning the lottery or getting a lifetime pension.

Final Score?!?

My prediction for Sunday – Bears 23 –Steelers 19. Why? Because I can’t face the harsh reality of an 0-2 start to the season.

REALLY?!  You think they’ll score 23 points on the Steelers defense??!?  WTF?!?

Err, sorry, got carried away with the bold-facing there.  This is Chris, NPC has reverted back to my control (and regular style type).  Well, there you have it.  A view from the eyes of the enemy.  Hopefully this Sunday, the only sight the Steelers will be seeing is a view to a kill.