Chicago Bears’ Brian Urlacher believes in coach Lovie Smith
With the Chicago Bears going to their second NFC Championship Game in five years, linebacker, Brian Urlacher, thinks that it’s about time that head coach, Lovie Smith, gets an extension on his contract.
"I believe he has done a great job here. He's the reason we've won", Urlacher said Wednesday on a radio show.
"I think he's been here seven years and this is our second NFC Championship [Game], and it hasn't been that way around here in a long time. There were a few years where we were 7-9, 8-8 and that was good. People were excited about that because it meant we
were getting better.
"Now if we're not in the playoffs or the NFC championship people are disappointed, and that's because of him. That's how he makes people believe around here, and that's what he expects out of us. I believe in him. I don't see why he wouldn't get an extension.
He's earned it, and I don't want to play for any other coach".
Very touching words, Brian, but Smith still has a year left on his four year contract for $22 million, which he signed after he led the team to the Super Bowl in February of 2007. He has a winning record over his seven years as head coach with 63 wins and
49 losses in the regular season along with three division titles.
There is only one obstacle between the Bears and the Super Bowl. Led by quarterback Aaron Rodgers, the Green Bay Packers are the team that the Bears have to beat to get to their second Super Bowl since 2006.
The Packers-Bears rivalry goes as far back as 1921 and the Bears currently have more wins out of the 180 games they’ve played against each other.
The Bears are classified as three point underdogs for Sunday’s game at Soldier Field and Urlacher isn’t too happy about the odds.
"You feel disrespected", Urlacher said. "I understand all the oddsmakers and all the experts know what they're talking about because Seattle could have never beaten New Orleans at home [in the wild-card round]. It's crazy. Why would anyone think that? So
they all know what they're talking about. We'll just go out and do the best we can and hopefully we come out on top".
The Bears had also been three point underdogs when they defeated the Packers on September 27 and were 11 point underdogs when they lost to the Packers in the last game of the season.
Urlacher also said that the team has utilized the “no respect” rallying cry all season to their advantage.
"You can only use it so many times", Urlacher said. "We've used it all year long because we've been underdogs all year long so I don't know how many times it's going to work. I think at this point in the season it's just whoever plays better is going to
win, which is the way with any Sunday.
"We've got to be prepared to play. The underdog role has worked for pretty good for us so far. I think we're underdogs again so we'll just go out there and do the best we can".
Urlacher has had 125 tackles, two forced fumbles, one interception, and four sacks this season.
In his 11 years of playing with the Bears, Urlacher has 1,183 tackles, ten forced fumbles, 18 interceptions, and 41.5 sacks. He has been selected to the Pro Bowl a total of seven times and was All-Pro four times.
The Bears NFC Championship Game against the rival Packers will take place on Sunday January 23 at 3:00 PM ET at Soldier Field.
Tags: