URLACHER ON HIS CRITICS: ‘THEY DON’T KNOW FOOTBALL’

Chicago Bears middle linebacker Brian Urlacher unleashed a personal blitz package after being knocked by critics who questioned whether his game is slipping, lashing out after the Bears didn’t make the playoffs and he was only voted as a third Pro Bowl alternate for the NFC squad. “I’m tired of criticism that is unwarranted,” Urlacher told the Chicago Tribune. “People who say stuff about me, they don’t know our defense. They don’t know football. Yes, I wish I would have made a lot more big plays. Obviously, everyone could say that on our defense. I wish I was around the ball more, but I wasn’t. Just the way things worked out this season.” Urlacher didn’t lead the Bears in tackles this season, finishing third on the defense with 107 stops after recording 171 in 2005 when he was named the NFL Defensive Player of the Year. Urlacher sounds genuinely miffed about regularly taking flack for defensive breakdowns, playing the sarcasm card to the hilt. “Yeah, that was my fault,” Urlacher said regarding a 47-yard run by Texans rookie Steve Slaton in a regular-season finale on which a playoff appearance was hinging. “Every long touchdown we gave up this season, it was my fault. Every time a receiver caught a pass for a touchdown, it was my fault too. In Atlanta, when the guy caught that pass that allowed them to kick the field goal, that was my fault.” Although Bears general manager Jerry Angelo was generally upbeat in his comments about Urlacher, a six-time Pro Bowl selection, coach Lovie Smith was more guarded and probably realistic in his take. “Brian, at times, played well this past year,” Smith said. “And other times, he needed to pick up a little bit.” Based on Urlacher’s lucrative contract and perennial high expectations, he’ll need to reclaim his old form next year.