Blog Down, Chicago Bears

Judging by Steve Silverman’s online photo, you’d peg him to be a normal and rational everyday guy. He looks like he belongs to a country club, enjoys Steve Guttenberg films and like every other married man, secretly watches really dirty porn when his wife sleeps. But the NBCSports.com contributor is hiding an even dirtier secret: he’s out of his mind.

On Wednesday, Silverman suggested that the Bears trade Brian Urlacher in lieu of renegotiating his contract. Better yet, the “Three Men and a Baby” aficionado named the Denver Broncos as the team that could pull the trigger on a monster deal like that.

As Silverman suggests, RB Travis Henry, WR Brandon Stokely, LB Ian Gold and two draft picks – one a first-rounder if the Broncos were to make the playoffs – would be enough for the Bears to part ways with the colossal fan favorite; the latest successor in a line of great Bears middle linebackers.

Last season, battling an arthritic back, Urlacher managed to lead the team with 123 tackles. After his recent offseason minor neck surgery, he claims he’s A-OK. Then why trade him? Trade him because he’s unhappy with the 9-year, $57 million dollar deal he signed in 2003? No, sir, you find a way to get the extension done. He will, however, have to wait his turn. WR Devin Hester and DT Tommie Harris have priority over Urlacher so his threatened mini-camp absence is imminent.

If the Bears defense is going to return to top form in 2008, they’ll need Brian Urlacher to suit up and man the middle of the field. Nothing, not Urlacher’s whiny contract sobs nor Silverman’s affinity for dirty, dirty porn will get in the way of that.

Note: Obviously, I don’t really know Steve Silverman so any implication that he likes Steve Guttenberg or any of the films he’s been in is pure speculation. For that, I apologize.