Hearing Brian Urlacher discuss the possibly of being a free agent after the 2012 season caught me a little off guard. Urlacher is enter...
Urlacher is entering the final year of his contract at the age of 34, and there would seem to be little doubt the Bears and Urlacher would like to figure out a way to keep him in a Bears uniform until he retires.
Like Ray Lewis in Baltimore, Urlacher is a symbol of what's right about the National Football League. Lewis, who is 37, is the leader of a Ravens defense that's been tough to beat since he was drafted. Urlacher is the leader of the Bears' Cover 2 defense, which has been to a Super Bowl and is annually in playoff contention.
Even though athletes take great care of their bodies, it's becoming increasingly harder for an NFL position player to stay in the game past the age of 35.
Since 2000, a position player -- excluding punters and kickers -- age 35 or older has started 10 or more games 216 times. A 35-year-old player started at least 10 games 100 times during that period, but the numbers drop off quite a bit the next two years: 53 at age 36, 27 at age 37 and 19 at age 38 and 17 total for anyone 39 and older.
Last year, there were only 14 players who were 35 or older who started 10 games or more, and four have either retired or haven't been signed to contracts. In fact, only 18 position players currently under contract are 35 or older.
If Urlacher's knee heals up and he has a good season, he's good enough to beat the odds and play past the age of 35. However, the idea of free agency can be a little scary. It's a young man's game.
No comments