Goldmember Posted January 6, 2006 Share Posted January 6, 2006 Bears' Urlacher Takes Defensive Honors By BARRY WILNER, AP Football Writer Brian Urlacher, the latest leader of the Monsters of the Midway, won The Associated Press NFL Defensive Player of the Year award Friday. The Chicago Bears' star middle linebacker and the face of a ferocious defense that allowed the fewest points in the league this season, Urlacher adds the honor to his 2000 AP Defensive Rookie of the Year award. Chicago's turnaround from the bottom of the NFC North pack to 11-5 and division winner was paced by the defense, which yielded 202 points, 45 fewer than Indianapolis, the next-stingiest team. He had 121 tackles, six sacks and a fumble recovery, but stats don't define Urlacher. Full-field coverage, intimidating hits and big plays do. "People are realizing we have some good players here," Urlacher said. "Anytime you lose, nothing really matters except winning. ... People realize that when you win, you obviously have some good players on your team." Chicago has enough of them on defense to draw votes for four. Urlacher's 34 votes from a nationwide panel of 50 sports writers and broadcasters who cover the NFL gave him a runaway victory. Teammates Alex Brown at end, Lance Briggs at outside linebacker, and Nathan Vasher at cornerback each received one vote. "Best player on the best defense. He should be the defensive MVP," Pro Bowl safety Mike Brown said. "He makes a lot of impact plays, but just him being on the field, teams have to scheme against us. They have to do different things to stay away from him. He's the leader of our team." Second to Urlacher was Colts DE Dwight Freeney with four votes. Also receiving votes were Steelers safety Troy Polamalu (3), Cardinals safety Adrian Wilson (2), Giants end Osi Umenyiora (2), Broncos cornerback Champ Bailey (1) and Jaguars tackle Marcus Stroud (1). But Urlacher was unchallenged. "He's the best linebacker in the league," said Briggs, who plays next to Urlacher and had a breakout season himself. "He's making it happen all day, every day." Added DE Adewale Ogunleye: "I don't think anyone in the league deserves that award more than him. "He's busted his tail inside and out. Everybody's saying he's overhyped and overrated. He really did everything he had to do to be a leader." Chicago's defense had to be overwhelming for the Bears to become winners. The offense has been mediocre at best, inept at times. So it was left to Urlacher and crew to carry the team. They did, allowing fewer than 14 points 10 times. At home, the Bears went 7-1 and yielded a mere 61 points in those games. Only Cincinnati, which beat the Bears 24-7 in Game 3, scored more than nine points at Soldier Field. And guess where the Bears play their first playoff game next week. "He runs all over the field," Briggs said. "He chases down guys like Michael Vick. He creates havoc." The only other Bear to win the award was another great middle linebacker, Mike Singletary, in 1985 and '88. Urlacher is the fifth player to win a top defensive rookie award and also the AP Defensive Player of the Year. Pittsburgh's Joe Greene was rookie of the year in 1969 and defensive player in '74. The Steelers Jack Lambert did it in 1974 and '76. Lawrence Taylor had the rarest double, winning both honors in 1981. He also was the top defensive player in 1982 and '86 for the Giants. San Francisco's Dana Stubblefield was top rookie in 1993 and No. 1 defensive player in '97. Last year's winner was Baltimore safety Ed Reed. linky Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
maggsmaggs Posted January 6, 2006 Share Posted January 6, 2006 Glad he won the award. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
nitetrain8601 Posted January 6, 2006 Share Posted January 6, 2006 *Yawn* He's no Zach Thomas. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Pierzynski 12 Posted January 6, 2006 Share Posted January 6, 2006 *Yawn* He's no Zach Thomas. <{POST_SNAPBACK}> I hope you're joking. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
nitetrain8601 Posted January 6, 2006 Share Posted January 6, 2006 QUOTE(Pierzynski 12 @ Jan 6, 2006 -> 01:48 PM) I hope you're joking. I was. I meant to say Lavar Arrington. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Pierzynski 12 Posted January 6, 2006 Share Posted January 6, 2006 I was. I meant to say Lavar Arrington. <{POST_SNAPBACK}> Alright cool. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Felix Posted January 6, 2006 Share Posted January 6, 2006 Urlacher definitely deserved it Congrats to him Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JoeBatterz Posted January 6, 2006 Share Posted January 6, 2006 Congrats to #54!! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dam8610 Posted January 6, 2006 Share Posted January 6, 2006 Freeney deserves it WAY more! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RME JICO Posted January 6, 2006 Share Posted January 6, 2006 Some vindication after the MVP snub. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CanOfCorn Posted January 6, 2006 Share Posted January 6, 2006 QUOTE(nitetrain8601 @ Jan 6, 2006 -> 02:50 PM) I was. I meant to say Lavar Arrington. I think you meant Trev Alberts. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chi Town Sox Posted January 6, 2006 Share Posted January 6, 2006 Defensive MVP and 34 out of 50 votes http://sports.yahoo.com/nfl/news;_ylt=Aij0...ov=ap&type=lgns Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chi Town Sox Posted January 6, 2006 Share Posted January 6, 2006 my fault didnt see the other one Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kyyle23 Posted January 6, 2006 Share Posted January 6, 2006 But I thought Urlacher was the most overrated player in the league? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jordan4life_2007 Posted January 6, 2006 Share Posted January 6, 2006 QUOTE(kyyle23 @ Jan 6, 2006 -> 03:18 PM) But I thought Urlacher was the most overrated player in the league? http://www.sportingnews.com/exclusives/200...3/586318-p.html Here's the article written by that clown in 04. It's even more pathetic when you read it now than it was at the time. This is how you answer idiots like this. Way to go, Brian! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
WHarris1 Posted January 6, 2006 Share Posted January 6, 2006 BRIAN! :headbang Overrated? Kiss my ass says Urlacher Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SoxFan1 Posted January 6, 2006 Share Posted January 6, 2006 Whoot whoot! He definitely deserved it. The leader and anchor of the best D in the league. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Punch and Judy Garland Posted January 6, 2006 Share Posted January 6, 2006 I would have gone with my boy Champ because he was the best player on a better team but Urlacher did clearly have an outstanding season Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AirScott Posted January 6, 2006 Share Posted January 6, 2006 QUOTE(Punch and Judy Garland @ Jan 6, 2006 -> 06:20 PM) I would have gone with my boy Champ because he was the best player on a better team but Urlacher did clearly have an outstanding season I don't see any bias there... it's a clear choice, Urlacher was the best/most important player on a team that would be 1-15 without this defense. well-deserved. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Punch and Judy Garland Posted January 6, 2006 Share Posted January 6, 2006 QUOTE(AirScott @ Jan 6, 2006 -> 05:28 PM) I don't see any bias there... it's a clear choice, Urlacher was the best/most important player on a team that would be 1-15 without this defense. well-deserved. Obviously I do have a bias there and pretty much indicated as much but I really do believe that from watching all of the Broncos games this year, and all of the Bears games. I was throwing in my 2 cents without taking anything away from Urlacher. I do admit that I was overly critical of Brian last year Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rangercal Posted January 6, 2006 Share Posted January 6, 2006 Congrats 'lacher! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MurcieOne Posted January 7, 2006 Share Posted January 7, 2006 Dennis Dillion always sucked fat cock.... but now he eats crow and sucks fat cock.... Im so happy for numba fiddy foe Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kyyle23 Posted January 7, 2006 Share Posted January 7, 2006 (edited) QUOTE(Jordan4life_2006 @ Jan 6, 2006 -> 04:25 PM) http://www.sportingnews.com/exclusives/200...3/586318-p.html Here's the article written by that clown in 04. It's even more pathetic when you read it now than it was at the time. This is how you answer idiots like this. Way to go, Brian! He blew that article UP. He needs to be shielded by defensive tackles who can keep offensive linemen off him. Yeah, thats all the Bears do in their scheme, they hide him in the back of the huge fat lineman. What is that you say? Traylor and Washington left and took their buffet tables? Who is the fatman in their place? The lineman weigh WHAT?!! They rarely rush more than 4 lineman? What is this insanity? He takes himself out of too many plays. On running plays, Urlacher has trouble stacking and shedding offensive linemen, so he often tries to go around the blocks. That creates a hole for the runner, who waits for Urlacher to commit himself and then goes the other way. 170 tackles in 2005. So what you are saying is that he should have made way more than 170 tackles? The Sporting News polled eight NFL scouts (one from each division) and two TV analysts, and asked them to select an entire team of overrated players. Urlacher received five votes at linebacker and three first-place votes as the most overrated player overall....This raised skepticism on our part, too, so we solicited opinions from a dozen more NFL scouts. Among that group, four agree the Bears' middle linebacker is overrated, and five say he isn't. Of the remaining three, one says his staff would have regarded Urlacher as overrated before watching tape of his outstanding performance in Week 13 against the Vikings; one says he is a good player, "but I don't think he's among the elite," and the third straddles the fence, adding, "I remember Urlacher making plays where I said, 'Holy smoke!' " Strange how these NFL scouts never give their name when they are talking about a player.... Edited January 7, 2006 by kyyle23 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Heads22 Posted January 7, 2006 Share Posted January 7, 2006 QUOTE(kyyle23 @ Jan 6, 2006 -> 06:58 PM) He blew that article UP. Yeah, thats all the Bears do in their scheme, they hide him in the back of the huge fat lineman. What is that you say? Traylor and Washington left and took their buffet tables? Who is the fatman in their place? The lineman weigh WHAT?!! They rarely rush more than 4 lineman? What is this insanity? 170 tackles in 2005. So what you are saying is that he should have made way more than 170 tackles? Strange how these NFL scouts never give their name when they are talking about a player.... Or 121 tackles, good for 14th. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
WHarris1 Posted January 7, 2006 Share Posted January 7, 2006 QUOTE(Heads22 @ Jan 6, 2006 -> 07:16 PM) Or 121 tackles, good for 14th. Tackle stats are different everywhere you look Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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