12/21/24
January 06, 2006
Urlacher named AP Defensive Player of the Year: Well deserved, me thinks. He's been the cornerstone and leader of that defense since his rookie year, very intimidating. I sure wouldn't want to be hit by that behemoth.
He deserves it, he lead that great Bears' defense. Congrats
posted by zac4667 at 03:15 PM on January 06, 2006
Yup. 34 out of 50 Votes. Landslide.
posted by ProSam at 03:15 PM on January 06, 2006
He deserves it. Lovie should get coach of the year. Great year in Chicago!!
posted by vbgjr88 at 03:28 PM on January 06, 2006
I'm suprised he hasn't won this before. I know very little about football but from my understanding he's been considered a force on D for the past 3 or 4 years.
posted by HATER 187 at 03:29 PM on January 06, 2006
What about Vasher, sorry I am still on my UT buzz.
posted by Turbo at 03:35 PM on January 06, 2006
Its great that Urlacher won the award, now its just Lovie's turn to get that CoY award
posted by zenemi at 03:37 PM on January 06, 2006
I think he deserved it but I am a little surprised Steelers safety Troy Polamalu only got 3. Every game I watched the Steelers play this guy was involved. It is hard to get any votes though when Urlacher recieved 34 of the 50.
posted by skydivemom at 03:47 PM on January 06, 2006
No offense to TP but if he and Vashar are the only other two defensive players coming up in this conversation, it's obvious why Urlacker was the landslide victor. TP may win it next year. For your information Hater 187, he was too busy messing around with Paris Hilton to win it in the past. Women weaken legs.
posted by vbgjr88 at 03:52 PM on January 06, 2006
No offense to TP but if he and Vashar are the only other two defensive players coming up in this conversation, it's obvious why Urlacker was the landslide victor. TP may win it next year. For your information Hater 187, he was too busy messing around with Paris Hilton to win it in the past. Women weaken legs I don't know if it was Paris Hilton , weak legs or the multiple times he got burned in single coverage but, this isn't even close. It's Erlacher all the way. He made a great come back from falling into the overrated catagory for a few years. Too bad the Bears can't use him on offense.
posted by gronir_ hitrops at 04:09 PM on January 06, 2006
I don't think I would have picked Urlacher as DPOY. He is a high-profile defensive player because he has always been surrounded by so much hype. He had a great year and so did the rest of the Chicago defense. But, individual effort alone, I would have given it to Donnie Edwards or Trotter or Vilma.
posted by bperk at 04:17 PM on January 06, 2006
"overrated catagory for a few years."
He really only fell into the overrated category last year when that farce of a publication The Sporting News rated him the most overrated player...after he was injured for half the season.
Props to the Bears for having 4 players from the team garner votes. posted by redsnare at 04:22 PM on January 06, 2006
Vilma? Really? I mean, I like the guy a lot, but no Jet deserves any awards this year. Maybe a purple heart for Wayne Chrebet, but really, that's about it.
posted by chicobangs at 04:27 PM on January 06, 2006
I did say individual effort alone because the team was not good. They ended up ranked 12th in total defense with a strong passing defense and a pretty terrible run defense. Vilma had a nice year statistically.
posted by bperk at 04:45 PM on January 06, 2006
I think it is unfortunate that Urlacher got tagged with the "overrated" label so soon in his career. He's been surrounded by so much hype in Chicago because he really is that good. He has amazing speed for his size and a nose for the ball. As far as individual effort, he has lead the Bears in tackles for each of the past four seasons, I believe, and can run down nearly every RB in the league. He absolutely deserves this. Between Urlacher and Briggs, I don't believe there is a better pair of LBers in the league. On preview, I couldn't not agree more with snare. TSN sucks as a publication.
posted by willthrill72 at 04:50 PM on January 06, 2006
gronir_hitrops your idea is not that farfetched ! In his senior year @ University of New Mexico, Brian had 8 receptions... 7 for touchdowns . His speed and vertical leap are unmatched for a man his size... And he is a class act ... Well deserved, Brian !
posted by mjkredliner at 06:28 PM on January 06, 2006
THIS YEAR it is probably deserved but under Jauron his numbers were always inflated. They gave him 10 - 12 tackles a game when in real life he was getting 8 or 9. He really had to make some adjustments when he no longer had Washington and that other behemoth ( whatever the hell his name is) plugging the center but again, this year, I think he deserves it.
posted by boat4000 at 06:33 PM on January 06, 2006
The bears defense finished 12th because they pulled their starters in the last three games. brian won it because the defense played well together. the line made it possible for lach to make plays. there is noone in football he can't run down. just wait --- all 11 def players are signed for next year. could be a good thing for farve to retire.
posted by whodat at 07:36 PM on January 06, 2006
No doubt #54 was outstanding and this runaway vote is highly deserved. I know you guys think I'm a BEARS HOMER but dammit I AM!!!! I am way, way, way pleased! Bears gonna kick some butt all the way to Ford Field Detroit! OK, I got that out of my system. No one has mentioned Urlacher had zero interseptions and only 1 fumble recovery. Not that it matters, he was the most dynamic game changing Defensive Player this year period! By the way, that AP article in the link mistated his stats. He had 171 tackles not 121.
posted by skydivedad at 08:29 PM on January 06, 2006
Urlacher is one of the best in the business and anchors one the best defense in the NFL. Congrats Urlacher.
posted by mcstan13 at 08:49 PM on January 06, 2006
I've gotten the impression over the years that Brian Urlacher and Michael Vick are on a similar learning curve at their positions in the pro game. Urlacher played (primarily) OLB at New Mexico State, and there was concern his rookie season that he would flounder as the man in the middle. He didn't, but at the same time, he made a lot of mistakes and had to grow into the role as defensive leader. By all accounts, he's blossomed into one of the best 'backers in a league that's seen a lot of fine play from the position this year. Mike Vick is a year or two behind Urlacher in pro time, and is perhaps one season away from putting it all together and bombing the living daylights out of the rest of the NFL. Just for the sake of the league, I'd like to see him put together his game and really master his position as I feel Urlacher has. Oh, by the way, read this and tell me it isn't impressive as hell. Urlacher as a WR and a kick returner? Good God.
posted by The_Black_Hand at 10:22 PM on January 06, 2006
Urlacher is most deserving. He is better than Butkus or Singletary ever were.
posted by jrush at 10:25 PM on January 06, 2006
He is better than Butkus or Singletary ever were He's good. but you must have fell and hit your head on something hard. Better than D. Butkus? There are no words to describe how far off you are on this one. I would only assume that you're a new fan of football, or you're a teenager. Those would be the only 2 legitimate excuses for making a statement like that. Oh yea, maybe you're related to him. Ok, 3 reasons for making that statement. Imagine top college linebakers winning the "brian bosworth" i mean, the "brian urlacher" award.
posted by RZA at 01:52 AM on January 07, 2006
Urlacher is most deserving. He is better than Butkus or Singletary ever were. Riiiight. Definitly wrong on that one.
posted by Ying Yang Mafia at 07:06 AM on January 07, 2006
I'm just going to echo the last two comments. Urlacher needs to put up another . . . 5-8 seasons at this level to get into that conversation. Just because he wears the same uni doesn't put him in their class.
posted by yerfatma at 09:04 AM on January 07, 2006
and wat were those critics saying last year now he might have a chance to get on front cover of madden and than reinjure him resulting that jinx
posted by Barry-from-H-town at 11:30 PM on January 07, 2006
No brainer.