I'll update this post when the full podcast becomes available. But the most interesting part of linebacker Brian Urlacher's appearance Tuesday on ESPN 1000 was his admission that he still has not fully recovered from a knee injury he suffered almost three months ago in the Chicago Bears' 2011 season finale against the Minnesota Vikings.
*UPDATE: Here's a link to the podcast.
Urlacher said "there are some things I still can't do," including play golf, but said he has rehabilitated at a purposefully slow rate given the long offseason. He expects to participate in the Bears' offseason program and "do everything with the team," but you wonder how much on-field work will be necessary for a player who will turn 34 in May.
"I haven't pushed it," Urlacher said. "I've done what I've been told to do. I've kind of laid off of it. There's no reason to rush it right now. It was a pretty good injury. I'm just trying to relax a little bit longer, and when it's time to finally get going, I'll be ready go."
Sources initially told ESPN's Adam Schefter that Urlacher likely tore both the MCL and PCL in the knee. Urlacher said Tuesday that it was a "nasty" injury and that both ligaments were "damaged."
I wouldn't be too alarmed. Of course, we'll never know how much time Urlacher would have missed if the injury had occurred early in the season. But from the start, the only question was whether he would be ready for the 2012 season. By all accounts, he will.