To understand why an accomplished warrior such as Brian Urlacher would be so insulted by the way the Chicago Bears' front office approached his unrestricted free agency this month — and why I guarantee he'll channel every ounce of competitive energy he has into seeking redemption — it's instructive to flash back to a Ronnie Lott shower-power escapade, also known as the San Francisco 49ers' Coliseum Comeuppance.

Shortly after the two-time defending Super Bowl champion Niners suffered a painful home defeat to the New York Giants in the 1990 NFC championship game, the San Francisco front office had made some tough decisions, exposing the future Hall of Fame safety and star running back Roger Craig to something called Plan B free agency.

Brian Urlacher hits Garrett Graham of the Texans. (Getty)Essentially, the Niners were summoning their inner Michael Jackson and telling both veterans to beat it. Both did, signing with the Los Angeles Raiders. Then, in late September, Lott and Craig beat their former team, with the Raiders grinding

Read More »from Insulted Brian Urlacher was given no choice but to part ways with Bears

PHOENIX – Here at the NFL's annual meeting, fierce competitors hug it out hospitably, coalescing on the plush grounds of the Arizona Biltmore with relaxed smiles and no trace of a game face.

Given all the breezy goodwill being exchanged by owners, general managers, coaches and significant others in the Valley of the Sun, I kind of feel like lollipops will soon be falling from the cloudless sky while harp-strumming angels time their melody to mimic the burble of the majestic fountain in the hotel courtyard. 

Brett Favre's post-career antics haven't made a reunion with the Packers easy. (Yahoo)Now Brett Favre and the Packers just need to reconcile, and all will be well in the NFL world.

On Monday, Packers president Mark Murphy suggested that the team could soon welcome back their estranged quarterback to Lambeau Field to have his number retired, a ceremony that would go a long way toward healing perhaps the most tumultuous divorce in the history of the storied franchise.

I don't know if Murphy and the team's other powers that be will actually invite

Read More »from For sake of fans, Packers brass should take high road and welcome back estranged QB Brett Favre

PHOENIX – When it comes to being a sheriff – or, at least, playing one on TV – Roger Goodell has few peers in professional sports.

The NFL commissioner was firmly in his element Monday at the NFL annual meeting at the Arizona Biltmore, surrounded by owners who revere him for his authoritative stewardship of their multi-billion dollar operation. He is far less popular among players, many of whom have criticized him for his autocratic leadership style.

There are times, however, when Goodell's 'Get with the program or get run over' sensibilities can be something around which the entire NFL community can rally. And as fate would have it, he was presented Monday with one of those golden opportunities, as if he were a cleanup hitter and Bud Selig's face was tattooed on a hanging curve ball.

Essentially, the Baltimore Orioles and Major League Baseball are standing in the way of the NFL's plans to hold its Thursday night season opener at M&T Bank Stadium, home of the defending

Read More »from Time for Roger Goodell to flex muscle, put MLB in its place over Baltimore scheduling snafu

During his seven-year NFL career, Elvis Dumervil has established himself as one of the NFL's most potent edge rushers.

If only he'd had some cutting-edge technology at his disposal Friday, he'd still be a member of the Denver Broncos, who released him in an NFL fiasco for the (dark) ages.

After the defensive end agreed to a pay cut that would have kept him with the team for the 2013 season, Dumervil's agent, Marty Magid, reportedly had 35 minutes to make it official. With Dumervil's previous salary of $12 million due to become guaranteed at 2 p.m. MT, the Broncos needed a signed copy of the revised contract.

Elvis Dumervil has spent his whole career with the Broncos. (USA TODAY Sports)Unfortunately for the team — and, especially, for Dumervil — all parties concerned were relying on the technological equivalent of the goal post in the middle of the end zone.

Yes, in an era in which scanners, electronic signatures and instant Internet transmission are prevalent and readily available, a dreaded fax machine seems to have derailed what had

Read More »from What the fax? Elvis Dumervil contract fiasco could shift balance of power in AFC

Well, so much for charity.

Last month, when Tom Brady agreed to a three-year, $27-million contract extension that dropped his future salaries well below market value, I wondered whether the New England Patriots would honor their end of the bargain by spending that savings on assembling and retaining a strong supporting cast.

On Wednesday, we got our first and most resounding answer: not so much. The news that Wes Welker signed a two-year, $12 million contract with the Denver Broncos ensured that Brady, according to someone close to the future Hall of Fame quarterback, "will feel like he's been pierced in the heart."

Tom Brady (R) talks to Wes Welker before the AFC title game. (AP)Other than that, I think Brady is pretty thrilled that his favorite target — and one of his closest friends — will now be catching passes from Peyton Manning, the only man who rivals him as the best player of the 21st century.

That the Patriots responded Wednesday evening by signing former St. Louis Rams receiver Danny Amendola to a reported five-year,

Read More »from Tom Brady should feel burned by Patriots passing on Wes Welker for Danny Amendola

Wes Welker runs past Ravens CB Corey Graham in the AFC title game. (USA TODAY Sports)The Denver Broncos have agreed to terms with wide receiver Wes Welker, according to Broncos vice president John Elway.

"Agreed to terms on a 2-yr deal with Wes Welker. Excited to have Wes join the Broncos. His production & toughness will be a great asset!," Elway tweeted.

Negotiations with the Broncos were first reported by ESPN.

Welker, who made $9.3 million last season under the franchise tag, reportedly was upset with the offer he received from the New England Patriots at the start of free agency. He now joins one of the Patriots' biggest rivals for AFC supremacy — and will catch passes from Peyton Manning rather than his good friend Tom Brady.

Brady, for whom Welker caught 118 passes last season, recently signed a contract extension designed to free up money for the Patriots to sign players under the salary cap. He will not likely be thrilled by the departure of Welker to play for the only other quarterback of this era who rivals his accomplishments.

More on Welker,

Read More »from John Elway: Wes Welker, Broncos agree to deal

Free-agent running back Mike Goodson Mike Goodson rushed for 221 yards on 35 carries for the Raiders last season. (Getty Images) will fly to Cincinnati Tuesday night and visit the Bengals' facility on Wednesday, according to a source familiar with the player's plans.

Goodson, a fifth-year veteran who spent the 2012 season with the Oakland Raiders, has attracted interest from several teams, including the New York Jets and Dallas Cowboys. The Bengals theoretically could take him off the market as early as Wednesday if he has a positive experience and if the organization can come up with a financial package to his liking.

Cincinnati is looking for a back to split the workload with incumbent starter BenJarvus Green-Ellis, who signed a three-year deal with the team as an unrestricted free agent last March. Green-Ellis, a sixth-year veteran, carried 278 times for 1,094 yards (3.9 average) and six touchdowns last season.

[Also: Bears' Brian Urlacher faces uncertain future]

While the 5-foot-11, 220-pound Green-Ellis is a grinder who lacks breakaway speed, the fleet-footed

Read More »from Mike Goodson to visit Cincinnati Bengals

As Brian Urlacher enters free agency on Tuesday, the veteran linebacker remains highly uncertain about his future plans. And if the Chicago Bears are planning to try to bring him back for a 14th season, they're doing a good job of keeping their intentions unknown.

Brian Urlacher tackles Texans RB Arian Foster last season. (AP)According to a source familiar with Urlacher's situation, there doesn't seem to be a prevailing sense of urgency coming from Halas Hall as the official start of the 2013 league year approaches Tuesday afternoon. Urlacher, 34, received interest from several teams during the 87-hour "legal tampering" period that preceded the start of free agency, though it's believed he prefers to remain with the franchise that drafted him ninth overall in 2000.

Urlacher, who made $8 million last season, would almost certainly have to take a pay cut to remain in Chicago. His agents reportedly submitted a contract offer to the Bears late last week, but there does not seem to have been any significant give-and-take since that time.

Read More »from Sources: Bears showing no urgency in regards to Brian Urlacher; Cowboys have mild interest