Urlacher hopes to continue playing

Brian Urlacher isn't going back to the Chicago Bears. That's all but certain. The veteran linebacker still wants to play next year, but at this point he doesn't know where.

Urlacher's anger at the Bears over his inability to work out a new contract had subsided some by Friday. Suddenly, the 34-year-old is facing uncertainty about his career direction after 13 stable years in Chicago.

"I'm ... excited," he said on the Dan Patrick Show. "I get a chance to look around and see what's out there, if there's anything out there at all. I don't know; maybe nobody wants me, Who knows? We're going to find out, I know what much."

The Bears wanted Urlacher to accept a one-year, $2 million deal for 2013. He rejected it. Whether or not he can command that type of money on the free-agent market is open to question as his storied career winds down.

"All these teams that we've talked to, they thought, 'The (Bears) aren't going to let him go," Urlacher told Patrick. "He's not leaving. Why waste our time with this?' And it's clear now that's not the case."

Among the teams mentioned as possible destinations are Minnesota, Dallas and Arizona.

"I'm an old fart, so I want to go in there and win," Urlacher said.