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Of all people, an NFL linebacker teaches us the wisdom of Shakespeare 

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Today, eight-time Pro Bowler linebacker and 2005 NFL Defensive Player of the Year Brian Urlacher announced he is retiring from football after 13 stellar NFL seasons.

Urlacher, 34, played his entire career with the Bears after they made him a first-round pick in 2000 out of New Mexico. “Although I could continue playing, I’m not sure I would bring a level of performance or passion that’s up to my standards,” he said in a statement. “When considering this, along with the fact that I could retire after a 13-year career wearing only one jersey, for such a storied franchise, my decision became pretty clear.”I would like to thank all of the people in my life that have helped me along the way. I will miss my teammates, my coaches and the great Bears fans. I’m proud to say that I gave all of you everything I had every time I took the field. I will miss this great game, but I leave it with no regrets.”

Whether he realizes it or not, NFL linebacker Brian Urlacher buys into the philosophy of William Shakespeare (for those born after 1980 and not football fans, Urlacher is the bottom photo)

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Knowing when to go out on top has always proven to be difficult whether an entertainer, athlete or even a business executive. The most recent example of hanging on beyond one’s prime was NFL quarterback Bret Favre who all but made a sorry joke of himself for several seasons and a couple of different teams in the twilight of his career. But Urlacher saw the writing on the locker room wall, with the help of the Bears’ decision not to retain him and a relatively uninterested free agent market.

Mr. Urlacher, a colorful character but never considered one of the brainier players to walk the grid-iron let alone a philosopher-king, seems to understand Shakespeare’s wisdom in Julius Caesar:  “There’s a tide in the affairs of men.” Mr. Urlacher’s tides of performance have peaked and now he is in the ebbing of his career and he has decided to go out on top.

Who says defensive players are dumb?

-I.M. Windee

This entry was posted on Wednesday, May 22nd, 2013 at 12:23 pm and is filed under Ruminations. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.