Vikings aren’t pursuing former Bear LB Brian Urlacher, coach says

Former Chicago Bears linebacker Brian Urlacher is in search of a team. And the Minnesota Vikings are said to be in need of a starter at his position.

So, naturally, there has been plenty of speculation that Urlacher would end up wearing the purple and gold -- even though the Vikings are NFC North rivals of his former team.

On Tuesday the Chicago Sun-Times quoted a source close to Urlacher as saying that the eight-time Pro Bowler was “leaning toward heading to Minnesota and is talking a one to two year contract” with the Vikings.

But Coach Leslie Frazier said otherwise Wednesday on “NFL AM.”

“Brian has been a great player in our league for a long, long time,” Frazier said. “He was a thorn in our side for many years. At this point, we want to look at the guys on our roster, give them a chance to compete for the middle linebacker position, then we’ll see where it takes us.”

Sounds like Frazier may be keeping the door open to revisiting the possibility of adding Urlacher down the road -- if he remains a free agent long enough. But for now, the coach said, the team plans on giving Erin Henderson a shot at moving from the outside to the middle linebacker position.

So where does that leave Urlacher, who turned down a $1.6 million offer to re-sign with the Bears? The Sun-Times also mentioned that he has been talking to the Denver Broncos, although KCNC-TV is reporting that team sources say they have no interest in Urlacher.

Simple answer: Who knows?

ALSO:

Floyd Mayweather Jr. eclipses all other athletes in earnings

Top prep prospect Andrew Wiggins follows his heart to Kansas

Packers hope to have Brett Favre ‘back in the fold’ soon, CEO says