Nov 4, 2012; Nashville, TN, USA; Chicago Bears linebacker Brian Urlacher (54) pursues a Tennessee Titans ball carrier during the second half at LP Field. The Bears beat the Titans 51-20. Mandatory credit: Don McPeak-US Presswire
That sound you hear right now? That’s not Bill Bojangles Robinson or Gregory Hines. It’s Leslie Frazier tap dancing around questions about Brian Urlacher. Frazier learned all his moves from the tap dance master, Rick Spielman.
How did this all get started? On Tuesday the Chicago Sun-Times reported that free agent Urlacher was getting interest from a couple of teams including the Vikings. They said Urlacher was leaning toward signing with the Vikings.
This got back to Winter Park and the tap dancing commenced. The team said it was not considering Urlacher at MLB but instead preferred to look at in-house solutions. Leslie Frazier reiterated this position in a Wednesday appearance on NFL Network. Frazier said:
"Brian has been a great player in our league for a long, long time. 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 and see where it takes us."
The key words there of course are “at this point.” This is Spielman tap dance move #1. Always leave the door open for something to happen later so you don’t look like a complete liar. Spielman demonstrated his mastery of this key fudge move during the Percy Harvin speculation. We all became familiar with the phrase “no intent to trade Percy Harvin at this time.” And of course what happened later? They traded Percy Harvin.
So right now the Vikings have no intent to sign Brian Urlacher. Their intent is to give Erin Henderson a crack at the MLB position. And if Henderson can’t get it done and no one else on the roster looks fitted to the task? Then the Vikings’ intent will likely change. And Brian Urlacher will likely be suiting up for Minnesota.
Like The Viking Age on Facebook.
Follow TVA on Twitter.
Get the all-new FanSided iPhone app.
Subsribe to the Fansided Daily Newsletter. Sports news all up in your inbox.