Urlacher’s star reborn with network job

As much as he tries to brush it off, Brian Urlacher will miss the routine.

Every Sunday before home games, the former Bears linebacker woke up at 7:30 a.m. and devoured a couple of bowls of Frosted Flakes at the team hotel. He would arrive at Soldier Field around 9:45 a.m. as every player was required to be there two hours before kickoff.

“I tried to get there as late as I could without getting fined,” Urlacher said. “I never got fined for being late. Ever.”

Once at the stadium, Urlacher went through the same pregame ritual. He would blast country music through his headphones “because it was relaxing” and then prepare for his sweets fix: a couple of chocolate chip cookies that former Bears trainer Tim Bream usually would place in his locker.

“Why? Because I liked them,” Urlacher said. “Then I just tried to pass the time as fast as I could. It was so boring in the locker room. I’d just hang out at my locker, get in the hot tub, get my ankles taped, get dressed and go out.

“I’ll miss our stupid handshakes before the game.”

Urlacher will be all dressed up with somewhere to go today, but his playing field has changed significantly. Now, the competition consists of the likes of CBS, ESPN and the NFL Network.

Gradually, Urlacher has adjusted to his new occupation as an analyst for Fox Sports 1. He will be a part of the Fox NFL Kickoff crew.

“I wasn’t sure if I wanted to do TV because the media side gets a little tricky, but I wanted to try it out,” he said. “I’ve actually enjoyed myself a whole bunch.”

The reality of not battling alongside his teammates is sure to settle in when Urlacher catches clips of the Bears-Bengals matchup today. He will be on a golf course in California during the game.

Urlacher could have been a part of Coach Marc Trestman’s first game if he had taken the team’s one-year contract offer that included $1 million guaranteed. Instead, Urlacher decided to retire, unsure of what he would do in his spare time besides play golf.

Longtime friend and reporter Jay Glazer convinced him to join forces at Fox Sports 1.

“I thought Fox was a great fit, No. 1, especially with Jay being on the show,” Urlacher said. “Fox has done our games my entire career because we’re in the NFC. I know most of the crews that had worked there.”

Urlacher went through the interview process with a handful of networks. One outlet was turned off that he would be hesitant to be critical of close friend and former teammate Lance Briggs if circumstances called for it.

“First of all, I wouldn’t criticize Lance,” Urlacher said. “I would say he could do something better, but I’m not going to kill somebody like Lance. I’m not going to really kill anyone.

“I’m not going to be like Keyshawn [Johnson] or one of those guys who just kill people. I can say what I think, but I’m not just going to kill a guy for no reason.”

But Urlacher said if a guy like Bears quarterback Jay Cutler gives him a reason with a poor play on the field, he won’t hold back.

Urlacher already made some waves on Fox Football Daily after assessing Heisman Trophy winner Johnny Manziel’s actions in Texas A&M’s opener.

“I wasn’t calling him a punk, but I said that he was acting like a punk,” Urlacher said. “That’s why I’m on there: To give my opinion. I don’t feel like I’ve criticized any NFL player or anything like that. I even talk good about the Bears, still.”

Urlacher also made headlines when he said the Bears occasionally faked injuries on defense to slow down offenses. He disputed any notion that he broke a sacred code by sharing such information.

His new bosses simply want him to keep talking.

“The thing about Brian is he was obviously a superstar player and he’s incredibly well-respected,” said John Entz, executive producer at Fox Sports. “He has opinions. He has been willing to share those opinions. And when they come from someone who is as great a player as he was, they carry a lot of weight.”

Urlacher brings 10 of his own suits to the job as he goes back and forth from Chicago to Los Angeles and a personal stylist decides which one he wears on a particular day.

The hardest part of the job might be the tough critiques Urlacher endures on a daily basis. Plus, he’s his own worst critic.

“I always get, ‘You need to smile more,’ from my brother, kids, everybody,” Urlacher said. “Just because I’m not smiling doesn’t mean I’m not having fun. You know I mumble, so I’ve gotten that from them too.

“Early, I was a little nervous and shy. I want to cut people off when they talk. I think I’ve gotten better. The more I do this, the better I’ll get.”