4 DOWNS WITH DITKA

1 How much will the Bears miss Brian Urlacher?

I think they’ll miss his leadership — what he’s meant to the city, the organization. As far as the way he played, they’ll miss him there, too. But they’re moving on. They made a change, and they want to go in a different direction. That’s just football. There’s not a lot of loyalty in sports, guys. Do I agree with it? No. I think I would have found a way to keep him. I think there is always a way. When a guy makes that contribution of 13 years to the same organization with the quality he has and has been an outstanding citizen and leader on and off the field, has represented the Bears tremendously, I think it could have been handled better.

Did Urlacher make a

2 mistake by not taking the offer?

No. He has to stick to his convictions. What he thinks he’s worth, he’s worth. To me, he felt it was an embarrassing offer, and that’s what he thinks. The only one who can control that is Brian. He’s the only one who knows what his value is right now.

3 Who’s the new face of the franchise?

It has to be Jay Cutler. I don’t think there is any question about that. He has to assume that role of leadership on the offense, and he has to get that team to rally around him.

4 Steve McMichael is running for mayor in Romeoville. What type of mayor do you think he’d make?

The best. What you see is what you get. You won’t get a phony. You won’t get a politician. You won’t get somebody who’s out for himself. You’ll get a guy who goes out and serves the people who elected him.