Watch CBS News

Trestman On Urlacher: 'He Could Play On 1st And 2nd Down For Us'

PHOENIX (CBS) The Bears are not hiding the fact that they want to bring middle linebacker Brian Urlacher back.

But the question is: for how much and in what capacity?

In an interview with 670 The Score's Laurence Holmes at the NFL owners meetings in Phoenix, new Bears head coach Marc Trestman wouldn't commit to Urlacher being an every-down linebacker anymore.

"We evaluated him and simply -- I'm not going to go through specifics -- we thought, without question, he could play on first and second down for us," Trestman told Holmes Wednesday.

Of course, that leaves out third and fourth down, so does Trestman think Urlacher provides enough value?

"Absolutely. We've established that," the first-year Bears head coach said. "We wouldn't be trying to get him back if we didn't think he could play for us. So that's what Phil (Emery) and Cliff (Stein) are trying to do and working out with Brian and the people who represent him."

Trestman also talked to Holmes about how he evaluates his players and raved about new tight end Martellus Bennett, saying: "He's an ascending 26-year-old tight end who has the upside to be able to do it all."

Listen to the entire interview here:

Marc Trestman

View CBS News In
CBS News App Open
Chrome Safari Continue
Be the first to know
Get browser notifications for breaking news, live events, and exclusive reporting.