Urlacher: 'No doubt' he'll stay with Bears

NEW YORK, April 4 (UPI) -- Chicago Bears linebacker Brian Urlacher said there's "no doubt" in his mind he'll finish his NFL career as a Chicago Bear.

Urlacher's comment came as he's entering the final year of a five-year $40.6 million contract, and he'll be eligible to become an unrestricted free agent after next season.

"There's no doubt in my mind I'll finish my career with the Bears," Urlacher told the Chicago Sun-Times Tuesday. ''However that works out, it works out. I can't imagine playing anywhere else."

Urlacher, who was in New York as the Bears' representative when Nike unveiled uniforms under a five-year licensing deal with the NFL, said he has no plans to retire soon.

"The No. 1 thing is, I've got to keep playing well," said Urlacher, 33. "We'll see what happens. I don't want to go anywhere else."

He sprained the medial collateral ligament in his left knee in the final game last season, and the Sun-Times said he's still not 100 percent.

He said he expects to be ready for the Bears mini-camp in a few weeks.

"It's doing really good," he said of his knee. "I'm just doing what I'm told. When it's time to go, I'll be ready to go. There's no reason to rush it."

Urlacher, who the Bears selected ninth overall in the 2000 draft, has appeared in eight Pro Bowls and has been an All-Pro selection five times.