Brian Urlacher, Dick Butkus Scheduled To Attend Bears' Draft Party
(CBS) After having a fallout with the management of the Bears' previous regime, former star linebacker Brian Urlacher appears to be on much better terms with the organization's new leaders.
Urlacher is set to attend at an April 30 NFL Draft party of the Bears' as Chicago hosts the big event, the team announced Tuesday. Dick Butkus is also scheduled to be in attendance at the party, which is scheduled for 5 p.m.-10 p.m. at The Plaza at Park Grill, located on Michigan Avenue at the entrance of Millennium Park. A party will be held on May 1 from 5 p.m.-10 p.m. at the same location, with Mike Ditka set to attend.
In late January, Urlacher explained in an interview on 670 The Score that he highly respects new Bears coach John Fox, who indicated in his introductory press conference there would be an open-door policy for Urlacher if he wants to visit Halas Hall. Previously, Urlacher had a cold relationship with Marc Trestman and Phil Emery.
"What Foxy was saying was he wants me to feel comfortable back into the building again," Urlacher said. "That's the way I read it. I haven't talked to him. I've known him for 10, 12 years now. We've been around each other a bunch of times. But I think that's what he meant. People are like, 'You're going to come back and coach? You're going to come back and play?' I said, 'No one asked me or told me I was doing either of those things.' But I think that's what he meant (welcome back) when he said what he said in his interview.
"I just miss being around those guys every day."
The Bears' draft parties will include live draft coverage, analysis and the chance to win prizes.
General admission tickets are $45 and go on sale March 12 at 11 a.m. on chicagobears.com.
The draft runs from April 30-May 2 at Roosevelt University's Auditorium Theatre. The first round will be held April 30, with the second and third rounds held on May 1.
