Width	280px
Currentteam	Chicago Bears
Currentnumber	54
Currentposition	Middle Linebacker
Birth date	May 25, 1978
Birth place	Pasco, Washington
Heightft	6
Heightin	4
Weight	258
Debutyear	2000
Debutteam	Chicago Bears
Status	Active
Highlights	7× Pro Bowl selection (2000, 2001, 2002, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2010) 4× First Team All-Pro selection (2001, 2002, 2005, 2006) 1× Second Team All-Pro selection (2010) 2000 Male Athlete of the Year (UNM) 2000 NFL Defensive Rookie of the Year 2001 Football Digest Defensive POY 2005 AP NFL Defensive Player of the Year 4× Defensive Player-of-the-Week Special Teams Player of the Week NFC Player of the Month (Dec/Jan 2010/11) NFL Rookie Defensive Player of the Month (10/2000) Brian Piccolo Award (2007) NFL 2000s All-Decade Team Led the NFL in fumble return yards in 2001 Most tackles in a season (University of New Mexico) Chicago Bears season tackles record (153, 2002) Chicago Bears career tackles leader (1,192)
College	New Mexico
Draftyear	2000
Draftround	1
Draftpick	9
Pastteams	Chicago Bears (–present)
Statweek	17
Statseason	2010
Statlabel1	Tackles
Statvalue1	1,192
Statlabel2	Sacks
Statvalue2	41.5
Statlabel3	INTs
Statvalue3	18
Nfl	URL059326 }}

Brian Keith Urlacher () (born May 25, 1978) is an American football player for the Chicago Bears of the National Football League. He attended the University of New Mexico, where he was one of the school's most decorated athletes. In addition to setting multiple university records, Urlacher earned consideration for the Jim Thorpe Award and Heisman Trophy during his senior year. He started his professional career with Bears as the ninth overall selection in 2000 NFL Draft.

Urlacher has since established himself as one of the league's most productive defensive players. After winning the NFL Rookie of the Year Award in 2000, he has been elected to seven Pro Bowls, and won the NFL Defensive Player of the Year award in 2005. His playing style, accomplishments and reputation have made him one of the team's most popular players. Urlacher has also been spokesperson for several companies. Sega Sports selected Urlacher to appear on the cover of ''NFL 2K3'', while other companies, such as Nike, McDonald's, Old Spice, and Vitamin Water, have featured him in several television advertisements and promotions.

Early life

Brian Urlacher was born to Bradley and Lavoyda Urlacher in Pasco, Washington. After his parents separated, Lavoyda raised Urlacher and his siblings in Lovington, New Mexico. He spent his youth immersed in sports, and developed an interest in football, basketball, and later table tennis he graduated from Lovington High School in 1995. While his mother worked several jobs to keep her family afloat, Urlacher spent his teenage years playing sports for Lovington High School and training in weight rooms. The training helped Urlacher gain the speed, stamina, and strength he would need to solidify his football career.

As he progressed through high school, Urlacher gained experience in all three phases of football. He saw play time as a running back, wide receiver, return specialist, and defensive back. Urlacher led the Lovington High Wildcats to an undefeated 14–0 season, and a division 3-A state championship. He finished the season with twelve touchdown receptions, six touchdown returns, and two rushing touchdowns. He additionally merited state-recognized honors in football, as well as basketball. Lovington has since recognized Urlacher's accomplishments by retiring his high-school jersey number, and naming a holiday after him.

Collegiate career

Urlacher wished to attend Texas Tech University but the school did not offer him an athletic scholarship. The University of New Mexico and New Mexico State University were the only two Division I schools that offered Urlacher scholarships. He enrolled into the University of New Mexico, and chose to major in Criminology. The New Mexico Lobos' head coach, Dennis Franchione, converted Urlacher to linebacker, but often left him on the sidelines in favor of more experienced players. The team finished with winning records during Urlacher's first two years and even made a trip to the 1997 Insight.com Bowl. The team's success prompted Franchione to leave New Mexico in favor of Texas Christian University. His departure prompted the school to hire Rocky Long, a former head coach at UCLA.

Despite the change, Urlacher flourished under Long's tenure. Urlacher not only received more playing time, but also played a more versatile role on both offense and defense. Long converted Urlacher into a "Lobo-Back", a cross between a linebacker and free safety, and placed him in a 3-3-5 defense scheme. He spent significant time training with the team's defensive coordinator, Bronco Mendenhall, who helped Urlacher refine his skills as a defensive back. Long also used Urlacher as a return specialist and wide receiver throughout his final two years with the Lobos. Despite Long's extensive changes to the team's roster, formations, and work ethic, the Lobos' performance declined. However, Urlacher became one of the team's most productive players during this time. He finished his career with 442 tackles, three interceptions, 11 sacks and 11 forced fumbles. Outside of defense, he caught six touchdown passes, and returned five kicks for touchdowns.

After the 1999 season, he was one of the finalists for the Jim Thorpe Award, and finished twelfth on Heisman Trophy ballot. Urlacher received All-American honors from Walter Camp, Football Writers Association of America, and the Associated Press. He played his final collegiate game at the 2000 Senior Bowl, where he was one of the game's top players. Urlacher led the nation with 178 tackles during his junior year, and also set a school record for most tackles in a single season. He finished with the third most career tackles in the University of New Mexico's history. The school has honored Urlacher on several occasions. They awarded him with the Male Athlete of the Year Award in 2000, and held a special halftime ceremony to honor his success in 2006. Urlacher was also the first person to be inducted into the University of New Mexico's Football Wall of Fame.

Professional career

2000–2004

Urlacher was considered to be one of the most talented collegiate prospects headed into the 2000 NFL Draft. He impressed spectators and analysts at the NFL Combine by bench pressing 225 pounds twenty-seven times, and completing the forty-yard dash in 4.57 seconds. The Chicago Bears, who were in need of a defensive playmaker, selected Urlacher in the first round, as the draft's ninth overall pick. He signed a five-year contract, which was worth nearly eight million dollars with a five and a half million dollar signing bonus, within two months of the draft. Dick Jauron, who was then the Bears' head coach, recognized Urlacher's versatility as a middle and outside linebacker, and appointed him as the team's starting strongside linebacker. However, Urlacher struggled to perform consistently in his first professional game, and lost his starting position to Rosevelt Colvin. Jauron left Urlacher on the sidelines during the following week, as the Tampa Bay Buccaneers shut out the Bears, 41–0.

He managed to regain a starting spot on the Bears' roster, after Barry Minter, the team's veteran middle linebacker, was forced to miss the Week 3 game on account of an injury. Urlacher excelled at the middle linebacker position, and recorded 46 tackles, six sacks, and one interception in his next five starts. Not even a rib cage injury hindered his performance during this period, as Urlacher went on to win the league's Rookie Defensive Player of the Month in October. He led the Bears with 124 tackles and eight sacks, both of which surpassed the franchise's previous rookie records. Although the Bears finished with a disappointing 5–11 record, Urlacher received a number of individual accolades for his performance during the season. Many news organizations, such as the Associated Press and ''The Sporting News'' named him as the 2000 Defensive Rookie of the Year. Football fans across the nation also voted Urlacher to play at the 2001 Pro Bowl as an alternate middle linebacker. Urlacher's successful rookie campaign served as the foundation for his professional career and reputation.

Urlacher further distinguished himself as one of the Bears' most productive playmakers during the 2001 season. He had one of the best games of his career on October 7, against the Atlanta Falcons. Urlacher held Falcons quarterback Michael Vick, who was well-known for his scrambling abilities, to 18 rushing yards, and recorded a forced fumble and sack. He also returned one of Vick's fumbles for a 90-yard touchdown. Two weeks later, Urlacher helped set up a Bears comeback victory against the San Francisco 49ers by intercepting a pass, and later setting up a game winning touchdown return for Mike Brown, after causing 49ers wide receiver Terrell Owens to lose control of a pass. He also caught a touchdown pass from punter Brad Maynard off a fake field goal attempt against the Washington Redskins in Week 14, which clinched a first-round bye. Urlacher concluded the season with three interceptions, six sacks, and was a candidate for 2001 NFL Defensive Player of the Year Award. ''Football Digest'' named Urlacher their publication's defensive player of the year. The 2001 Chicago Bears won 13 games, marking the team's best finish since 1986, but lost to the Philadelphia Eagles in the NFC Divisional Playoffs.

Unfortunately, the Bears’ 2001 winning season would be followed by three years of mediocrity. Before the 2004 NFL season, the Bears’ organization fired coach Dick Jauron and then hired Lovie Smith. After starting the season on the lower rungs of the NFC North, Urlacher suffered several injuries that sidelined him for a majority of the season.

2005–present

In 2005, Urlacher won the NFL Defensive Player of the Year after playing for a defensive team that allowed the fewest points per game, and created the most turnovers in the National Football Conference. Urlacher himself recorded at least 10 tackles in six consecutive games, while finishing the season with a team high 121 tackles. He was also credited as one of the team's leaders, whose audibles and experience helped develop several younger teammates. Urlacher led the Bears to an 11–5 record, marking their best finish since 2001. Urlacher played his second career playoff game against the Carolina Panthers during the on January 15, 2006. He recorded seven tackles and one interception in a 29–21 loss. Urlacher was also selected to the 2006 Pro Bowl, but declined the position on account of an injury.

The team continued their resurgence into the 2006 season, finishing with a record of 13–3. During the season, Urlacher had one of the best performances of his professional career against the Arizona Cardinals. He helped the Bears overcome a 20-point deficit by recording 11 tackles and a forced fumble that was returned for a touchdown.

The Bears were unable to replicate their success in the 2007 season, and finished last in the NFC North. In the middle of the season, Urlacher admitted that he had been suffering from an arthritic back, but later claimed the ailment was not serious. Nevertheless, he finished the season on a high note, registering five interceptions, five sacks, one fumble recovery, 123 tackles, and a defensive touchdown. Following the season's conclusion, Urlacher received minor neck surgery to treat his arthritic back. During the offseason, Urlacher revised his contract with the Bears, who granted him a $6-million signing bonus with a $1-million increase in salary each of the next four years.

Urlacher dislocated his wrist in the 2009 season opener against the Packers. He underwent surgery, and went on to miss the remainder of the season. Urlacher had severely damaged a bone in his wrist that was adjacent to a major nerve. Urlacher was forced to wear a cast on his wrist for 12 weeks and spend a month in therapy to recover from the injury. The Bears began to struggle on offense and defense. As frustration built, Urlacher criticized the Bears offense, stating that the addition of quarterback Jay Cutler had changed the team's identity. The Bears, who have historically employed a strong running game, were beginning to rely more on the pass on offense." During the 2010 offseason, Bears general manager Jerry Angelo bolstered the team's defense by signing free agent Julius Peppers.

With Peppers' help, Urlacher and the Bears improved to an 11–5 record in the 2010 NFL season, winning the NFC North and earning a first-round bye for the 2011 Playoffs. After leading the NFC in tackles (49) during the period, Urlacher was recognized as the NFC Defensive Player of the Month during December/January. It was the first time winning the award in his career. Urlacher was also voted to his seventh Pro Bowl for his stellar defensive efforts during the year.

Reputation

Following his successful rookie season, Urlacher was able to gain popularity with the fans. Undoubtedly, he is still one of the most popular current Chicago Bears players. On a national level, Urlacher's jersey sales have rivaled those of other NFL players, such as Brett Favre and Michael Vick. Football fans across the nation have also voted Urlacher into seven Pro Bowls. Urlacher's teammates and coaches have also praised his character and athletic ability. In 2007, former teammate Tank Johnson called upon Urlacher to testify during one of his court hearings.

Some critics, however, consider Urlacher overrated. Even after winning the NFL Defensive Player of the Year Award for the 2005 season, a 2006 ''Sports Illustrated'' poll of 361 NFL players named Urlacher the second most overrated player in the league behind Terrell Owens. Urlacher was unfazed by the poll's results. During an interview, he said, "Just watch the film. I don’t know what people are saying, but I’m not too worried about it anymore. All I can do is go out there and play hard and try and help my team win, and that's what I’m going to keep doing."

NFL career statistics

	Chicago Bears franchise record

Career statistics			Tackles			Sacks		Interceptions			Other
!Season	!Team	!Games	!Solo	!Ast	!Total	!Sack	!YdsL	!Int	!Yds	!IntTD	!DefTD	!FFum	!PD	!Safety
		16	101	24	125	8.0	49	2	19	0	0	0	5	0
		16	91	27	118	6.0	37	3	60	0	1	2	8	0
		16	117	36		4.5	34	1	0	0	0	2	7	0
		16	87	29	116	2.5	15	0	0	0	0	0	4	0
		9	54	18	72	5.5	19	1	42	0	0	2	7	0
		16	98	24	122	6.0	44	0	0	0	0	1	5	0
		16	93	49	142	0.0	0	3	38	0	0	1	9	0
		16	93	30	123	5.0	36	5	101	1	1	0	12	0
		16	79	14	93	0.0	0	2	11	0	0	0	10	0
		1	3	0	3	0.0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0
		16	96	29	125	4.0	19	1	0	0	0	2	10	0
	153	912	280		41.5	252	18	271	1	2	10	77	0

Source, ''Retrieved on December 30, 2010''

Personal life

Urlacher has two daughters, Pamela and Riley, with ex-wife Laurie Urlacher and a son, Kennedy, with Tyna Robertson. Urlacher currently lives with his daughters and has visitation rights with his son. His younger brother, Casey, lived with him before beginning a career in the Arena Football League. In 2002, he appeared on ''Wheel of Fortune'', and won over $47,000 for charity. Furthermore, Urlacher has been involved with charity work since his days at the University of New Mexico, where he volunteered numerous hours for the Special Olympics and Ronald McDonald House.

In June 2005, Urlacher filed suit to establish paternity of his son Kennedy. Genetic testing was completed and proved that he is Kennedy's father. Kennedy's mother, Tyna Robertson was already well-known to the media, having made claims of sexual assault against famed dancer Michael Flatley and a doctor from Naperville, Illinois. In October 2006, Robertson refused to drive Kennedy to Urlacher's house in Lake Bluff, Illinois and he took her to court to resolve the dispute. Ultimately, the judge decided it would be best for both Kennedy and his parents if they met at a halfway point between their residences for exchanges. However, custody issues remain ongoing; in November 2008, Robertson filed a court motion accusing Urlacher of confusing Kennedy's gender identity by painting his toenails and putting him in girls' pink pull-up diapers.

Urlacher is also a successful businessman. He is the owner of an auto dealership in New Mexico, and has appeared in several commercials for McDonald's, Domino's Pizza, Comcast, Nike, Campbell's Chunky soup, Old Spice, and Glacéau. He also shared the spotlight with Peyton Manning in a MasterCard commercial at a spa. Nike also aired special commercials about Urlacher's high school career containing clips and commentary of plays he made. However, Urlacher later stated that he feels "uncomfortable" appearing in commercials. He was also the cover athlete and spokesperson for Sega Sports' ''NFL 2K3''. During media day before Super Bowl XLI Urlacher wore a hat promoting Glacéau vitamin water, a non-NFL approved sponsor, for which he was fined US$100,000.

Outside football, Urlacher is a die-hard Chicago Cubs fan, and was once invited to sing ''Take Me Out to the Ball Game'' during the Seventh-inning stretch, as part of the organization's tradition. He also enjoys watching professional wrestling, and wrestled in a pay-per-view event for the NWA-TNA promotion. The Bears organization discovered this and forced him to stop. He also enjoys golfing in his spare time, and during an episode of ''AT&T;'s Home Turf'', Urlacher revealed a room in his mansion containing a plethora of golf paraphernalia. When home, Urlacher revealed that he also enjoys watching the Discovery Channel, National Geographic, and HBO's ''Entourage''. Urlacher enjoys listening to a wide variety of music, including hip hop, rap, rock, and country music.

References

External links

Official Website

Official Chicago Bears Profile

Official NFL Statistics

Urlacher's car dealership

Category:1978 births Category:American football middle linebackers Category:Chicago Bears players Category:American people of German descent Category:Living people Category:National Conference Pro Bowl players Category:New Mexico Lobos football players Category:University of New Mexico alumni Category:National Football League Defensive Rookie of the Year Award winners Category:People from Franklin County, Washington Category:People from Lea County, New Mexico Category:Players of American football from Washington (state) Category:Players of American football from New Mexico

da:Brian Urlacher de:Brian Urlacher es:Brian Urlacher fr:Brian Urlacher hr:Brian Urlacher it:Brian Urlacher ja:ブライアン・アーラッカー pl:Brian Urlacher fi:Brian Urlacher

"The Man" is a slang phrase that may refer to the government or to some other authority in a position of power. In addition to this derogatory connotation, it may also serve as a term of respect and praise. Also, " The Man is coming" is a term used to frighten small children who are misbehaving.

The phrase "the Man is keeping me down" is commonly used to describe oppression. The phrase "stick it to the Man" encourages resistance to authority, and essentially means "fight back" or "resist", either openly or via sabotage.

History

The term "the Man" in the American sense dates back to the late 19th Century. In the Southern U.S. states, the phrase came to be applied to any man or any group in a position of authority, or to authority in the abstract. From about the 1950s the phrase was also an underworld code word for police, the warden of a prison or other law enforcement or penal authorities.

It was also used as a term for a drug dealer in the 1950s and 1960s and can be seen in such media as Curtis Mayfield's "No Thing On Me", William Burroughs's novel ''Naked Lunch'', and in the Velvet Underground song "I'm Waiting for the Man", in which Lou Reed sings about going to Uptown Manhattan, specifically Lexington Avenue and 125th Street, to buy heroin.

The use of this term was expanded to counterculture groups and their battles against authority, such as the Yippies, which, according to a May 19, 1969 article in ''U.S. News and World Report'', had the "avowed aim ... to destroy 'The Man', their term for the present system of government". The term eventually found its way into humorous usage, such as in a December 1979 motorcycle ad from the magazine ''Easyriders'' which featured the tagline, "California residents: Add 6% sales tax for The Man."

In present day, the phrase has been popularized in commercials and cinema.

Use as praise

The term has also been used as an approbation or form of praise. This may refer to the recipient's status as the leader or authority within a particular context, or it might be assumed to be a shortened form of a phrase like "He is the man (who is in charge)." One example of this usage dates to 1879 when Otto von Bismarck commented, referring to Benjamin Disraeli's pre-eminent position at the Congress of Berlin, "The old Jew, he is the man."

In more modern usage, it can be a superlative compliment ("you da man!") indicating that the subject is currently standing out amongst his peers even though they have no special designation or rank, such as a basketball player who is performing better than the other players on the court. It can also be used as a genuine compliment with an implied, slightly exaggerated or sarcastic tone, usually indicating that the person has indeed impressed the speaker but by doing something relatively trivial.

See also

Absentee landlord

Big Brother (''Nineteen Eighty-Four'')

New World Order (conspiracy theory)

Ruling class

The Establishment

Power elite

Corrections officer

YTMND

Notes

References

Lighter, J.E. (Ed.). (1997). ''Random House Dictionary of American Slang''. New York: Random House.

Category:Slang expressions Category:Stock characters Category:English idioms Category:Pejorative terms for people Category:Military-industrial complex

Name	Matt Forté
Width	300
Currentteam	Chicago Bears
Currentnumber	22
Currentposition	Running Back
|birth date	December 10, 1985
Birth place	Lake Charles, Louisiana
Heightft	6
Heightin	2
Weight	218
Debutyear	2008
Debutteam	Chicago Bears
College	Tulane
Draftyear	2008
Draftround	2
Draftpick	44
Pastteams	Chicago Bears (–present)
Status	Active
Highlights	College awards and honors 2008 Diet Pepsi NFL Rookie of the Week (Week 12) 2010 NFC Offensive Player Of The Week (Week 1)
Statweek	17
Statseason	2010
Statlabel1	Rushing yards
Statvalue1	3,236
Statlabel2	Rushing average
Statvalue2	4.0
Statlabel3	Rushing TDs
Statvalue3	18
Statlabel4	Receptions
Statvalue4	171
Statlabel5	Reception Yards
Statvalue5	1,495
Statlabel6	Reception TDs
Statvalue6	7
Nfl	FOR645404 }}

Matthew Garrett Forté (born December 10, 1985 in Lake Charles, Louisiana) is an American football running back for the Chicago Bears of the National Football League. He was drafted by the Bears in the second round of the 2008 NFL Draft. He played college football at Tulane.

Early years

Forté attended Slidell High School in Slidell, Louisiana and was an honor student and a letterman in football and track. In football, he was a two-time All-District and All-Parish selection, and as a senior, he was also named the team's Most Valuable Player, won All-Metro honors, was named the District 5-5A Offensive M.V.P., was named the Saint Tammany Parish Player of the Year, and garnered second team All-State honors. Matthew Garrett Forté graduated from Slidell High School in 2004.

College career

Forté played NCAA Division I college football at Tulane University in New Orleans, Louisiana, a member of Conference USA. Forté lettered for four years and played for 3 while pursuing a degree in finance. His junior year was cut short when he suffered an injury in the game against Marshall University. His standout season was his senior year, coming off a knee injury, Forté set several Tulane school records, including rushing for 2,127 yards and 23 touchdowns. He had five 200+ yard rushing games and two 300+ yard games during the 2007 season. Forté was the only non-BCS athlete to be a semifinalist for both the Maxwell and Doak Walker Awards and to make the Walter Camp Player of the Year List, and one of just 3 players nationally to be named to all three lists.He also was an All American and went to south carolina

Senior Bowl

Forté garnered the most buzz at the 2008 Senior Bowl in Mobile, Alabama, and walked away with the Overall MVP award. He led with 59 yards rushing on 8 carries; 4 receptions for 38 yards and a tackle on special teams.

Awards and honors

Conference USA All-Freshman (2004)

2× All-Conference USA (2005, 2007)

Third-team AP All-American (2007)

Doak Walker Award semifinalist (2007)

Maxwell Award semifinalist (2007)

Senior Bowl MVP (2008)

Professional career

2008

!Wt	40-yard dash>40yd	20 yard shuttle>20ss			Vertical jump>Vert	Bench press>BP

(''All results are from the 2008 NFL Combine'')

The Chicago Bears drafted Forté in the second round of the 2008 NFL Draft as the forty-fourth overall selection. He was originally drafted to compete with Cedric Benson and Adrian Peterson for the team's starting running back position. However, Benson was released from the Bears after struggling with legal issues, leaving Forté to compete with Peterson and second-year running back Garrett Wolfe. Forté made his regular season debut on September 7, 2008, against the Indianapolis Colts. He carried the ball 23 times for 123 yards (setting a franchise record for most yards gained in a running back debut) and scored his first career touchdown on a then-career long 50 yard run en route to a 29-13 victory over the Colts. His efforts earned him Sunday Night Football’s “Horse Trailer Player of the Game” award.

Forté became the first Chicago Bears running back to rush for over 1,000 yards in his rookie season since Anthony Thomas rushed for 1,183 yards in 2001. He would finish with 1,238 yards rushing on the year as well as finishing with 1,715 yards from scrimmage (Rushing and Receiving). This was good enough for third in the entire league and it broke Hall of Famer Gale Sayer's former team record of 1,374 in 1965. Forté led all rookie running backs in total yards and receptions. He received one vote for the National Football League Rookie of the Year Award, finishing behind Ryan Clady, Chris Johnson, and Matt Ryan.

2009

Forté recorded 271 yards over the first four games of the 2009 season.

2010

In 2010, Matt Forté has split carries with running back Chester Taylor. In a preseason game against the Oakland Raiders, Forté ran for an 89-yard touchdown, which would have been the longest run in Bears history if it had occurred during a regular season game. In Week 1 of the 2010 season, Matt Forté had two receiving touchdowns, one of 89 and one of 28, the latter of which was the game-winner. Forté was named NFC offensive player of the week for Week 1. In Week 5 against the Carolina Panthers, Forté had touchdown runs of 18 and 68 yards, the latter a career long, on the way to 166 total rushing yards on the day. Forté was named FedEx Ground Player of the Week for this week.

In Week 11, during the season's first Thursday Night Football game, playing on the road against the Miami Dolphins, Forté rushed for 97 yards on 25 carries and scored the game's only touchdown on a 2-yard run in the 4th quarter as the Bears shutout the Dolphins, 16-0.

Personal life

Forté earned a degree in Finance from Tulane University in May 2009. In his spare time, Forté enjoys playing video games, especially ''Call of Duty 4: Modern Warfare'' and ''Halo 3'' for the Xbox 360. Forté was also the runner up in the 2008 Rookie Madden Bowl, finishing second to Devin Thomas. Forté followed his father who played for the Green Wave at Tulane University in the 1970s.

References

External links

Official Website

Chicago Bears bio

Tulane Green Wave bio

Category:1985 births Category:Living people Category:People from Lake Charles, Louisiana Category:African American players of American football Category:American Christians Category:American football running backs Category:Tulane Green Wave football players Category:Chicago Bears players Category:Players of American football from Louisiana

de:Matt Forté fr:Matt Forté it:Matt Forté

Name	Olin Kreutz
Width	280px
Currentteam	New Orleans Saints
Currentnumber	50
Position	Center
Birth date	June 09, 1977
Birth place	Honolulu, Hawaii
Heightft	6
Heightin	2
Weight	292
College	Washington
Draftyear	1998
Draftround	3
Draftpick	64
Debutyear	1998
Debutteam	Chicago Bears
Pastteams	Chicago Bears (–) New Orleans Saints (–present)
Status	Active
Highlights	6× Pro Bowl selection (2001, 2002, 2003, 2004, 2005, 2006) 4× All-Pro selection (2001, 2004, 2005, 2006) NFL 2000s All-Decade Team Morris Trophy (1997) Hawaii All-State SuperPrep All-America All-Pac-10
Statweek	17
Statseason	2010
Statlabel1	Games played
Statvalue1	191
Statlabel2	Games started
Statvalue2	183
Nfl	KRE755975 }}

Olin George Kreutz (; born June 9, 1977) is an American football center for the New Orleans Saints of the National Football League. He was drafted by the Chicago Bears in the third round of the 1998 NFL Draft. He played college football for Washington.

Early years

Kreutz is the youngest of four sons born to Henry Kreutz, Jr., of Aina Haina. He attended football powerhouse Saint Louis School in Honolulu, Hawaii where he lettered in football under coach Cal Lee. He also excelled in wrestling and track and field. He received All-State and SuperPrep All-America honors while serving as football team captain during his senior year, and would additionally go on to win the Hawaii State Wrestling Heavyweight Championship.

College career

After graduating, Kreutz attended the University of Washington, where he played football under the coaching of Jim Lambright. Olin earned Pac-10 honors during his junior year, after which he elected to turn pro.

Professional career

Chicago Bears

The Chicago Bears drafted Kreutz in the third round of the 1998 NFL Draft. Over his twelve year career, Kreutz has been selected to six Pro Bowls, and was one of the team's most consistent offensive linemen. In an incident eerily reminiscent of his college days, Kreutz drew controversy during the 2005 NFL season after breaking the jaw of fellow offensive lineman Fred Miller during an off-practice outing. The NFL fined both players $50,000. On October 2006, Kreutz was signed to a three year contract extension through the 2010 season. In 2007, Kreutz was appointed as one of the team's captains.

In 2011, Kreutz chose to end his career with the Chicago Bears after turning down an offer of $4 million for one year. Kreutz was the longest tenured Bears members at the time he left the organization.

New Orleans Saints

On August 5, 2011, Kreutz signed with the New Orleans Saints for a one year $2 million contract with an additional $2 million in incentives.

Personal life

Kreutz spends the off season with his wife and high school sweetheart, Wendi, and children Joshua, James, Grace and Hannah.

References

Category:Living people Category:1977 births Category:People from Honolulu, Hawaii Category:American football centers Category:Sportspeople from Hawaii Category:Washington Huskies football players Category:Chicago Bears players Category:New Orleans Saints players Category:National Conference Pro Bowl players Category:Hawaiian players of American football Category:American people of German descent

de:Olin Kreutz

name	Craig Wilson
birth place	Medina, NY
occupation	columnist
nationality	American
relatives	June Wilson mother
website	http://www.usatoday.com }}

Craig Wilson is a columnist for USA Today. He has been a feature writer at the newspaper for over two decades. He has written his ''The Final Word'' column each Wednesday since 2000. He is also the author of ''It's the Little Things: An Appreciation of Life's Simple Pleasures'' (Random House, ISBN 0375758968).

He was an AFS exchange student to Great Britain in 1966.

External links

Final Word

Final Word archive

transcript of chat with Wilson

References

Category:American columnists Category:Living people