Much intrigue has surrounded Brian Urlacher and his left knee issues in the past few weeks. What kind of medical procedures did he undergo? Did he and the Chicago Bears know about this problem for a while and choose to cover it up? Why wasn't this injury addressed immediately after the 2011 season?

Although those are all interesting questions, the most relevant question is: What if this is a more serious injury than everybody thinks?

After all, Urlacher is a 34-year-old veteran linebacker who has absorbed a lot of hits in his storied career. When he broke his wrist in the first game of the 2009 season, the Bears' defense wasn't the same. And there doesn't seem to be any heir apparent at the position on the roster.