Former Chicago Bears linebacker Brian Urlacher pointed the finger at his old team Tuesday, claiming they faked injuries in recent years to slow down the NFL's fast-paced offenses.
We pointed out Wednesday that, while the league forbids such tactics, the ploy itself is timeless. Bears tight end Martellus Bennett, who arrived in Chicago this offseason, says Urlacher isn't breaking any news.
"Every team does that," Bennett told reporters Wednesday, according to the Chicago Sun-Times. "Sometimes, it's just like when you're boxing. You get hit too many times, and you want to hold him up against the ropes. I think a lot of teams do that. You've got to do whatever it takes to win the game."
Urlacher specifically pointed to a Bears assistant who would pantomime a swimmer's diving motion from the sideline, triggering Chicago's "designated dive guy" to fake a malady.
Defensive tackle Stephen Paea said the Bears "never had a play like that."
If it did happen, it happened under former coach Lovie Smith, who is set to watch Bears games from his couch this autumn. Chicago's new coach, Marc Trestman, says phony injuries aren't part of his playbook.
"We don't do that," Trestman said. "That thought hasn't even crossed my mind."
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