I don't know where you come from, but where I come from, people who blow off work because they feel they are underpaid get fired.  Except of course if you are an athlete.  And an all-pro.  And one of the best at what you do.

Bears middle linebacker Brian Urlacher will most likely skip both voluntary workouts and organized team activities (OTAs) because he is unhappy with his contract. 

This goes back to what happens when athletes are offered and agree to long term deals.  They get locked in to a salary that's fair market value at the time they sign it and when several other teams overpay similar players, the athlete (most likely encouraged by his management team) want to re-negotiate.  I'm sure Urlacher's representatives believe their client should be paid top dollar.  While I agree that may be the case, he is under contract through 2011.  Given the state of his back, which really hindered him last year, is an extension past that point a worthwhile investment.

This puts the Bears in a very bad position.  Urlacher is clearly the face of the franchise and the most popular player on the team.  To not honor him with an extension is surely to make fans angry.  The reality is, the team has negotiated with Urlacher in good faith and Urlacher needs to return some of that good faith by showing up at workouts. 

Never mind Urlacher agreed to a long term deal with the Bears a couple of years ago. 

Given the fact the Bears were pathetic last year, it makes Urlacher look that much worse by not showing up and getting ready for the season.  Favre or no Favre, Green Bay is still a pretty good team and the Minnesota Vikings will improve.  At this point, the Bears are the third best team in the NFC North and will rely heavily on their defense to win games in 2009.  That means, Urlacher needs to be ready.  Sitting on your ranch in New Mexico instead of working out with your team does not make you ready.

While the workouts are voluntary, they do build camaraderie among teammates.  It would be nice if Urlacher, who is looked at as a leader on the team, could lead by example.  I guess, in a way he is.  Unfortunately, it's the wrong example.