Meet Urlacher's trusty sidekick - Rising Star: Rosevelt Colvin

LINEBACKER ROSEVELT COLVIN started his career in 1999 as an anonymous fourth-round pick of the Chicago Bears. The next season, he was overshadowed by rookie sensation Brian Urlacher.

This year, however, he's starting to make a name for himself as part of one of the NFL's best young linebacking crews.

The 6'3", 254-pound Colvin was a defensive end at Purdue. But he didn't have the size to be an effective down lineman in the NFL. As a rookie, he appeared in 11 games, mostly on special teams.

In 2000, the Bears drafted Urlacher with the intention of playing him at strong-side linebacker, which is where Colvin also had been placed. Colvin actually won the starting job for the first two games before suffering a sprained MCL He was replaced on the strong side by Sean Harris, while Urlacher was shifted to the middle. But when weak-side starter Warrick Holdman was lost for the season in November of 2000 with a torn MCL, Harris was moved to that spot and Colvin became the starter again on the strong side. And this year, a healthy Holdman returned to the weak side.

Alas, a fearsome linebacking trio was born.

Although Urlacher receives most of the national publicity, the Bears are well aware of what Colvin means to the linebacking corps and the defense as a whole. "He's a fine player, very professional, and he studies the game," says Bears defensive coordinator Greg Blache. "We've got a few guys that are vocal leaders, and Rosey's one of them."

While Colvin has gained a reputation for approaching his job with discipline and focus, the linebacker also knows how to keep his teammates at ease. "He's the guy who keeps it light for us," Blache says. "He keeps everybody loose. He's a real comedian at times."

Off the field, yes. On it, no one is laughing at Colvin and the Bears defense.

COPYRIGHT 2002 Century Publishing
COPYRIGHT 2002 Gale Group