Linebacker Brian Urlacher is looking forward to getting on the field with the new and improved version of the Chicago Bears.
"It's really exciting for us," Urlacher told NFL Network on Tuesday at an event unveiling Nike's new NFL team uniforms in New York.
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"We got better on paper already, if you look at our team," Urlacher said. "Phil Emery's doing a good job as our GM."
Emery, who replaced the fired Jerry Angelo as general manager, has presided over an offseason that's seen the Bearstrade forDolphins receiver Brandon Marshall and sign running backMichael Bush and backup quarterbackJason Campbell.
The Bears struggled in the 2011 season after losing starting quarterback Jay Cutler to a thumb injury. Cutler missed six games, and the team went 1-5 in his absence.
Urlacher acknowledged that the NFC North is going to be competitive, but said that "We still feel like we're one of the better teams in our division."
"We feel like we're going to be right in the hunt next year," he added.
Urlacher pointed to the addition of Marshall, who played with Cutler when both were with the Denver Broncos, as being especially significant.
"I'm happy about it, I know Jay's happy about it ... our whole team's happy about it," he said.