The idea of trading Brian Urlacher — a monument to all that is hard-nosed, Chicago Bear defense — seems a bit far-fetched. But there’s a logical trading partner sitting out there already.

The Arizona Cardinals. They want to move Anquan Boldin based on Boldin’s demands to get the eff out of Phoenix, and as David Haugh points out in the Trib today, there’s a decent amount of logic surrounding a Bears - Cards deal.

Chicago just doesn’t fit Urlacher as comfortably as it once did, and neither does the Bears’ single-gap, Cover-2 scheme that fails to protect him the way thirtysomething linebackers need protection.

Put Urlacher in a new defense in a new uniform and chances are he will resemble the linebacker of old for a few inspired seasons. If the Cardinals have any doubts, remind them that general manager Jerry Angelo said Urlacher “still has enough to make a Pro Bowl” at his postseason news conference.

Obviously it’s impossible to tell, at least right now, how Urlacher would fit in new Arizona defensive coordinator Bill Davis’ scheme. But one thing does seem certain: if the Bears made this move, they would have a vastly simpler time replacing Urlacher in the draft than they would getting a receiver of Boldin’s caliber at the same spot.

Obtaining a receiver of Boldin’s talents would require a serious jump up the draft board, likely a hop over the Seahawks at fourth overall to land Michael Crabtree. On the other hand, swapping Boldin for Urlacher would immediately give them the chance to land Brian Cushing, Clay Matthews or, if he fell, Rey Maualuga.

Obviously none of those guys is as talented as Urlacher, but it was shown again and again in 2008 that the Bears lacked a serious big-play receiver. Boldin would give them just that, and while losing Urlacher would be a sad affair for the sports scene in Chicago, sometimes winning just isn’t simply about sentiment.