Briggs wants out? (1 Viewer)

[G-Money]

Bears | Briggs wants out?

Mon, 5 Mar 2007 07:21:43 -0800

Len Pasquarelli, of ESPN.com, reports Chicago Bears LB Lance Briggs says he does not want to play another game for the team unless the Bears rescind the franchise tag placed on him this offseason. "There's a difference between the Chicago Bears team and the Chicago Bears organization," Briggs said Sunday, March 4. "The Chicago Bears team? The coaches, players, city and fans? Yeah, I could stay there forever. I love it. But the Chicago Bears organization? I don't want to be there anymore. I won't play for them and I'll do everything in my power to keep from playing there." "They need to either [rescind] the franchise tag, and let me move on, or trade me to another team," Briggs added. "Because that's about the only way this thing can have any kind of a positive resolution."

 

[AhrnCityPahnder]

D'oh!

 

[Ron_Mexico]

WOW !!

 

[Yenrub]

Please go to the Giants

 

[Trap Play]

Trade him to the 49ers for copious draft picks.

Dare to dream...

 

[Spiderman]

This is predictable as the franchise tag just creates bad feelings, and when you have Rosenhaus as the agent, this was a certainity.

Now, if the Bears do look to move him for draft picks, what teams:

A) Can afford his long-term demands

B) Is willing to move two Day 1 draft picks - let's say 1 1st at least.

C) Is looking to upgrade at OLB

 

[Z-Dog]

This is predictable as the franchise tag just creates bad feelings, and when you have Rosenhaus as the agent, this was a certainity.Now, if the Bears do look to move him for draft picks, what teams:A) Can afford his long-term demandsB) Is willing to move two Day 1 draft picks - let's say 1 1st at least.C) Is looking to upgrade at OLB

I'd say the NYJ have to be a top candidate. They have a late 1st-rounder to move. They have plenty of cap space. They have to compete with the Pats, who signed Adalius Thomas.

 

[zadok]

Please go to the Eagles

Fixed.

 

[geoff8695]

I don't know whether to or

I hope Da'Bears figure out a way to keep Briggs, if not someone else is going to get one heck of a linebacker. :(

 

[Ron_Mexico]

Preety classless move by Briggs to

badmouth Chicago management,

he should have dealt with this behind closed doors.

 

[derek19]

Trade him to the 49ers for copious draft picks. Dare to dream...

:( Trade for briggs and draft Landry?

 

[Spiderman]

This is predictable as the franchise tag just creates bad feelings, and when you have Rosenhaus as the agent, this was a certainity.Now, if the Bears do look to move him for draft picks, what teams:A) Can afford his long-term demandsB) Is willing to move two Day 1 draft picks - let's say 1 1st at least.C) Is looking to upgrade at OLB

I'd say the NYJ have to be a top candidate. They have a late 1st-rounder to move. They have plenty of cap space. They have to compete with the Pats, who signed Adalius Thomas.

If the Bears want two high picks, say 1 1st, and 1 2nd or 3rd, I wonder if they may consider getting a pick next year instead to broker a deal with a team who wants Briggs, but is unwilling to give up 2 picks from the same draft.

 

[Deranged Hermit]

Gee a player posturing to the media because he doen't like being tagged. I'm shocked.

He'll play for the Bears this year and collect his paycheck. If he has a good year, he'll cash in.....

 

[Ron_Mexico]

Gee a player posturing to the media because he doen't like being tagged. I'm shocked.He'll play for the Bears this year and collect his paycheck. If he has a good year, he'll cash in.....

I agree, DH.

 

[Z-Dog]

This is predictable as the franchise tag just creates bad feelings, and when you have Rosenhaus as the agent, this was a certainity.Now, if the Bears do look to move him for draft picks, what teams:A) Can afford his long-term demandsB) Is willing to move two Day 1 draft picks - let's say 1 1st at least.C) Is looking to upgrade at OLB

I'd say the NYJ have to be a top candidate. They have a late 1st-rounder to move. They have plenty of cap space. They have to compete with the Pats, who signed Adalius Thomas.

If the Bears want two high picks, say 1 1st, and 1 2nd or 3rd, I wonder if they may consider getting a pick next year instead to broker a deal with a team who wants Briggs, but is unwilling to give up 2 picks from the same draft.

I don't think there have been more than one or two franchise players who moved for more than one 1st-round pick (and those have been WRs). Briggs is a great player, but I think the market for a franchise player has been set by the recent Branch and Abraham deals at a late 1st-rounder. Expecting more is just hometown dreamin'. Also, to discount next year's draft picks to present day value, add a round (i.e. a 1st-rounder next year is worth a 2nd-rounder this year), but subject to other factors, like relative draft depth.

 

[Spiderman]

Signing Briggs to a long-term deal could mean the Bears wouldn’t be able to afford at least 2 upcoming free agents from Grossman, Berrian, Harris, Vasher and Tillman AND it would risk upsetting Urlacher, who’d be making less money than Briggs.

I love Briggs, but I’m not sure how realistic it is to have your two highest paid players at LB, especially when you have other key members of your team coming up on free agency.

I have heard that the Bears are asking for a mid 1st round pick for Briggs. Everything I have heard is that the Bears may settle for a high 2nd or a low 1st rounder if they feel there is a quality player available for them. There are a lot of undersized, fast LB’s in the draft. None LB’s ran a 4.59 or lower in the 40 this year and most weigh 235+. This could be a good year to land a 2nd or 3rd round developmental LB to fit our scheme.

Let’s put this into perspective. With Angelo’s track record for finding great talent in the 2nd through 5th rounds of the draft, if the Bears can deal down from the 31st pick to the mid 2nd round and pick up an extra 3rd rounder, possibly deal Thomas Jones for a 3rd round pick, and deal Lance Briggs for a late 1st round pick, that would leave the Bears with:

A late 1st round pick, a mid 2nd round pick, a late 2nd round, a mid 3rd round pick, a late 3rd round pick, an extra 3rd round pick, a late 4th round pick, and a late 5th round pick.

I don’t know about you guys, but I could handle a guy known for pulling great talent out of these rounds having five of the first 100 picks in the draft. The team has to start thinking for the future. I wouldn’t pay Briggs $9 million a year and he is reportedly asking for $63 million for 7 years. The Bears have a tremendous amount of holes in their depth that we could fill with a very deep draft this year. In that 1st five picks, we could pull a high quality DB, a couple O-lineman, a receiver, and a LB to compete with Williams to replace Briggs. It could be better than having disgruntled distractions on the team that are going to leave next year anyway.

Plus historically, the weakside linebacker position in the cover 2 has been an easier position to fill throughout the years. In Angelo, I trust.

 

[SmoovySmoov]

 

[RBM]

 

[geoff8695]

... it would risk upsetting Urlacher, who’d be making less money than Briggs.

I love Briggs, but I’m not sure how realistic it is to have your two highest paid players at LB, especially when you have other key members of your team coming up on free agency. ...

...In Angelo, I trust.

IIRC during the 2006 regular season Urlacher was campaigning for the Bears to get a deal done with Briggs and even offered to re-negotiate his own contract just to keep Briggs alongside him. I wish I had a link - sorry... I just remember seeing Urlacher talk about it on TV here in Chicago.I think you may be right about Angelo not wanting to tie up so much $$$ at LB and I hope he continues his recent success in the draft, because I don't trust him as much when it comes to signing free agents...

 

[patrickmcgroin]

I`m not a Bears fan, but I don't think they did anything wrong. The franchise tag is nothing new, deal with it.

 

[Spiderman]

... it would risk upsetting Urlacher, who’d be making less money than Briggs.

I love Briggs, but I’m not sure how realistic it is to have your two highest paid players at LB, especially when you have other key members of your team coming up on free agency. ...

...In Angelo, I trust.

IIRC during the 2006 regular season Urlacher was campaigning for the Bears to get a deal done with Briggs and even offered to re-negotiate his own contract just to keep Briggs alongside him. I wish I had a link - sorry... I just remember seeing Urlacher talk about it on TV here in Chicago.I think you may be right about Angelo not wanting to tie up so much $$$ at LB and I hope he continues his recent success in the draft, because I don't trust him as much when it comes to signing free agents...

You are correct- Urlacher did say that, but you have to look at what he's really saying. I'll renegoiate my contract, in return for a new signing bonus that would be spread out for the length of the deal.It does help the Bears short-term, but long-term, Urlacher is still getting his money, and more of it.

 

[Spiderman]

I`m not a Bears fan, but I don't think they did anything wrong. The franchise tag is nothing new, deal with it.

They did nothing wrong - it's an option they have at their disposal, and it's a business.

 

[geoff8695]

I`m not a Bears fan, but I don't think they did anything wrong. The franchise tag is nothing new, deal with it.

They did nothing wrong - it's an option they have at their disposal, and it's a business.

Agreed. I'm a Bears fan though, and I really would like to see Briggs as a Bear for the remainder of his career. I know this is 'just business' and that the Bears haven't done anything wrong, but as a fan Lance Briggs is one of about a half dozen Bears that I would like to see stay with the team even if it does cost them.

 

[428143]

Gee a player posturing to the media because he doen't like being tagged. I'm shocked.He'll play for the Bears this year and collect his paycheck. If he has a good year, he'll cash in.....

It's $7 million Lance, you 'aint turning it down...

 

[jagbag]

This is predictable as the franchise tag just creates bad feelings, and when you have Rosenhaus as the agent, this was a certainity.

Now, if the Bears do look to move him for draft picks, what teams:

A) Can afford his long-term demands

B) Is willing to move two Day 1 draft picks - let's say 1 1st at least.

C) Is looking to upgrade at OLB

 

[redman]

How adaptable are Briggs' talents to the 3-4 defense, or is he pretty locked into the WLB spot in a 4-3 somewhere?

 

[Jene Bramel]

How adaptable are Briggs' talents to the 3-4 defense, or is he pretty locked into the WLB spot in a 4-3 somewhere?

Many of the current 3-4 defenses use the RILB very much like a 4-3 WLB. I think Briggs is talented enough to play either ILB spot. He's every bit as talented as Will Witherspoon, who has made a reasonably successful transition to the MLB role. I wouldn't typecast Briggs as a Tampa-2 WLB. I don't think he'd be a good fit as a 3-4 OLB, though, as was suggested earlier in the thread.

 

[Christo]

Gee a player posturing to the media because he doen't like being tagged. I'm shocked.He'll play for the Bears this year and collect his paycheck. If he has a good year, he'll cash in.....

It's $7 million Lance, you 'aint turning it down...

I don't get it either. You play and take out an insurance policy to protect against injury.

 

[Limp Ditka]

Two words

Drew Rosenhaus.

 

[The Kansas Comet]

Briggs' complaints/demands are just part of the natural sequence of these negotiations. First the player tells the media he'd love to return to the (successful) team. Next, the team franchises the player to ensure he doesn't walk away for nothing (or a compensatory pick). Then the player complains about being tagged and says he doesn't want to play for the organization that would do such a dastardly thing. The fourth step will be either a. Chicago signs him to a nice extension and Briggs forgets he ever said he didn't want to play for the Bears or, most likely, he was "misquoted" and had words "taken out of context", or b. the Bears get a sweet enough offer to send Briggs to a team willing to give him the payday he wants, while Briggs says he's "excited about playing for Coach ________" and that the Bears didn't "really respect what I accomplished on the field". The NFL could save time by simply printing up a program with the steps listed and having ESPN or other networks simply report: "The Briggs negotiations have reached step 3" - it would save everyone time and spare fans from having to listen to all this posturing which will be forgotten once the deal gets done.

That said, I hope Briggs stays because he's a stud, but it wouldn't be the end of the world if some team overpaid to pry him away.

 

[BLOX]

Gee a player posturing to the media because he doen't like being tagged. I'm shocked.He'll play for the Bears this year and collect his paycheck. If he has a good year, he'll cash in.....

I don't think this will happen. Remember what happened with Javon Walker. The Bears will trade him, I doubt they get more than a 1st though.

 

[Tommy Collins]

Two wordsDrew Rosenhaus.

One word: #######Rosenhaus causes way too many problems with players and teams

 

[renesauz]

I'm still holding out some hope that Phily finds a way to pick him up, but that seems doubtful considering his salary demands and the overall status of the Eagles' salarycap (much less space then they typically have this time of year)

 

[Snotbubbles]

I'm still holding out some hope that Phily finds a way to pick him up, but that seems doubtful considering his salary demands and the overall status of the Eagles' salarycap (much less space then they typically have this time of year)

If they wanted to free up space they could. They can free up around 13M by converting roster bonuses to signing bonuses for Reggie Brown, Mike Patterson and Trent Cole.

 

[pantherclub]

Unless i am wrong, but doesnt the franchise tag garuntee you will make bank for at least 1 year?

 

[renesauz]

I'm still holding out some hope that Phily finds a way to pick him up, but that seems doubtful considering his salary demands and the overall status of the Eagles' salarycap (much less space then they typically have this time of year)

If they wanted to free up space they could. They can free up around 13M by converting roster bonuses to signing bonuses for Reggie Brown, Mike Patterson and Trent Cole.

True, but then you sacrifice cap space in later years, and with Donovan's and Kearse's cap values getting up there, Philly feels more comfortable taking the hits via roster bonuses. So do I, frankly.They could probably afford him, but it would hamstring any other potential signings.

 

[ditka311]

I`m not a Bears fan, but I don't think they did anything wrong. The franchise tag is nothing new, deal with it.

The Bears and Briggs were trying to negotiate a long term deal last spring. It never worked out. At that time, per Jerry Angelo, he let Briggs know that they were prepared to use the franchise tag. Maybe that was the Bears version of bullying him into signing the deal, but Briggs has said publicly that he never knew where he stood with the organization. That's a bunch of crap. Urlacher and Briggs are good friends off the field, according to media reports. Urlacher said he would be willing to restructure his deal to accomodate the signing. Anyway, I would really like the Bears to re-sign him but not at the expense of 4 to 5 other guys. It's really easy to say that the Bears are cheap and don't pay big money to keep their guys. It is also easy to see that teams get themselves into trouble by throwing big money at free agents who don't come close to living up to their contract. (Ogunleye, Arrington, anybody that Washington signs). It's obvious Briggs wants to get paid. He sees a bunch of teams signing mediocre players or players with a half a year of good stats for huge deals. He wants in on the gold rush too and I can understand that. At the same time, $7.2 million in guaranteed money for one year is nothing to cry about. So, suck it up, quit crying, take a large sum of money that most of us will never see in a lifetime let alone one year, and you will get paid next year.

 

[Snotbubbles]

True, but then you sacrifice cap space in later years, and with Donovan's and Kearse's cap values getting up there, Philly feels more comfortable taking the hits via roster bonuses. So do I, frankly.They could probably afford him, but it would hamstring any other potential signings.

Like who are you referring to in potential signings? According to Joe Banner, they have 21 of 22 starters signed for 2007 (except Stallworth) and in 2008 the only unsigned player is LJ Smith. Who exactly are they waiting for to come on the market to sign because they really don't have any of their own players to worry about.

 

[Snotbubbles]

The Bears and Briggs were trying to negotiate a long term deal last spring. It never worked out. At that time, per Jerry Angelo, he let Briggs know that they were prepared to use the franchise tag. Maybe that was the Bears version of bullying him into signing the deal, but Briggs has said publicly that he never knew where he stood with the organization. That's a bunch of crap. Urlacher and Briggs are good friends off the field, according to media reports. Urlacher said he would be willing to restructure his deal to accomodate the signing. Anyway, I would really like the Bears to re-sign him but not at the expense of 4 to 5 other guys. It's really easy to say that the Bears are cheap and don't pay big money to keep their guys. It is also easy to see that teams get themselves into trouble by throwing big money at free agents who don't come close to living up to their contract. (Ogunleye, Arrington, anybody that Washington signs). It's obvious Briggs wants to get paid. He sees a bunch of teams signing mediocre players or players with a half a year of good stats for huge deals. He wants in on the gold rush too and I can understand that. At the same time, $7.2 million in guaranteed money for one year is nothing to cry about. So, suck it up, quit crying, take a large sum of money that most of us will never see in a lifetime let alone one year, and you will get paid next year.

What if the Bears tag him again? He is one injury away from missing out on 30-40 million. I remember the Eagles had a safety, I can't remember his name but the Eagles tried to work out a long term deal with him. He didn't want to sign it because he wanted to test the FA market. Well before the season ended he tore up his knee really bad, and if I remember correctly never saw that HUGE paycheck, I can't remember if he ever recovered from the injury.