Lance Briggs to test free agent waters? (1 Viewer)

[J Andersson]

If Lance Briggs were indeed trying to get the big money somewhere else than in Chicago yet again

( http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/2007/foot...s.ap/index.html ), which teams do you see as the possible bidders?

I would guess predominantly 4-3 teams would be interested?

Cincinnati?

 

[John Black]

I read in rotoworld that 49ers are interested in him but yet they are a 3-4.

 

[dvjammer]

great post J, - haven't heard anything yet myself but CIN could surely use a live body in the middle, I just saw that Landon Johnson got hurt again.

Re the Niners, I'm not so sure I wanna see him there (for FF reasons only as I live in the SF area) since I own Willis in a dynasty league LOL

 

[Dirty Hairy]

I think its time for a few stalwarts to be upgraded - Bullock, Brooks, and Gold for Titans, Falcons and Broncos. All had defensive trouble last half of the year.

But it probably makes more sense for him to go to a team with an immediate need, such as Carolina, St. Louis, or my pick - New Orleans.

Carolina has James Anderson that hasn't seemed to pan out. St. Louis has injury-prone Tino that maybe would be better as depth. But New Orleans has stop-gapped their defense for two years - they need some playmakers on defense.

 

[thatguy]

Is there any chance a team signs him to man the middle? Does he possess the skillset necessary to be successful as a MLB? He seems to have the tenacity but obviously there are other factors.

If so, I'd love to see Denver sign him and move DJ back to the Sam or Will. DJ just doesn't have the killer instinct of a great MLB, but Briggs seems to have it.

 

[pinda]

pass on Denver signing him......he's a stud WLB who we are hoping could become a stud MLB, sorry been there done that experiment...........trade a 5th rounder for Vilma and stick him in the middle, DJ at weakside, and flavor of the week at strong side.

now if we could find a DT, DE, and a FS, we'd be set.....oyvay

 

[Jene Bramel]

Is there any chance a team signs him to man the middle? Does he possess the skillset necessary to be successful as a MLB? He seems to have the tenacity but obviously there are other factors.

I think there's much more Will Witherspoon in Briggs than Cato June.

 

[redman]

Watch Rocky McIntosh's recovery from the ACL injury. If things go badly I could see the Redskins possibly making a play there, though I'd think they'd prefer to have Blades fill in.

 

[BlueDemon]

Briggs is pretty much done in Chi, Lovie really likes Jamar Williams. Don't put too much stock in Briggs next year. The last few outside LB's that left the Bears have struggled, Holdman, Colvin to name a few.

 

[Dirty Hairy]

Watch Rocky McIntosh's recovery from the ACL injury. If things go badly I could see the Redskins possibly making a play there, though I'd think they'd prefer to have Blades fill in.

This is a good thought - WAS tried to trade for him before last year's draft - I forgot about that. Now that McIntosh is out likely a year, the idea has a lot more merit.

 

[msommer]

Briggs is pretty much done in Chi, Lovie really likes Jamar Williams. Don't put too much stock in Briggs next year. The last few outside LB's that left the Bears have struggled, Holdman, Colvin to name a few.

Unless he goes to a similar system, such as TB, IND, DET (?).Not sure if Marinelli runs the Dungy/Kiffin D or not

 

[ditka85]

Briggs is pretty much done in Chi, Lovie really likes Jamar Williams. Don't put too much stock in Briggs next year. The last few outside LB's that left the Bears have struggled, Holdman, Colvin to name a few.

Hold on. Colvin was a pass rushing LB, perfect for a 3-4, really not the same type of player as Briggs. And Holdman isn't even on the same planet as Briggs.Lance is twice the player Holdman was.

I think Lance could be a decent MLB. He put up good numbers when Urlacher injured his hammy a few years back. Not sure if he manned the middle during that span or WLB.

 

[msommer]

Briggs is pretty much done in Chi, Lovie really likes Jamar Williams. Don't put too much stock in Briggs next year. The last few outside LB's that left the Bears have struggled, Holdman, Colvin to name a few.

Hold on. Colvin was a pass rushing LB, perfect for a 3-4, really not the same type of player as Briggs. And Holdman isn't even on the same planet as Briggs.Lance is twice the player Holdman was.

I think Lance could be a decent MLB. He put up good numbers when Urlacher injured his hammy a few years back. Not sure if he manned the middle during that span or WLB.

IIRC Hillenmeyer manned the middle

 

[TitusIII]

Briggs will excel wherever his next team places him. I'm hoping the Bears show him the money, but any team that has a hole at LB + cap-room is going to be throwing ridiculous cash at him.

 

[BigTex]

I pray he become a Cowboy.

 

[redman]

I pray he become a Cowboy.

He doesn't seem to make much sense in a 3-4 defense, does he? Isn't he a pretty classic 4-3 Will?

 

[Jene Bramel]

I pray he become a Cowboy.

He doesn't seem to make much sense in a 3-4 defense, does he? Isn't he a pretty classic 4-3 Will?

He's probably only average at eluding blocks, so he's not a perfect fit. The line between 4-3 WLB and 4-3 MLB and 3-4 RILB seems to be blurring more and more every season, though. I believe he's more Witherspoon than June, and probably more Edwards than Vilma. Not that he'd be a top ten IDP value as Witherspoon or Edwards are/were, but that he's unlikely to be a total flop in a new scheme.

 

[Chachi]

Briggs to 49ers (From December 6th)

Very interesting article.

 

[GRIDIRON ASSASSIN]

Lance Briggs got paid 7.2 Million for 2 sacks in '07. $3.6 Million per sack.

His replacement in Week 16 had 1 sack in 1 game. 'nuff said...

Later Lance.

 

[bcr8f]

Lance Briggs got paid 7.2 Million for 2 sacks in '07. $3.6 Million per sack.His replacement in Week 16 had 1 sack in 1 game. 'nuff said...Later Lance.

He's playing for sacks?

 

[greenroom]

Lance Briggs got paid 7.2 Million for 2 sacks in '07. $3.6 Million per sack.His replacement in Week 16 had 1 sack in 1 game. 'nuff said...Later Lance.

I guess second on the team with 83 tackles and 19 assists were not paid.. since he got only paid for his sacks.

 

[Dolphins Homer]

I thought Jamar Williams played for him in week 16... didn't he finish with 5 tackles, NO SACKS, no forced fumbles, no interceptions, no fumble recoveries.... Am I missing something here? Since when is the WLB the sack artist and only gets paid for sacks... Briggs will be good on the right team. Chicago will no doubtably be fine without him but that doesn't mean he didn't contribute this year.

This sounds like someone counting on him for big numbers and was a little dissapointed.

 

[BigTex]

I pray he become a Cowboy.

He doesn't seem to make much sense in a 3-4 defense, does he? Isn't he a pretty classic 4-3 Will?

At the end of the day it's football. If you can play, then you can play.

 

[Swanson]

Briggs is gone. Chicago has plenty of other holes to fill and need to spend the $ elsewhere. They don't feel that Brigg's replacement will be that big of a dropoff. Most people believe it will be Jamar Williams....sleeper candidate is Michael Okwo who was a rookie this past year that was on IR. They liked what they saw from him early on and in somewhat of a roster move...placed him on season ending I.R. with a shoulder injury that should have only taken a few weeks to heal. Should be an interesting battle in training camp. Obv. Jamar has the experience in the system.

 

[thatguy]

pass on Denver signing him......he's a stud WLB who we are hoping could become a stud MLB, sorry been there done that experiment...........trade a 5th rounder for Vilma and stick him in the middle, DJ at weakside, and flavor of the week at strong side.now if we could find a DT, DE, and a FS, we'd be set.....oyvay

Vilma would be a nice addition... any chance of that actually happening?The DJ move failed because he clearly doesn't have the IT factor of a stud MLB. He's an elite talent and that alone allowed him to succeed at WLB.When I watch Briggs play, I see more than just an elite talent and I personally think he could succeed in the middle. Briggs to me seems to have IT.

 

[Mikey16x]

Giants... we need help at LB... Kiwi is decent on the strong side but he would be a nice addition next to pierce... nobody here in NY is sold on mitchell.... although wilkinson has always looked promising.. we just started to give him more playing time now.

 

[redman]

Now that I think about it, all three NFC East teams could use his services. It's going to be interesting to watch this guy this offseason.

 

[the Jag Zone]

Watch Rocky McIntosh's recovery from the ACL injury. If things go badly I could see the Redskins possibly making a play there, though I'd think they'd prefer to have Blades fill in.

..watch and see who the new HC is and that will be a big factor in what they do there...ie: if it's Gregg Williams I'd assume that the 'Skins will be a big player in the FA market at LB (namely Briggs) and at DB as well....they go bringing in Fassel then that Def, that has been so solid recently, may suddenly end up being 'melted cheese'..