Briggs Franchised

by Adam T on Feb 16, 2007 9:41 PM CST in News

There are stil a boat load of questions facing the Bears this off season, but one of the biggest has started to shake out.

The Chicago Bears have franchised Pro Bowl line backer, Lance Briggs.

Briggs is a 4 year stand out on the Super Bowl runner up Bears. He is the second player to be franchised this year, Justin Smith of the Bengals is the other.

Briggs is tendered a one year deal of 7.206 million. The Bears have until mid March to sign Briggs to a long term contract. If they cannot and Briggs enters free agency any other team would have to possibly relinquish two first rounder. The Bears can also choose to match whatever offer Briggs agrees to sign.

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whew...

This was the biggest thing the Bears had to take care of this offseason, and now its done.

Time to focus on re-signing Rivera and extending Smith's and Angelo's contracts before free agency and the draft.

by Shawn Domagal-Goldman on Feb 17, 2007 12:17 PM CST reply actions

By the way...

do you think the 49ers blog would still want a piece on Briggs? This doesn't entirely eliminate the possibility of him going there, but $7M+/year, this year's 11th overall pick and next year's 1st round pick is a high price to pay for anyone...

by Shawn Domagal-Goldman on Feb 17, 2007 12:18 PM CST reply actions

not likely

but somebody MIGHT bite. a team that desperately needs an all-pro LB might be tempted to go after briggs, given how dry the FA pool is, especially on defense (freeney is the only other big name i can think of, and indy will not let him hit free agency). maybe not SF (considering how high their #1 pick is), but a team w/ a lower pick might. there's also the option of negotiating a deal that may not involve 2 #1's (maybe 1 #1, a 2nd and a 3rd). either we get hooked up w/ some picks, or briggs is w/ us next year. good situation.

by guy incognito on Feb 17, 2007 4:43 PM CST up reply actions

If its anyone, it'll be the Pats.

The team most likely to sign him would be New England. They have two first round picks this year (both of which are late in the draft), they have a huge need at LB, and they are projected to have over $25 million in cap space. If that isn't enough, they've reaped the benefits of signing a linebacker away from us before (Roosevelt Colvin).

by Shawn Domagal-Goldman on Feb 17, 2007 10:55 PM CST up reply actions

agree

i think the pats are the most likely place for briggs to go...they have the extra picks, and w/ bruschi possibly retiring, a major need at LB. again, i don't know how likely it is anyone signs briggs (i don't remember a whole lot of guys who were franchised getting deals elsewhere), but it is good to know we won't get nothing for him a la colvin.

by guy incognito on Feb 18, 2007 9:52 AM CST up reply actions

Hmm...

Seems like a win/win situation. No need to rush to get him a long term deal, I say they should wait and see if he is tendered any offers and see what picks they could get if they decided to let him walk.

by lopey986 on Feb 17, 2007 11:09 PM CST reply actions

I looked around..

And found that Walter Jones was franchised then signed long term. I guess its not always that bad.

by Chad @ Windy City Gridiron on Feb 18, 2007 1:03 AM CST reply actions

heh

we franchised him 3 times before we gave him a long term deal. So unless the team makes the gentlemen agreement that they won't use the Franchise tag on him the following year you can keep franchising him without make him sour on the team to much.

Go Seahawks!!!

by Scruffy Lefty @ Windy City Gridiron on Feb 18, 2007 12:43 PM CST up reply actions