Lance Briggs Resigns With The Bears

by WCG on Mar 1, 2008 8:55 PM CST in Transactions

UPDATE: Jay Glazer is reporting that Briggs deal has around 12 million up front. A far cry from the 20 he was asking for last year. There are also reports that the Reskins did make a play for Briggs, but the numbers were the same, so he opted to stay home.

The one constant going into this season was everybody was sure Lance Briggs was gone. He wanted out last year. We worked an arrangement that we would not franchise him this year, but all that said and a dry market has brought Briggs home.

The deal is for six years and 36 million dollars. I don't have terms as far as up front money.

This is probably the biggest move the Bears will make all free agency and could be the most important. This keeps the league's best linebacking corp in place for years to come.

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Wow

Thank you assorted NFL teams for not offering him anything and shattering his ego.

LANCE IS STILL HERE BABY!

Jay Mariotti is a hiney bird

by gobulls1124 on Mar 1, 2008 9:35 PM CST 0 recs

very fair deal

well, in terms of aggregate numbers, at least. he rejected a 6 year $33 million contract in 2007. i'm sure this one has more guaranteed money. not stupid money at all, unlike the ridiculous deal berrian got.

by guy incognito on Mar 1, 2008 9:45 PM CST 0 recs

Very fair

Very fair considering it's effectively 7 years, 43M including last year. Can't complain about that kind of $$.

Curious what the back end of the deal looks like considering that there's often funny money there to inflate contract $s.

Check out my Chicago Bears Blog...

by dbt on Mar 1, 2008 9:55 PM CST up 0 recs

It's come a LONG way...

...from "I'll never play in a Bears uniform again." to this signing.

Impressive, most impressive.

by PopeFlick on Mar 1, 2008 9:47 PM CST 0 recs

He couldn't get more money???

Considering the ridiculous contracts that are being thrown around this off-season, it seems strange that we got Lance Briggs for so little money. Berrian received more money. Lance Briggs is 27 year olds and has been in three pro-bowls. He should be the single biggest prize of this off-season, or at least one of them. Fanaca is good, but he is up there is years. Briggs is about to enter his prime.

I absolutely love this deal if it is true. I just keep thinking that the money has to be off. If he was willing to accept this deal now, why would he not accept 6 years 33 million last year? It appears that he had a change of heart and now loves Chicago.

Asante Samual, Fanaca, and Berrian all got more money than Briggs. Jerry Porter only got a little less. I understand that defensive players are generally paid less than offensive players. But I expected Briggs to be right under 8 million a year. Anyway, no reason to over-analyze good news. We got a great player for a reasonable price.

by quartz77277 on Mar 1, 2008 10:05 PM CST 0 recs

good character

makes me like briggs even more, and dislike berrian. funny how an attitude can change overnight.

by Ando on Mar 1, 2008 10:07 PM CST 0 recs

then again...

that being said, i guess who can fault Berrian for accepting someone's ridiculous contract. I'm interested to see Briggs' contract...I would imagine it's heavily guarenteed.

by Ando on Mar 1, 2008 10:18 PM CST up 0 recs

woops

Looks like Drew Rosenhaus over estimated the market for Lance. Unlike Berrian, Briggs just saved his career and ensured himself of some more pro bowls. I still hope Jamar Williams continues to develop and get some more playing time. Why didnt bernard sign with washington? Isnt that where money hungry overrated talent go?

by rahulsriram on Mar 1, 2008 10:20 PM CST 0 recs

Where does this leave Jamaar Williams?

Would Jamaar Williams be an upgrade over Hunter? I would like to see them compete for the job in training camp since we thought he could replace Briggs if we didn't sign him.

by rob in iraq on Mar 2, 2008 1:58 AM CST 0 recs

Williams

Might also replace Ayanbadejo on ST, with Briggs back in the fold Ayanbadejo's role as backup LB is not as important. They just need his ST coverage to be replaced and I don't think Archuleta is the guy for the job.

by The Ghost of Rusty Lisch on Mar 2, 2008 12:38 PM CST up 0 recs

great sign

he'll be in the middle in about 2 years, and extended again in 3. I know the "Urlacher makes him better" argument is popular here, but i think at this point Briggs is better.

we still need an oline, rb, wr's and ss.

"Kyle Orton and Jack Daniel's could be the greatest songwriting duo since Rodgers and Hammerstein." - DJ Gallo

by mike b on Mar 2, 2008 1:59 AM CST 0 recs

weird

with the outrageous increase in salaries year in and year out...it is weird that a guy like lance briggs couldn't get a fatter deal. maybe some people in the nfl really do believe that briggs is only as good as urlacher makes him?

by lopey986 on Mar 2, 2008 4:05 AM CST 0 recs

Great start.

I'd rather have seen the money spent on Berrian, but I'm willing to be wrong (and take the ridicule) for that if it happens.

I am, however, very glad Briggs is still here. There is plenty of statistical and scouting evidence that Briggs is every bit of good on his own as his reputation suggests. I'm very happy.

by tyger1147 on Mar 2, 2008 8:04 AM CST 0 recs

Great

I was so happy when i saw this. Im also happy that we didn't spend the money that vikings spent on berrian. Berrian is just fast, with decent hands. So what are bears going to do with all the needs at o-line, wr, rb, and oline now though? I really hope we make a big run for micheal the burner turner.

by VAbear311 on Mar 2, 2008 8:10 AM CST 0 recs

Such a bad evaluation.

Watching Berrian's PC at Minnie, he said the Bears were right there with the money. I've changed my tune and I think it was the stability at the QB position.

Sure, Tavaris sucked, but at least he'll be the same. He mentioned how the offensive game plan changed every week with a different QB and how it makes it harder to play for everyone.

by tyger1147 on Mar 2, 2008 8:36 AM CST up 0 recs

Guess

Angelo wasted both his 3rd round picks last year (and his second round pick for that matter). Don't see Okwo helping much anymore.

Good to see Briggs brought back at a reasonable contract though.

by tomas21 on Mar 2, 2008 8:20 AM CST 0 recs

are you kidding

We've got depth in case of injuries and of course we should've just run under the assumption that Briggs was coming back and not drafted any one to replace him....

This deal should mean Hillenmeyer will have to watch his back. He's a solid player, but not the athlete Okwo and Williams are and it's possible either could take his job this year.

They pull a knife, you pull a gun. He sends one of yours to the hospital, you send one of his to the morgue. *That's* the *Chicago* way!

by 2ndcitydiehard on Mar 2, 2008 8:47 AM CST up 0 recs

Does anyone even really know

what Okwo can do at this level?

I thought he was injured early on last year?

by Peoria Matt on Mar 2, 2008 9:01 AM CST 0 recs

There isn't a rookie

that comes in that anybody can tell you for sure if he can play at this level. You do your research and hope for the best.

by WCG on Mar 2, 2008 9:05 AM CST up 0 recs

yeah.

Good for Lance. Good for the Bears.

All we need is a decent safety. (still holding out hope that Mike Brown will finish all 16 this season).

-$uchM@N!

by suchman on Mar 2, 2008 9:31 AM CST 0 recs

yeah, Brown is unfortunately the key again

Whenever he gets injured our D immediately takes a dive; still the de facto leader and QB of the Bear's defense. Sad to see they've still not found anyone (yet) that can take his place. But I hope he stays healthy, he's a huge presence back there.

by Dmac on Mar 2, 2008 10:11 AM CST 0 recs

Best news ...

of the week. Albeit a shitty week, but still this is great news.

I wouldn't ever go out to hurt anybody deliberately - unless it was, you know, important, like a league game or something. - Dick Butkus

by iowaBear on Mar 2, 2008 11:09 AM CST 0 recs

I was really worried

I know we had michael okwo, and jamaar but, down the stretch last year, briggs really showed his metal, and is worth every penny.

-leopoldjones

by leopoldjones on Mar 2, 2008 3:38 PM CST 0 recs

YES

so happy briggs is back!

by Hester18 on Mar 2, 2008 5:19 PM CST 0 recs

there is more of a need for okwo and jamar

since we are losing ayanbadejo and Leon joe to free agency. These guys r the 4th and 5th backers and i would be not be surprised if Jamar was able to take over for Hunter. Defense looks set if tommie can stay on the field and archuleta gets out of town.

by jberms on Mar 3, 2008 9:14 PM CST 0 recs