Lance Briggs Won't Benefit From Bears Spending

by Adam T on Jun 26, 2007 9:26 AM CDT in News

I post this story more to continue my new crusade of getting this Briggs deal cleared up than I am to actually report what is in it.

The story is looking at how the money Bears have given to Vashar and are expected to give to Tillman, won't extend to weakside linebacker Lance Briggs.

It's not a sign of things to come, however, for disgruntled Lance Briggs, the two-time Pro Bowl weakside linebacker who has been designated as a franchise player, but who is still unsigned and has stayed away from all of the Bears' offseason workouts.

Although the Bears signed Vasher to a five-year deal through 2012 that included $14 million in guaranteed money, and are believed to have proposed a similar extension to Tillman, who is entering the final year of his contract, the negotiating stance toward Briggs is unchanged. Chicago has remained intransigent in its proposal to Briggs, not budging from a one-year qualifying offer for a franchise linebacker, a tender that carries a price tag of $7.206 million.

There have been no substantive negotiations with Briggs and agent Drew Rosenhaus on a multiyear contract. And the long-term deal for Vasher, and possibility of one for Tillman, might mean Chicago is even less inclined to modify its Briggs strategy.

It goes like this, why would the Bears hold onto Briggs if he doesn't want to be there? If he is stubborn enough to sit out 10 games, then is he somebody we want on this team? Maybe they are waiting to see if he really holds out, but either way the trade value of this guy goes down by the week. I would say the Bears want to wait to get him back on the field to show what he can do, so they can trade him, but by then hopefully Williams or Okwo have solidified that spot and he wouldn't be on the field anyway.

At this point I am feeling really good about our upcoming season and I don't want this dark cloud just lingering around for most of it.

Tweet Comment 4 comments | 0 recs |

Do you like this story?

Comments

Instincts

Both Williams and Okwo have the speed but do they posses the instincts Briggs has displayed throughout his career.
$7.2 million - my advise to Briggs - Shut-up and Play!

by phastphil on Jun 26, 2007 10:10 AM CDT reply actions

Briggs has it all backwards

He talks big and swings a soft stick. He'll hold out through training camp, then he'll announce some sort of an "agreement" that he will end his holdout if the Bears agree to not franchise him again after the season. Because the Bears have no reason to franchise him again, clearly they'll agree to these terms. The Bears are playing Briggs/Rosenhaus, and the League is fully aware.

by Santos Sorrow on Jun 26, 2007 6:47 PM CDT reply actions

Didn't Briggs

get an offer from the Bears last year and he turned it down? I thought that was the case. If so, once he turned it down and it was the Bears best offer, what did he expect them to do?

I have more concerns about the DL than I have about the LBs.

by RME JICO on Jun 26, 2007 8:05 PM CDT reply actions