Lance Briggs - trouble in Bear land

by James on March 14th, 2007

NFL Football at its best. NFL Football at its craziest.

Lance was happy when his head filled his giant helmet

Boy, do players despise the franchise tag. Once you get it, there is not much you can do, but accept it.

The Bears hung the franchise player tag on Lance Briggs and he is hot. (Squibster full disclosure - Lance Briggs was on my Fantasy Football team)

Lance has vowed to never play for the Bears again. He sees it as a slap in the face.

Lance Briggs wants a long term deal.

He is even willing… to sit out the season and says he will take out a loan to cover his expenses.

It gets even worse with rumors that Lance and Brian Urlacher are feuding.

Lance denies these rumors.

Briggs said one comment to the FoxSports.com reporter relating to middle linebacker Brian Urlacher was misinterpreted. The Web site reported that Briggs wanted ”to run his own show” and would prefer to play for another team because he knows that’s not possible as long as Urlacher remains in Chicago. Briggs told the Score he and Urlacher are close friends, and although he feels capable of being the type of leader Urlacher has been for the Bears, he would have no problem remaining Urlacher’s teammate. source

Briggs was the leading tackler on the Chicago Bears and just wants his due.

The franchise tag guarantees Briggs $7.206 million next season — the average of the top five salaries for players at his position — but it also deters other teams from signing him. The Bears could match any offer for Briggs or receive two No. 1 draft picks. If he sits out next season, the Bears could use the franchise tag again.

A third-round draft pick from Arizona in 2003, Briggs earned $721,600 in the final season of his first NFL contract after he reportedly rejected a six-year, $33 million offer last spring. He told ESPN the deal was for seven years, and he turned it down because it was “below market value.” source

Toils and Troubles

The Bears had better be careful. After a highly successful season, the Bears are starting to fall into the same trap that ensnared the Steelers in last years off season.

You forget all the hard work, all the luck, all the team chemistry, the good breaks, and you begin to rest on your laurels, begin to party and brag a little and before you know it, the team is slowly breaking down.

Thomas Jones has left and who knows what will happen with Lance Briggs. Could it be the beginning of more troubles?

Let’s hope everyone comes to their senses and Lance Briggs becomes a happy Bear!

NFL Football Fan Question Should the NFL change the franchise tag rule?

As always, any NFL Football related comments are welcome.

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