Bears franchise Briggs.

**HemiEd** · 02-16-2007, 05:22 PM

LAKE FOREST, Ill. – Determined to keep one of the NFL’s top defenses intact, the Bears on Friday designated Lance Briggs as their franchise player, guaranteeing him a one-year contract for $7.2 million, the average of the top five highest paid linebackers in the league. The 6-1, 240-pounder was due to become an unrestricted free agent March 2.

Lance Briggs led the Bears with 117 solo tackles this past season.
Briggs can sign an offer sheet with another NFL team, but the Bears would have the right to match the deal. If they chose not to match the offer, they would receive two first-round draft picks as compensation, a stiff price that most clubs are generally unwilling to pay for any free agent.

The $7.2 million tender Briggs would sign with the Bears is guaranteed for the first time in accordance with the NFL's new Collective Bargaining Agreement.

In 2006, Briggs set a career high with 176 tackles and was selected to his second straight Pro Bowl. He led the Bears with 117 solo tackles while ranking second with 10 tackles-for-loss and nine pass break-ups. A consensus first-team All-Pro in 2005, the weakside linebacker was a second-team All-Pro selection this past season.

“The sky’s the limit when it comes to Lance and his abilities,” defensive coordinator Ron Rivera said in December. “Last year he just scratched the surface and I think this year he’s the same way. He’s scratching the surface a little bit more each time and I think it’s just a matter of time before he becomes a perennial Pro Bowl player.”

Briggs has not missed a game since joining the Bears as a third-round draft pick in 2003 out of Arizona. This past season he reached double digits in tackles in a career-high 12 games while leading the team in tackles eight times, tying him with fellow linebacker Brian Urlacher.

While Urlacher garners more attention, Briggs has developed a reputation among teammates and opponents as one of the best linebackers in the league.

“I think for me, as far as working hard throughout the years, I’ve created a lot of respect from my peers and coaches and that’s where it all starts for me, especially on this team,” Briggs said last month while preparing for Super Bowl XLI. “The guys that I’ve played with, I’ve earned their respect earning the starting job and taking it another step getting to a Pro Bowl. Now it’s going even outside of just the Chicago Bears.”

HMc · 02-16-2007, 07:07 PM

Good result for him. plenty of $ and he stays in chicago where he will continue to look good surruonded by that talent.

BigChiefFan · 02-16-2007, 07:27 PM

176 tackles? Damn. I was hoping we might be able to pick him in FA, but the Bears shot that plan all to Hell, not that Carl would have pursued him anyway.

Mr. Laz · 02-16-2007, 08:08 PM

crazycoffey · 02-16-2007, 08:10 PM

one less hope to have the rest of the offseason.

Deberg_1990 · 02-16-2007, 08:15 PM

Cato June is still available right??

StcChief · 02-16-2007, 10:00 PM

Yet another non surprise.

JBucc · 02-16-2007, 10:07 PM

Oh well. Looks like we'll have to sign Adalius Thomas instead.

beer bacon · 02-16-2007, 11:13 PM

There is no chance we would sign him anyways. This is good. It keeps him out of the AFC.

Eleazar · 02-16-2007, 11:20 PM

If it were only one first rounder and not two, he might be worth it.

**HemiEd** · 02-16-2007, 11:22 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by JBucc

Oh well. Looks like we'll have to sign Adalius Thomas instead.

I think he will get tagged next, but I hope not. He is my first choice anyway.

**Buck** · 02-17-2007, 12:14 AM

Shitty **** A Damn

**HemiEd** · 02-17-2007, 12:32 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by BuckinKaeding

Shitty **** A Damn

All you need is a coach. Dan Reeves!!!!!!!!!!!

**Buck** · 02-17-2007, 12:33 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by HemiEd

All you need is a coach. Dan Reeves!!!!!!!!!!!

We're losing Edwards and probably Godfrey.

Miles · 02-17-2007, 12:34 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by HemiEd

All you need is a coach. Dan Reeves!!!!!!!!!!!

Dennis Erickson would work quite well there too.

02-16-2007, 05:22 PM
HemiEd Supporter Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Ozarks Casino cash: $3260564	Bears franchise Briggs. LAKE FOREST, Ill. – Determined to keep one of the NFL’s top defenses intact, the Bears on Friday designated Lance Briggs as their franchise player, guaranteeing him a one-year contract for $7.2 million, the average of the top five highest paid linebackers in the league. The 6-1, 240-pounder was due to become an unrestricted free agent March 2. Lance Briggs led the Bears with 117 solo tackles this past season. Briggs can sign an offer sheet with another NFL team, but the Bears would have the right to match the deal. If they chose not to match the offer, they would receive two first-round draft picks as compensation, a stiff price that most clubs are generally unwilling to pay for any free agent. The $7.2 million tender Briggs would sign with the Bears is guaranteed for the first time in accordance with the NFL's new Collective Bargaining Agreement. In 2006, Briggs set a career high with 176 tackles and was selected to his second straight Pro Bowl. He led the Bears with 117 solo tackles while ranking second with 10 tackles-for-loss and nine pass break-ups. A consensus first-team All-Pro in 2005, the weakside linebacker was a second-team All-Pro selection this past season. “The sky’s the limit when it comes to Lance and his abilities,” defensive coordinator Ron Rivera said in December. “Last year he just scratched the surface and I think this year he’s the same way. He’s scratching the surface a little bit more each time and I think it’s just a matter of time before he becomes a perennial Pro Bowl player.” Briggs has not missed a game since joining the Bears as a third-round draft pick in 2003 out of Arizona. This past season he reached double digits in tackles in a career-high 12 games while leading the team in tackles eight times, tying him with fellow linebacker Brian Urlacher. While Urlacher garners more attention, Briggs has developed a reputation among teammates and opponents as one of the best linebackers in the league. “I think for me, as far as working hard throughout the years, I’ve created a lot of respect from my peers and coaches and that’s where it all starts for me, especially on this team,” Briggs said last month while preparing for Super Bowl XLI. “The guys that I’ve played with, I’ve earned their respect earning the starting job and taking it another step getting to a Pro Bowl. Now it’s going even outside of just the Chicago Bears.”
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02-16-2007, 07:07 PM	#2
HMc from the very deep south. Join Date: Dec 2005 Location: Sydney, Australia. Casino cash: $9944900	Good result for him. plenty of $ and he stays in chicago where he will continue to look good surruonded by that talent.
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02-16-2007, 07:27 PM	#3
BigChiefFan MVP Join Date: Feb 2001 Location: In the Top 10 Casino cash: $9924205	176 tackles? Damn. I was hoping we might be able to pick him in FA, but the Bears shot that plan all to Hell, not that Carl would have pursued him anyway. __________________ A 35 year drought can make you thirsty.
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02-16-2007, 08:08 PM	#4
Mr. Laz Don't Tease Me Join Date: Dec 2000 Location: KS Casino cash: $11047037	wow __________________
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02-16-2007, 08:10 PM	#5
crazycoffey .......... Join Date: Dec 2006 Casino cash: $5187901	one less hope to have the rest of the offseason.
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02-16-2007, 08:15 PM	#6
Deberg_1990 In Search of a Life Join Date: Jan 2004 Location: San Antonio Tx. Casino cash: $3914454	Cato June is still available right?? __________________ Originally Posted by Cassel's Reckoning: Matt once made a very nice play in Seattle where he spun away from a pass rusher and hit Bowe off his back foot for a first down. One of the best plays Matt has ever made.
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02-16-2007, 10:00 PM	#7
StcChief Playing for #1 Draft Pick Join Date: Oct 2003 Location: Just West of Lambs land Casino cash: $10004900	Yet another non surprise. __________________ sig test for this screwy schema
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02-16-2007, 10:07 PM	#8
JBucc MVP Join Date: Oct 2005 Casino cash: $10004952	Oh well. Looks like we'll have to sign Adalius Thomas instead.
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02-16-2007, 11:13 PM	#9
beer bacon WHAT Join Date: Oct 2003 Location: Kansas City, MO Casino cash: $10019545	There is no chance we would sign him anyways. This is good. It keeps him out of the AFC.
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02-16-2007, 11:20 PM	#10
Eleazar Beyond the Rapids Join Date: May 2003 Location: Langley, VA Casino cash: $-370000	If it were only one first rounder and not two, he might be worth it.
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02-17-2007, 12:14 AM	#12
Buck Take a Chill Pill Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: South Carolina Casino cash: $8319900	Shitty **** A Damn
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