[CBFF] Briggs

[Kegstand]

Briggs back, Benson ends run with a bang
By Larry Mayer
July 29, 2006

BOURBONNAIS, Ill. - Pro Bowl linebacker Lance Briggs reclaimed his starting
position, but that wasn't the only interesting development during an
emotional Saturday night practice.

With the Bears working out under the lights and in full pads for the first
time this summer, the intensity level on the field crept up nearly as high
as the temperature in Bourbonnais.

After getting drilled twice by tacklers earlier in the workout, Cedric
Benson streamrolled Chris Harris while running with the ball, knocking the
free safety backwards on his behind.

Surrounded by defensive players, the second-year running back added an
exclamation point by emphatically spiking the football-much to the delight
of an overflow crowd.

"That's normally how it goes once you get on pads," said coach Lovie Smith.
"A few guys are going to take a shot. Normally it evens up a little bit. The
defense got their shots in, the offense got theirs and there was no damage
done.

"It's always good to come out and practice at night. It seems like there's
always a little bit more emotion. Guys feel like it's more of a game-type
situation. I think we were definitely able to get that tonight."

Benson was hit on back-to-back runs. His fumble on the first play was
scooped up by Charles Tillman, while Ricky Manning Jr. nailed the running
back on the next snap.

"It was just a couple of off-guard shots," Benson said. "I wasn't trying to
hit them, but I guess they were trying to hit me. I think they were just
breaking me in."

When asked about knocking Harris halfway toward Kankakee during a late
two-minute drill, Benson deadpanned: "They asked for it. I don't know if he
was really coming up the field or if he was just getting in position, but I
was running hard."

Briggs, meanwhile, was back running with the No. 1 base defense after taking
reps with the starting nickel unit Friday. He had been working with the
second team since he stopped attending voluntary offseason workouts after
discussions about a long-term contract ended.

"We were just going to see how it played out," Smith said. "First we had to
see exactly what type of shape Lance was in. Lance is a Pro Bowl player. We
realize that. It was good to get him back on the field."

Asked how Briggs performed in Saturday night's practice, Smith joked:
"Pretty good. He's a scholarship player. We're going to keep him a while."

Briggs was informed by linebackers coach Bob Babich earlier in the day that
he had reclaimed his job. "He told me, 'You're with the ones today,' Briggs
said. "All I could do was smile."


On 7/31/06, Senzigx4 <senzigx4 at charter.net> wrote:
>
> BOURBONNAIS, Ill. (AP) -- Lance Briggs hopped on his
> bike with a smile on his face, refusing to criticize
> the Chicago Bears or his situation. In less than six
> months, he's gone from Pro Bowl linebacker to backup.
>
> Like teammate Thomas Jones, the team's leading rusher
> last season, Briggs was demoted off the first unit by
> coach Lovie Smith after skipping voluntary workouts
> over the offseason.
>
> With a year left on his contract, Briggs and the Bears
> failed to reach agreement on an extension for a
> linebacker who made a career-high 170 tackles last
> season and has returned three interceptions for
> touchdowns in his three-year career.
>
> His agent, Drew Rosenhaus, who also represents Jones
> and several other Bears, was at Chicago's training
> camp Friday. Approached by reporters, Rosenhaus rolled
> up the window of his car and pulled away.
>
> "My agent stopped by and he's got a couple players on
> the team and he just checked on us. It's good," Briggs
> said. I'm happy to see him. He's active and he's doing
> his job."
>
> Is Rosenhaus ready to get him a new deal?
>
> "No, your agent doesn't get you a new contract. You
> get it by how you play," Briggs said.
>
> Bears general manager Jerry Angelo said there were no
> prospects right now for a new contract for Briggs.
> Negotiations between Angelo and Rosenhaus broke down
> this spring.
>
> "We gave it our very best shot and it didn't work out.
> Unfortunate," Angelo said, adding "it's not an issue"
> with training camp under way.
>
> Angelo also wouldn't discuss trade scenarios for
> Jones, who's out with a sore hamstring, but added the
> Bears would certainly consider anything that would
> improve their team. Cedric Benson has moved up to
> first team in place of Jones.
>
> "We're focused on the season right now. I'm focused on
> the team. I'm not focused on Lance Briggs. I'm not
> focused on Thomas Jones," Angelo said. "I'm not going
> to get into personal issues with any player at this
> time."
>
> Briggs ran with the first-team nickel defense during a
> steamy practice Friday at Olivet Nazarene University.
> But Leon Joe manned his spot on the first-team regular
> defense.
>
> "I'm just happy to see all the guys, all the returning
> starters out there," Briggs said. "I love the twos.
> But, man, there is nothing like being out there with
> the ones."
>
> Smith said Briggs was being brought around slowly.
>
> AP - Jul 27, 5:18 pm EDT
> More Photos
>
>
> "We worked him in on some of the nickel situations. It
> takes a while to work your way all the way back up,"
> Smith said.
>
> "It's been a while since he's really been out here
> doing this type of work so we need to bring him along
> slowly and we'll do that."
>
> Briggs said he wasn't told he was being punished for
> skipping OTAs (Organized Team Activities) in the
> offseason. And he wasn't sure how to view his demotion
> after he'd made his first Pro Bowl. He was a
> third-round draft pick out of Arizona in 2003.
>
> "I think in some countries, yeah, it can be viewed as
> punishment. Here, I don't know what to call it," he
> said.
>
> "It's Day 2 in camp. Although I have started every
> camp up to this year, except my rookie year, it's all
> right. It's fine with me. I'm not bitter about it,
> let's put it like that."
>
> Notes
>
> Smith said Jones underwent an MRI on his hamstring.
> "He has a mild strain," Smith said. "Hopefully he'll
> be back fairly soon. But we don't know exactly how
> long that will be." ... The Bears announced that DB
> Willie Amos has a torn knee ligament and could be
> headed to injured reserve. They cut RB Tony Hollings,
> a four-year veteran out of Georgia Tech.
>
> __________________________________________________
>
>
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-- 
--Kegger