[CBFF] ESPN - Briggs to Bears: Rescind the tag or trade me

[Kenny Claxton]

It's called a negotiation.  If he sits out, he doesn't get paid and loses
even more $$ than he already is by not having a long term deal (see bonus
money). This will be an interesting negotiation.
On 3/5/07, Steve Behrens <steve.behrens at gmail.com> wrote:

> Who do you think is pulling Brigg's strings here.... yes, the Evil One
> surely is orchestrating this.
>
> I say let Lance sit if he wants to sit, and then tag his ass again, next
> year and let him sit... suspend him for numerous games if he gives them
> reason....  It just pisses me off when they go out and use the press to
> wage
> their wars....
>
> -Behr
>
>
>
>
> On 3/5/07, Jerry Madsen <jerrywm at gmail.com> wrote:
> >
> > Updated: March 5, 2007, 10:31 AM ET
> > Briggs to Bears: Rescind the tag or trade me
> > By Len Pasquarelli
> > ESPN.com
> >
> > Under the right circumstances, two-time Pro Bowl linebacker Lance
> > Briggs could play his entire career with the Chicago Bears, and be a
> > happy man.
> >
> > Under the restrictive terms of the franchise designation with which
> > the Bears have marked him, though, and with the defending NFC
> > champions apparently offering him nothing more than the one-year
> > option it entails, Briggs said Sunday evening that he doesn't want to
> > play another day for the club that brought him into the league in
> > 2003.
> >
> > "There's a difference between the Chicago Bears team and the Chicago
> > Bears organization," Briggs told ESPN.com, when reached Sunday evening
> > at his home in suburban Chicago. "The Chicago Bears team? The coaches,
> > players, city and fans? Yeah, I could stay there forever. I love it.
> > But the Chicago Bears organization? I don't want to be there anymore.
> > I won't play for them and I'll do everything in my power to keep from
> > playing there."
> >
> > In a 30-minute conversation by phone, Briggs -- distressed by the
> > restrictions of the NFL franchise tag, by his inability to shop
> > himself in the free agent market, and by the recent departure of
> > defensive coordinator Ron Rivera -- offered his first insights into
> > his current situation.
> >
> > And he offered, Briggs said, what is the only truly viable solution to
> > an untenable circumstance.
> >
> > "They need to either [rescind] the franchise tag, and let me move on,
> > or trade me to another team," Briggs said. "Because that's about the
> > only way this thing can have any kind of a positive resolution."
> >
> > Having failed last spring to consummate a long-term contract with
> > Briggs -- reportedly a six-year, $33 million deal on which both sides
> > worked for several weeks before the negotiations collapsed -- the
> > Bears employed the franchise tag last week to keep the four-year
> > veteran off the open market.
> >
> > It marked the first time under the stewardship of general manager
> > Jerry Angelo, who in the past has acknowledged the potential acrimony
> > that accompanies the franchise marker, the Bears have used the
> > restriction.
> >
> > The qualifying offer for a franchise linebacker is $7.206 million, the
> > average of the top five highest paid players at the position. But only
> > three days into free agency, top defenders such as cornerback Nate
> > Clements (with San Francisco), edge rusher Adalius Thomas (New
> > England) and middle linebacker London Fletcher-Baker (Washington) have
> > signed lucrative contracts with new teams.
> >
> > Sitting at home, watching the free agency parade pass him by, Briggs
> > became, he acknowledged, increasingly frustrated by his lot. And not
> > just, he emphasized, by the financial implications of the situation.
> >
> > "You hate to get into that whole 'lack of respect' thing," Briggs
> > said. "But you play four years for a team, do your best, exceed their
> > expectations, right? And every year, it's like, 'You played great,
> > Lance.' And they kind of dangle the carrot, like they're going to take
> > care of you, and then it doesn't happen. I mean, I was a middle-round
> > pick and I've played well for them. Four years and at just
> > middle-round salaries. I haven't caused any kinds of problems. I've
> > done everything they asked and them some. And I don't know if I ever
> > really knew where I stood with them until they put the tag on me."
> >
> > A former Arizona standout, Briggs was chosen by the Bears in the third
> > round of the 2003 draft. He earned a starting job as a rookie, emerged
> > by his third seasons as one of the NFL's top young weakside 'backers,
> > and was chosen for the Pro Bowl in each of the past two seasons.
> >
> > Even playing in the lengthy shadow of middle linebacker Brian
> > Urlacher, with whom he has become close friends, Briggs is regarded
> > leaguewide as a top defender and playmaker.
> >
> > He did sit out the voluntary portion of the team's offseason workouts
> > last spring, it should be noted, but reported for the mandatory
> > workouts and was in training camp on time.
> >
> > There is little doubt that if Briggs was in the unrestricted pool
> > right now, he would be a coveted player. But the Bears seem inclined
> > to force him to play for the one-year franchise offer and there have
> > been no discussions on a long-term deal since last spring. Under the
> > current rules, Chicago has until July 16 to sign Briggs to a longer
> > deal or he must play 2007 for the franchise number.
> >
> > Which is something, Briggs said Sunday night, he won't do.
> >
> > "It's a great bunch of guys with a great future, but I can't see
> > myself as being part of that future anymore," Briggs said. "Whatever
> > options are available to me, I'll take advantage of them. But going
> > back and playing for the Bears again, no, I don't see that as an
> > option. Not one more day. Not at all."
> >
> > Senior writer Len Pasquarelli covers the NFL for ESPN.com.
> >
> > --
> > http://bloggeddrain.typepad.com
> >
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