[CBFF] Briggs reportedly 'prepared to sit' if Bears won't deal

[Ross McCoy]

Lance Briggs realistically cannot afford to sit out the year (or would be
an absolute fool to do so). Sean Gilbert is the only one who has done it,
but he had the benefit of a 1st round draft pick first contract and some
money in the bank. Lance is poor by NFL standards and would not even come
close to making up for the lost $7M in a contract starting next year if he
sat out. This in my opinion is pure posturing which isn't going to get him
anywhere because everyone knows he can't rationally make good on his
threat. That being said if some team made an attractive enough offer for
him, i.e. early/mid first rounder, I think the Bears would trade him. I don't
think that is going to happen though... 

Ross

Tom Shannon (tshanno at gmail.com) writes:
> Posturing.  I would just ignore it.  If Briggs isn't there for the first
> regular season game, then I'll be worried.  Until then it's just hot air
> rising from fresh BS.
> 
> Tom S.
> 
> > -----Original Message-----
> > From: cbff-bounces at chicagobearsfanforum.com [mailto:cbff-
> > bounces at chicagobearsfanforum.com] On Behalf Of Jan van der Laan
> > Sent: Tuesday, March 13, 2007 7:22 AM
> > To: post at chicagobearsfanforum.com
> > Subject: Re: [CBFF] Briggs reportedly 'prepared to sit' if Bears won't
> > deal
> > 
> > Is this guy smoking pott, or what??
> > If he sits out next season (and doesn't get paid anything) is it
> > possible to slap the tag for another season and let him sit out another
> > season without pay?
> > 
> > Jan
> > 
> > ----- Original Message ----
> > From: Jerry Madsen <jerrywm at gmail.com>
> > To: CBFF <post at chicagobearsfanforum.com>
> > Sent: Tuesday, 13 March, 2007 12:14:41 PM
> > Subject: [CBFF] Briggs reportedly 'prepared to sit' if Bears won't deal
> > 
> > 
> > 42 Franchise tags have been issued to 30 different players.
> > 
> > Trades forced by result of the tag?  3.
> > 
> > Games missed as a result of the tag?  0.
> > 
> > See you September, Lance.
> > 
> > -----------------------------------------------------------------------
> > ---------------
> > 
> > 
> > Updated: March 13, 2007, 2:52 AM ET
> > Briggs reportedly 'prepared to sit' if Bears won't deal
> > ESPN.com news services
> > 
> > The glow of a Super Bowl appearance can't extinguish the shadows that
> > are creeping up on the Chicago Bears.
> > 
> > Top running back Thomas Jones was shipped to New York last week and
> > now this week, Pro Bowl linebacker Lance Briggs took his war of words
> > to the next level.
> > 
> > "I am now prepared to sit out the year if the Bears don't trade me or
> > release me," Briggs told FoxSports.com on Monday night. "I've played
> > my last snap for them. I'll never play another down for Chicago
> > again."
> > 
> > Frustrated that he couldn't work out an extension with the Bears and
> > angered that the team slapped the franchise designation on him, Briggs
> > told ESPN.com a week ago that a trade would be in the best interest of
> > all parties.
> > 
> > Bears general manager Jerry Angelo countered that he felt the $7.2
> > million the team would pay Briggs next season was very fair. The
> > linebacker reportedly turned down a seven-year, $33 million deal in
> > March 2006. Now, he's ready to gamble again.
> > 
> > "People think I can't afford to sit out the year -- I can take out
> > loans to get me through that year just fine because eventually I'll
> > have a deal somewhere," Briggs told FoxSports.com. "There are things I
> > can do to make sure I'm fine financially if I sit out. I can also
> > decide what other course of action I can take as the season gets
> > closer. The Bears have shown I'm not in their long-term plans so if
> > that's the case, I don't want to be here."
> > 
> > Money might not be the only reason Briggs wants out of Chicago. He
> > said he wants to be the leader of a team and knows he'll never
> > overtake Brian Urlacher in Chicago.
> > 
> > "I've talked to Brian about it," Briggs told the Web site. "I'm a
> > competitor and I want the same thing he has. I've learned a lot from
> > Brian as a player and a leader and I eventually want to be 'the man'
> > somewhere. I want to be like him and have everything put on me too.
> > Obviously I'll never be able to do that there.
> > 
> > "Still, had the Bears made me a long-term offer that I found
> > acceptable, I probably would have sacrificed this desire and stayed. I
> > don't want to be somewhere I'm not wanted long-term."
> > 
> > --
> > http://bloggeddrain.typepad.com
> > 
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