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

[Victor Waldron (CBFF)]

Actually, the article contains this quote from Briggs:

"I've played my last snap for them. I'll never play another down for Chicago
again."

The real question is: how serious is he about this?  Is is just posturing to get the Bears to  blink first?

V


Chuck Soukup wrote:
> He won't sit out.  He didn't say the words "I will not play if the bears 
> don't extend the contract or remove the franchise tag."   He said, that not 
> playing is "on his list of possibilities."  This tells me he is bluffing and 
> he would be stupid to pass up 7.2 million.  Plus, he wouldn't want to miss 
> out on another possible playoff/superbowl run.
>
> Chuck
> ----- Original Message ----- 
> From: "Nat Mara" <azbearfan34 at cox.net>
> To: <post at chicagobearsfanforum.com>
> Sent: Tuesday, March 13, 2007 6:26 PM
> Subject: Re: [CBFF] Briggs reportedly 'prepared to sit' if Bears won't deal
>
>
>   
>> The gamble to not sign last year's deal was probably a good one on his 
>> part.
>> I believe the offer was like 7 yrs/33 million.  That is not even as good 
>> as
>> Joey Porter just signed and is definitely beneath what he will eventually
>> sign.  I, for one, am not thrilled with the way either side is handling
>> these negotiations.  One way or another he will get market value, the
>> question is whether or not it is from the Bears, and just how much 
>> acrimony
>> will build up.
>>
>> Nat
>>
>> -----Original Message-----
>> From: cbff-bounces at chicagobearsfanforum.com
>> [mailto:cbff-bounces at chicagobearsfanforum.com] On Behalf Of mom2iancal
>> Sent: Tuesday, March 13, 2007 6:19 AM
>> To: post at chicagobearsfanforum.com
>> Subject: Re: [CBFF] Briggs reportedly 'prepared to sit' if Bears won't 
>> deal
>>
>> He can't be so stupid that he's willing to lost 7.2 million dollars!!!  Or
>> can he?   I would have liked to have seen him signed to a long term
>> contract,  but now I say let his ASS sit if he's that stupid!!!  Let him
>> take out his loans to get through the year w/no job and no paycheck.   He
>> took the gamble last year turning down the contract that was offered to 
>> him,
>> he knew that the Bears would have the right to franchise him and they did.
>> In my opinion, he has no right to be pissed off at the Bears organization.
>>
>> That being said, I think he'll eat crow come September and he'll don his 
>> #55
>> and get his sorry ass out on the field.
>>
>> Teri
>> ~A Morning  Without Coffee is Sleep~
>>
>>
>> ----- Original Message -----
>> From: "Jerry Madsen" <jerrywm at gmail.com>
>> To: "CBFF" <post at chicagobearsfanforum.com>
>> Sent: Tuesday, March 13, 2007 6:14 AM
>> 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
>>>
>>> _______________________________________________
>>> Check out the CBFF Blog:
>>> blog.chicagobearsfanforum.com
>>> CBFF Homepage:
>>> www.chicagobearsfanforum.com
>>>
>>>       
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>
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