[CBFF] [Fwd: Briggs due in court to explain why he's left state without permission]

[Tom Shannon]

-------- Original Message --------
Subject: 	Briggs due in court to explain why he's left state without 
permission
Date: 	Thu, 24 Apr 2008 20:51:38 GMT
From: 	<Brad Biggs>



Not only is *Lance Briggs* skipping out on $250,000 by passing on the 
voluntary offseason program, his absence has caught the attention of the 
courts.

The Bears’ linebacker is due before Cook County *Judge Earl Hoffenberg* 
June 19 to explain why he has left the state without the court’s permission.

Michael Sneed details the situation in today’s edition 
<http://www.suntimes.com/news/sneed/912763,CST-NWS-SNEED24.article>.

Briggs was ordered to get permission to leave Illinois and according to 
the court has not done that. This following his high-stakes crash on the 
Edens Expy. last summer when he wrecked his Lamborghini. Briggs called 
911 and lied, reporting his vehicle had been stolen. Later, he fessed up 
to splitting the scene of the accident.

Hoffenberg also wants to look into how Briggs’ community service is 
coming along. Sneed says he’s completed two of 120 hours thus far. That 
leaves him with 118 to knock out in the next five months. That means 
he’s roughly has to do eight-hour days for three weeks to bang it out. 
So when he returns to the area, football won’t be the only business 
venture he’ll have to occupy his time.

We’ll see if the team has comment. A message has been left. This can't 
sit well with the club after handing him a $36 million, six-year 
contract last month. General manager *Jerry Angelo* has talked about 
needing to evaluate character, and said he was comfortable with Briggs 
after the incident with the Lamborghini.

The Bears have protected themselves in the deal. That is why the club, 
as the Sun-Times previously reported, delayed the $3.3 million roster 
bonus in 2010 until June 10. Typically, roster bonuses are paid at or 
near the start of the league year in March. In this instance, the Bears 
will not have to make a decision with regards to paying (and keeping 
Briggs) beyond the second year of the contract until well after free 
agency and the draft. If the Bears deem it's time to cut ties with 
Briggs, they'll have opportunity to replace him. At that point, they 
will be able to cut him loose and turn the $36 million deal (really 
$35.75 million now) into a two-year, $14.9 million contract.

Perhaps this is the type of thing Angelo was worried about when he 
insisted on the delayed bonus.

*UPDATED*: Team spokesman *Scott Hagel* said the Bears would have no 
comment on the matter at this point.