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Players concede it's likely bye-bye, Briggs -- chicagotribune.com




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Players concede it's likely bye-bye, Briggs
Urlacher: 'I don't think he'll be here'

By Vaughn McClure

Tribune staff reporter

10:26 PM CST, December 31, 2007



As the Bears cleaned out their lockers Monday in preparation for the
off-season, Brian Urlacher pondered the future of friend and fellow
linebacker Lance Briggs.

 "I don't think he'll be here," Urlacher said. "I don't think the
Bears will pay him what he wants.

 "He deserves to be compensated for the way he's played. No matter if
it's here or somewhere else, he's earned the right to be one of the
highest-paid players in this league.

 "Probably not going to happen here, but he's definitely played his
way into that role."

 Told of Urlacher's comments, Briggs tried to sound optimistic regardless.

 "Anything is possible, but history says that Brian's right," he said.
"But you know what? You just never know. I can stay hopeful. I'm a
positive person.

 "In this situation, even if I'm trying to think positively about a
deal being made with the Bears, I'm not down about it because if it
doesn't work out with the Bears, it's definitely going to work out
somewhere else."

 Briggs, who made $7.235 million this season after signing a one-year
tender as the Bears' franchise player, is sure to be a highly sought
free agent. Asked what type of money he desires, Briggs couldn't come
up with a figure.

 "I know who the top free agents are this off-season, and I know I'm
among that group," he said. "Whatever that is, I don't know. I'm not
throwing any figure out there."

 Linebacker Adalius Thomas left the Ravens last season and signed a
five-year deal with the Patriots reportedly worth $35 million, with
$20 million guaranteed. Thomas was considered one of the top
unrestricted free agents.

 Bears end Adewale Ogunleye, like Urlacher, doesn't see the Bears
emptying the wallet for Briggs.

 "He won't be here, I don't think so," Ogunleye said. "If you look at
it on the business side, it's going to be tough. Everybody's going to
be coming at Lance. No matter what offer the Bears give Lance, there's
going to be another team that's probably going to give a better deal
than that."

 That's not to say the Bears don't value Briggs. They accepted him
with open arms even after Briggs said he would never play for the
Bears again. All was forgotten when he showed up to camp ready to make
an impact.

 The Bears promised to remove the franchise tag from Briggs and thus
making him an unrestricted free agent as long as he participated in 75
percent of the snaps, which he accomplished. Briggs finished with 140
tackles, second on the team to Urlacher's 158. Briggs was named to the
Pro Bowl.

 "He's a great player," cornerback Nathan Vasher said. "He gives our
team toughness. He gives us substance and an identity on defense. He's
invaluable, the things that he brings on the field and off. He's one
of our locker-room favorites and just a great guy. I would hope that
he comes back."

 Coach Lovie Smith was asked to imagine life without Briggs. He came
up with an analogy related to his family.

 "My young son, Miles, is a senior this year and he's getting ready to
go off to college, and that's a tough thought for me thinking about
him not being in the household anymore," Smith said.

 "Lance has helped us win a lot of football games around here. He's
been a warrior, a trouper. Hopefully, I won't have to go through any
of those [changes], and we're able to see Lance at his same
[weak-side] linebacker position that he's been playing throughout."

 Briggs appreciated the sentiments expressed.

 "It hits the heart," he said. "We built this thing together. And
whether it's been successful or it hasn't, we've done it together.
Even if I'm not here, I think that these guys are in good hands."

 vxmcclure at tribune.com

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