[CBFF] Flurry leaves Bears' Briggs in the cold -- chicagotribune.com - Sent Using Google Toolbar

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Flurry leaves Bears' Briggs in the cold -- chicagotribune.com




www.chicagotribune.com/sports/cs-080229-lance-briggs-chicago-bears,1,1532867.story
chicagotribune.com
Flurry leaves Bears' Briggs in the cold
Bears still in running after free-agent LB stays put on league's big moving day

By Vaughn McClure

Tribune reporter

10:14 PM CST, February 29, 2008



After a flurry of free-agent signings around the NFL on Friday, the
Bears were left with a legitimate chance to keep linebacker Lance
Briggs.

 As agent Drew Rosenhaus previously had said, the Bears remain a major
player in the Briggs sweepstakes heading into Day 2 of free agency.
Briggs was at his home in Arizona early Friday evening, awaiting word
on possible visits. The buzz in Tampa was the Buccaneers were
interested.

 "I wouldn't rule any team out," Briggs said. "Players play, coaches
coach and agents handle the business."

 Talk around the league late Friday suggested Briggs' asking price is
too high and possibly scared teams away. Briggs dismissed that theory.

 "I wouldn't say that what I'm asking for is too high, not at all," he
said without getting specific. "You play for a market value.
Obviously, I didn't set the market. The market was set before I got
there. And that's where it goes."

 It's safe to say Briggs is looking for a deal in the neighborhood of
what Adalius Thomas signed with the New England Patriots last year.
Thomas received a $20 million guaranteed in a five-year, $35 million
deal after leaving the Baltimore Ravens.

 The Bears spent part of Friday preparing for the possibility of
losing Briggs while continuing contract talks with Brian Urlacher over
the possibility of a new deal.

 A team source said free agent Demorrio Williams, a weak-side
linebacker who played for the Atlanta Falcons, is scheduled to visit
Halas Hall next week. Bears defensive coordinator Bob Babich liked
Williams when he was coming out of Nebraska in 2004. The Kansas City
Chiefs reportedly entertained Williams on Friday.

 Unlike Briggs, wide receiver Bernard Berrian looked closer to leaving
the Bears after taking a private jet from California to visit the
Minnesota Vikings. Berrian also is scheduled to visit the Oakland
Raiders this weekend. If Berrian bolts, the Bears might look to Donte'
Stallworth of New England or Bryant Johnson of Arizona, who is
represented by Joel Segal—an agent with whom the Bears have a good,
long-standing relationship.

 Special-teamer Brendon Ayanbadejo could draw interest from the Green
Bay Packers and Philadelphia Eagles in the coming days, but Ayanbadejo
doesn't plan on taking visits until next week.

 The Bears are on the verge of losing tight end John Gilmore to the
Buccaneers. Gilmore agreed in principle to a three-year deal and flew
Friday to Tampa to take a physical. But Gilmore didn't anticipate
signing the deal until at least Saturday.

 "They see me playing a lot on their two-tight-end sets," Gilmore
said. "Everybody knows [ Jon] Gruden plays that way. And I can see
myself being involved, especially in the run game."

 The Bears' running game needs a boost, but it might not come from the
free-agent market. Former Northern Illinois star Michael Turner, the
backup in San Diego, visited the Falcons on Friday. A source close to
Turner said the Bears have yet to express serious interest.

 Julius Jones, brother of former Bears running back Thomas Jones, has
some interest in the Bears. It's unclear where the free agent from the
Dallas Cowboys will end up.

 Pittsburgh's star offensive guard, Alan Faneca, reportedly is headed
to the New York Jets, a day after tackle Flozell Adams re-signed with
the Cowboys. That leaves the Bears will little chance to bolster their
offensive line via free agency, although some second-tier linemen
remain available.

 vxmcclure at tribune.com

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