[CBFF] Bears hold out hope :: CHICAGO SUN-TIMES :: Bears - Sent Using Google Toolbar

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Pretty optimistic.  We'll see.

Tom S.
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Bears hold out hope :: CHICAGO SUN-TIMES :: Bears

Bears hold out hope
 FREE AGENTS | Berrian has yet to sign with Vikes; Briggs running out
of options


March 1, 2008
BY BRAD BIGGS bbiggs at suntimes.com

For all the talk about the Bears low-balling their free agents, 24
hours into free agency it looked like they were right on the money.

Wide receiver Bernard Berrian visited Minnesota on Friday but has yet
to sign a contract, an indication the Vikings were not outbidding the
Bears. Berrian is scheduled to travel to Oakland today.

» Click to enlarge image
Bears linebacker Lance Briggs
(Tom Cruze/Sun-Times)


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The market for three-time Pro Bowl linebacker Lance Briggs seems to
have all but evaporated. Briggs has a big-money contract on the table
from the Bears, and it looked late Friday night as if the New Orleans
Saints could be the only team left to bid against them.

It's believed Briggs has yet to schedule a visit. Sources close to the
negotiations said reports he was headed to see the Tampa Bay
Buccaneers weren't correct. It wouldn't make a lot of sense for the
Bucs, with linebackers Cato June and Derrick Brooks in the fold, to
throw top dollar at a third player ideally suited for the weak side.

Washington doesn't have the money to bid for Briggs, and San Francisco
fell out of the running when it signed Dontarrious Thomas. Cleveland
and the New York Jets are believed to be out of the hunt, leaving the
Saints, who traded for Jonathan Vilma on Friday, as the only serious
contender at this point. New Orleans, which will play Vilma in the
middle, might have the money to retool its defense by adding Briggs on
the weak side.

The Bears desperately want at least one of the players back. At this
point, one source called it a 50/50 possibility that both could
return, with the organization armed with $20 million in available cap
room.

Berrian took a physical after arriving in Minneapolis in owner Zygi
Wilf's private jet. The Vikings are hoping the only reason he will
have to visit the Bay Area is for sightseeing. He's expected to meet
with coaches in the morning. However, if Minnesota would have knocked
him over with a contract offer, the deal would be done. That's how the
NFC North rivals lured in safety Madieu Williams and fullback Thomas
Tapeh on Friday.

Berrian is seeking $24.5 million over the first three years of a deal
with $18 million guaranteed and an average of $8 million per year. The
Bears offered $25 million over five seasons with $8 million to sign, a
proposal agent Drew Rosenhaus never countered. If the Vikings don't
come close, Berrian could head to the Raiders in an effort to drive up
his price. Oakland has been spending big, landing safety Gibril Wilson
for $39 million over six seasons a day after Tommy Kelly got a record
deal for defensive tackles.

Briggs is in a peculiar position because some expected him to be the
top free agent overall. Cornerback Asante Samuel got the biggest
windfall, reportedly $57 million for six seasons from Philadelphia.

When the frenzy concludes by the end of the weekend, most of the big
money already will be spent. The Bears have covered themselves by
arranging a visit Tuesday with linebacker Demorrio Williams, who
started in Kansas City on Friday and will be in Tampa on Monday. He
has been a durable performer for the Atlanta Falcons, and the Bears
liked him when he was a fourth-round pick from Nebraska in 2004.
Defensive coordinator Bob Babich, then the linebackers coach, visited
him before the draft and was enamored.

The contingency plan at receiver includes at least four names. Javon
Walker is an interesting possibility, and when healthy he could be a
No. 1. Donte Stallworth, also represented by Rosenhaus, could be in
the picture. The Bears are exploring the possibility of bringing in
Bryant Johnson for a visit. He's a younger version of Muhsin Muhammad
who could flourish by escaping the shadows of Larry Fitzgerald and
Anquan Boldin in Arizona. Johnson could be a ''Z'' receiver for the
Bears with Mark Bradley and Devin Hester working at the ''X.''

Another option is D.J. Hackett, whom the Bears are known to have had
internal discussions about. Hackett has the speed to be an ''X'' and
is a bigger guy, which the Bears probably would prefer.

Hackett played in only six regular-season games last year, hampered by
a sprained right ankle, and produced only 32 receptions for 384 yards
and three touchdowns. He put together a 101-yard game with a touchdown
in Seattle's wild-card round victory over Washington.