Chicago Bears linebacker Lance Briggs, who got the franchise designation and wasn't too happy about it, told FOXSports.com's Jay Glazer that he'll never suit up for the Bears again. "I am now prepared to sit out the year if the Bears don't trade me or release me," Briggs told FOXSports.com via cell phone Monday. "I've played my last snap for them. I'll never play another down for Chicago again."Lance Briggs is not playing around.
I don't know if it's such a good idea to make a bold proclamation like that. It sort of leaves you nowhere to go. It's usually never a good idea to limit your own options.
Still, I understand his stance. He wants a long-term deal, and the way NFL contracts work, things are slanted very heavily into the favor of organizations. Threatening to not play at all is about the only course of action Lance Briggs has.
And not only that, it might make financial sense for him, too. Yes, he leaves $7.2 million on the table by not playing. But if he decides to play for that $7.2 mil and become a free agent in the off-season ... what happens if he goes that route, and gets hurt this season? Then, he gets his $7.2, and that's it. What if he has a down year, what if the Bears defense as a whole isn't very good? Long-term, there's a chance it could cost Lance Briggs a lot of money to play this year.
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Reader Comments (Page 1 of 3)
3-13-2007 @ 1:21AM
Gian said...
I'm sick of all this "what if" talk. If Briggs plays poorly this season, that's his own fault, and he doesn't deserve a top-notch contract. If he gets hurt, he gets hurt. Worse comes to worse, he retires with 7.2 mil in his pocket. Doesn't sound so bad to me. He HAD an opportunity to sign a very lucrative long-term contract with the Bears, and he turned it down. He is just like every other professional athlete these days: it's all about the money. It is purely that simple. These are selfish players who obviously don't care about loyalty to their team. It's all me me me. Makes me sad and not want to watch professional sports ever again.
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3-13-2007 @ 1:32AM
Jordan Wallace said...
perhaps Briggs truly just doesn't want to work for the Bears anymore. It may not be about the money, if you signed a contract with a company and after some time decided you'd rather live off your savings then work another day for them, we wouldn't say you were selfish. This may be less amount money, and more about just personal dislike. I cant say I fault a guy who states affirmatively "I won't do it, you can't make me" He is under contract, not enslaved.
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3-13-2007 @ 3:14AM
Tom Evans said...
Assuming that Briggs' reported stance about not playing for the Bears again as a result of the failure to reach an accord on a long term deal (one that he turned down last year) is true, do you think that there is any correlation between his attitude and the fact that his agent is Drew Rosenhaus?
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3-13-2007 @ 3:17AM
Tom Evans said...
As for the effectiveness of Rosenhaus' assistance in Briggs' situation - Next question
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3-13-2007 @ 3:32AM
Williams said...
Mr Briggs has every right not to suit up for the bears next year although he's under contract. to hell with the bears they didn't think about his situation when they gave him the franchise tag why should he think about their's. Go lance get as much of their money as you can, this is a free market society isn't? : )
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3-13-2007 @ 4:21AM
jojograb said...
7 million to play 1 year...geez Come on Briggs. be happy you got that much. Maybe next year you can try the market and get someone else to pay you more. So tighten up your jock strap and go hit somebody.
Geez $437,500 per game. If you get injured they will still pay you to sit on the bench. talk about a primadonna.....
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3-13-2007 @ 6:50AM
BigB1954 said...
We long time Bears fans have been down this road before in 1985 when Al Harris and the late Todd Bell sat out the Super Bowl year, tried to come back and were never the same. While I know the reputation of Bears Management, I am on their side here...Briggs should play next season and then leave. He knew the deal when he signed a contract. Lance you want to sit out...watch the games with me but you need t o bring the snacks!
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3-13-2007 @ 7:08AM
V.C. said...
I totally agree with Gian, it seems like everything about athlete's these days is me me me.... I remember a few years ago there was a baseball player who playes for the RED SOX who wanted a new contract with the team, he did'nt get what he wanted (money) he said over & over again that it had nothing to do with money.He signed with a twam out West had a so-so first year and was never heard again after that.... A few days after he signed with that team out West he did come back and say it was about the money....Anybody who is in the entertainment field whether it be music, sports ect. makes way too much money, and for what?? are'nt they all human like us?Why is it ALL these cry baby's make millions of dollars and I'm lucky if I have two nickles to rub together after I get paid.
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3-13-2007 @ 7:15AM
robert kennedy said...
I FOR ONE WOULD LOVE TO SEE THE FANS BOYCOTT SPORTS FOR AT LEAST ONE YEAR AND SEND A MESSAGE TO THE OWNERS, PLAYERS,AND TO THE TV MEDIA WITHOUT THE FANS YOU WOULD HAVE TO FOLD YOUR TENTS.EVERY YEAR AND EVREY SPORT THE FANS HAVE TO LISTEN TO THE SAME CRAP.
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3-13-2007 @ 7:29AM
malakas said...
hey if he is unhappy ship him of to the jets for Mcdonalds money like they did thomas jones
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3-13-2007 @ 7:30AM
Becky said...
Briggs is an over-paid, over-indulged, no character, no integrity piece of garbage! Honor your contract, little man! Of course, without you, "Da Bears" would definitely have a better chance at "Super-Stardom" next time around. Say, I have an idea, why don't you go to Miami? It would be like two peas in a pod. You are both losers!!!!!!!!!!!
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3-13-2007 @ 7:35AM
Becky said...
Briggs is an over-paid, over-indulged, no character, no integrity piece of garbage! Honor your contract, little man! Of course, without you, "Da Bears" would definitely have a better chance at "Super-Stardom" next time around. Say, I have an idea, why don't you go to Miami? It would be like two peas in a pod. You are both losers!!!!!!!!!!!
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3-13-2007 @ 8:08AM
Ernie said...
It's all about the money!
What ever happened to those guys that play for the love of the game.
It makes me sick to hear guys talk about not wanting to play because they might get injured. Injuries are part of the game. Why doesn't Briggs take his ball and go home to mommy. I know she doesn't want him to get injured either.
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3-13-2007 @ 9:29AM
woldman2 said...
Let him sit...who cares? If he wants to throw away that much money, then he deserves to not get paid. He'd make .05% TOPS of that not playing and having to WORK for a living. Geeez, talk about ungrateful?
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3-13-2007 @ 9:51AM
Adam said...
Trade him to a worse team and let him watch his ex teammates get into the playoffs or SB without him, we ll see how he feels...players choose greed over winning. If i was the coach or management, i d cut him and find a replacement, its not so hard to find more good players out there,, Briggs isnt the only one out there who can help any team win...i could find a guy off the street! Get rid of him, the Bears dont need a whiner, just a winner.
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3-13-2007 @ 10:35AM
Gail Harris said...
Pogo said words to the effect , " I looked at the enemy and the enemy was me". Briggs should get over his ego trip. Maybe he could get a job helping Rudy Guillani. There he could find out about integrity
and honesty.
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3-13-2007 @ 10:35AM
Gail Harris said...
Pogo said words to the effect , " I looked at the enemy and the enemy was me". Briggs should get over his ego trip. Maybe he could get a job helping Rudy Guillani. There he could find out about integrity
and honesty.
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3-13-2007 @ 10:45AM
TD said...
The root of the problem is his agent. He is worried about his % of the deal he stands to make. Briggs signed a contract and only the team has to honor it obviously! Not only is he being paid for next year if he plays, he's probably got insurance against injury while playing. What would he make if unemployed and he gets hurt?????
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3-13-2007 @ 11:08AM
NORB said...
What other teams really want Briggs???
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3-13-2007 @ 11:30AM
WITZ said...
I wish I made 7.2 million in my lifetime!!!!!
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