Lance Briggs' Free Agent Diary

[Ruben Douglas]

http://chicagosports.chicagotribune.com ... 1429.story

I'm starting to look forward to this guy leaving. I don't think this guy knows how to deal with money when he has it. Just read some of the things he has to say. It almost seems like he's trying to make you feel sorry for the himself because he had to be franchised last season and make $7M. Then he starts to tell you how all of his buddies keep telling him how much he deserves a new contract and it should be taken seriously because he's played with them. It's almost like he's trying to justify what he's done to himself. Just leave already...the Bears have lost Holdman and Colvin and they'll be fine when they lose you, Briggs.

[Howling Mad]

When we lose this guy our defense will be come a lot weaker, but the Bears have always been a linebacker factory, so I guess I'm not that worried.

[Posey H8er]

Jamar Williams will be a reasonable backup, and I'm excited to see what he can bring to the table alongside Urlacher.

[batman_crip14]

briggs saved the bears butts more than you guys might think. at first i was all for him leaving, but then i really thought about it and watched him play this season... he is worth the money he is asking for and you has huge potential in the long run, and urlacher aint getting younger people...
berrian on the other hand, different story, should be paid gumdrops for his dropped passes and quitting on routes

[jem3cerna]

GIVE BRIGGS HIS MONEY HES DESERVING, HE PROVED IT LAST YEAR EVEN THO THE TEAM WAS PRETTY BAD, CANT AFFORD TO LOOSE HIM, WE ALSO HAVE TO SIGN STALLWORTH AND BRING BACK BERRIAN, AYAJABEDO ALSO NEEDS TO COME BACK WE WILL STILL HAVE LIKE 10-15 to spend.

[Ruben Douglas]

What I think it now comes down to is this. I retract my statement above for this reason. I don't think that the difference without Briggs will be as big as many people think. I'd rather have the Bears save the money they would spend on Briggs and address other needs (O-Line, WR's) via Free Agency. Unfortunately, JA and the Bears front office have decided that they will not sign any better than mediocre FA's this year. The Bears might as well throw the money Briggs' way and resign him since this is the case. Too bad JA looks like he's decided to let all the FA's walk and fill the holes with 8 draft picks.

I never thought the Bears offense could get any worse than it did last season. Boy, was I ever wrong. We are supposed to believe that Angelo has suddenly learned how to evaluate offensive talent within the past 12 months and will be able to pick up a starting RB, 2 starting O-Lineman, a future QB, and at least a number 2 WR in one draft. Not to mention the Bears still need a Safety, some DT depth, and some OLB depth, because Williams seems to be Briggs' successor.

At least we are set at KR and PR.

[dougthonus]

There are no quality free agents to spend the money on really. Briggs might be the 2nd or 3rd best FA in this class.

Even if we save the money there is no where else reasonable to spend it. With the increase in the salary cap, we'd have to vastly overpay to get mediocre players otherwise.

So the real question here is do you save your money and just try for next year and hope most other teams piss away their extra money on crappy players giving you a better hand in the future? I don't think that's really likely.

If you want a good team this yera, then you pretty much have to go after Briggs IMO.

[The Futurist]

Looks like Briggs is staying with the Bears....6 years...36 mill

http://blogs.chicagosports.chicagotribu ... l-sta.html

Wow, very surprising

[NoSkyy]

So, uh, anyone want to retract their "I hate Briggs, I don't care if we sign him" comments?