Briggs is in

This could prove to be the biggest off season move any team has made!

Now Lance, do NOT spend the damn money frivolously, and you can walk away next year if they do not give you a long term contract. Do NOT, I repeat, DO NOT come back next year with the same gripe NO MATTER how great of a season you have. Take the DAMN money and RUN! You have a percursor now that you know what happen with Tank, stay out of trouble and TAKE THE DAMN MONEY AND RUN!

I got Lance on my side, who want Rex?

That's great. Now this gives them a good, if not great chance of winning the division and makeing some noise in the playoffs again. They have some question marks, however so does every team heading to training camp.

I'm guessing he was having problems finding a seven-hundred-thousand dollar loan and decided to settle for seven million guaranteed.

With that said, it's obvious he's not coming back next year. Let's home Jamar Williams is up to snuff by then.

Nice but he should have taken the original deal that would have made him one of the top paid LBs in the game.
He mishandled the whole situation and after saying some harsh words about the team he ends up playing for the Bears anyway. That was dumb.
Now that the Bears have resigned Briggs, Lovie, Vasher and Tillman and have signed all of their draft picks everyone who whined that they were imploding can have a big cup of crow.

I believe the quote was "I will never play another down for the Bears". I'm sure the next quote will be "it's not about the money".

I'm happy... he will have to be motivated to prove he's worth more than the Bears original contract offer. I think they are set for sure now.

On the other hand, someone please fire Jay Mariotti. He does not represent a single Chicago sports fan other than himself when he writes.

My thoughts all along have been on Babich, and how creative and disruptive he's going to make this defense. This gives him one more wildcard in his hand. Come on Buddy, I mean Bob, your deck is stacked. Make '85 a mirrored memory.

Good 2 have Lance back. Now...if we could just get RID of Rex.

It's great to have lance back, he's a monster next to Urlacher, but most guys are.

I'm so tired of Rex bashing, last year was basically his first full season of action and he had some money games...give him a break and he could turn some heads.

I'm glad he signed. There was no way anyone was going to sympathize w/ him. not me, at least. The only downside about all of this, is attention will be back on Rex. Here we go again with "the get rid of rex train..."

How early is too early to draft the Bears D? Like I'm thinking 5th round. In real life - it's back to the BIG GAME, BABY!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Good news! The Bear defense should be awesome this year, and with the offensive additions, the offense should make them even better.
I don't usually knock sportswriters, but Mariotti does seem pretty inconsistent. Calling Briggs a "diplomat" today has to be one of his silliest comments unless he was being ironic. That's one of his problems: he doesn't know how to differentiate the inane from the ironic.

This is the biggest offseason move the bears could have made... you have the whole defense back... no excuses now. If Tommie Harris can comeback to form, the defense will be dominating again.

As for the offense, that will always be the question mark for this team... just hope Benson can carry the load and Rex can improve with a full season under his belt (crossing my fingers!).

Just a note of thanks for your blog, Roman. You don't need to post this unless you want to, but I wanted to let you know that I really enjoy reading the comments from the blog responders. Having been raised in the Chicago area but having spent most of my life in western Wisconsin ( same town as Damien Miller ), I miss the unique attitudes expressed by Chicagoans and " da regionites." Reading your blog entries gives me a pleasant sense of nostalgia. Hooray for the internet!

Roman responds: Are you kidding? All the venomous shots I post (and don't post) and you don't think I'm going to post something nice? Thanks.

I bet a good portion of the posters here are out of staters.

I wanted to say this too, I actually have noticed im checking my other daily sites with less regularity now that ive found romans blog. I guess if its not blogworthy, then its not newsworthy.

Except drudge of course!

I want to second Paul Manter's post. As much as we complain/rant on here, it's a fun way to express ourselves to a local audience. Plus, it has way less commercials then the Score or AM 1000. Great job Roman!

Lance lost on this. He wisely signed because he needed the money - (I wonder how that happened). He gobbled that contract up like a dog who hasnt been fed in a week. Bears got their man on the cheap. This deal has a used-car-salesman feel. His agent failed him, and he has to have another pro-bowl year just to have a chance to get what he should have inked already. Yall can try to make it sound good if you want. He's been taken.

July 17, 2007, 12:56 PM ET

Freeney, the Indianapolis Colts' ***franchise player,**** (asterisks for emphasis)

signed a six-year, $72 million contract with the team Friday that includes a $30 million signing bonus. He becomes the highest-paid defensive player in NFL history.

No, we didn't win the Super Bowl nor did Lance outplay Freeney during this game, but who did on the Bears team besides Devin Hester & Thomas Jones?

NOW do you guys see why Lance felt he should have gotten a better contract? I bet anyone posting if making a six-figure salary or hell, a high five figure salary cannot seem themselves working for $20,000 dollars a year! You probably wouldn't even apply for such a job and feel insulted if you had to. Eventually you go because you have to eat, keep shelter and clothes on your back, just do not give me there wouldn't be a hugh BUT, before doing it!

The situation I view with most who will post negatively is all they read, hear or see is 7.2 MILLION dollars!! (No it is not chump change and Lance knows that too!) He deserved a better contract than the six year-30 million the Chicago Bears were trying to force on him by public and media opinion. It is NOT his fault the Bears had foresight to tear up Urlacher's contract and give him a new one which made him one of, if not the higheset paid player(s)at that time.

Lance Briggs has similar numbers to other players who received larger contracts and has put in the grunt work while toiling in the NFL, and only wanted to be compensated at TODAY'S MARKET VALUE! He didn't create problems, he played the game, and played out his option and final year and simply wanted to be compensated properly. Which is obviously above the 50 mil mark or at least throw a high forty number at the man!, with a damn good signing bonus! Hell even Cedric Benson got 10 milllion (not sure) for a signing bonus!

Come on guys, Sweeny got a signing bonus close to what the Chicago Bears was offering Lance Briggs for a six year contract! And now you guys are going to tell me Peanut Tillman is worth a $41.5 million contract extenstion but Lance Briggs is NOT?? Lance is NOT getting the money only because the Chicago Bears screwed up and payed Urlacher ahead of time, which was a good thing, but now know they must pay Lance some where in this same area!

Either you guys are not real sports fans, or worst penny-pinchers than the McCaskeys! I do not see the justification of Peanut Tillman getting a $41 million dollar extension, and could not give Lance Briggs a better contract. This is why he was label a ***franchise player*** and Peanut Butter and Jelly Tillman was not!

Fair is Fair and this CRAP ain't FAIR!! MR. BRIGGS PLAY THIS UPCOMING SEASON AND TAKE YOUR MONEY AND GO FISHING MAN!! How the hell you give Lance a one million dollar bonus on 7.2 million dollars, but Peanut Butt gets 17.1 million guaranteed money out of the $41 million extension? I do not care if no other teams tried to sign him or not, that is not right and you guys know it!

Something ain't right here Roman!

Make my day & fire Jay. With that out of the way the Bears won the battle but lost the war. They did get Lance signed for a little over 7 million for 2007. But they had to pony up 1 million of it right now and guarantee no franchise tag next year. They caved into Drew's tactics and that going to have consequences for them in the near future.

I agree with Doug, with only one difference. Peanut deserves his money also.

Good news for the D...and Sept. 9th were gonna find out all we want about our defense....The beating SD would have given us in the Superbowl would have been monumental... thank you Drayton Florence?....your stupid personal foul with the game won....saved me from that

Adam Archuletta and Mike Brown...by far the biggest difference in this defense from the Superbowl, though

Lance certainly helps...and our DT's are a lot better than most think...except Gayray...ok, sorry, cheap shot...had to

but we're not beating SD on Sept 9th

The pressure SD's front seven puts on our offense should take care some of the things I'm hoping for....buhbye Captain muscle memory

AND...Oh boy, Do I want you to chew on this

We have a better version of Reggie Bush in Devin Hester, so look for Cedric to implode when his touches diminish...and I'm fine with that too...Benson used solely inside the 10 and short yardage...I'd rather have AP do it, but for 17 million...Ced's gotta do something for crying out loud...

Anyway..then we will be headed for the Superbowl...

and when I get my own team, lol...till then, I'm headed to ONU to watch my boys..

Brett Favre is my FF QB...nobody drafted Rex...so I picked him up so I could sit him on the bench...Booyah

Who do we as Bears fans want....whats best for the team? or what is best for the player and their agent?

I love "Double Nickles" and I would hate for him to get screwed on a personal level, but as a Bears fan, you just cant sign everyone on the team or that you like to 20M/yr contracts.

Just saying...

I hope you have a decent backup for Grandpa Favre, Hitman. I bet you'll end up playing Rex more often than you think. Now what to do with my #12 pick........

Surely you're going to need a 3rd QB with those two you have, I mean. Wasn't there ANYONE else available?

I live in Ventura, CA, but from Oak Lawn. I love the Chi Blogs! Briggs did it right. He will have a big payday next year. Does anyone think the Bears would allow him to leave next year if he didn't fight this year? Now the ball is in his court and must perform. He is making 7 mil. Rex will do better this year, but will it be enough? He is not the only QB that has to perform at a higher level, so I say breathe in and out, SLOWLY.....

Bculz THANK YOU! That is as bout as good as it gets when explaining this situation. You have it in perspective my friend. We can disagree and move on! I hate when folks start trying to talk about stuff other that what it is. Crunching unnecessary numbers, and all kinds of nonsense. Just pulling it out of...a hat. Sweeney got his, and so did that guy from Pittsburg. Lance got Lanced! Right in the pocket by cheap-askey.

Off the title topic a little but I can't fathom how the Bears can be paying Tillman more than Vasher. As far as I've noticed, Peanut is our healthy D's only achilles. Whatta you think?

Doesnt anyone remember Adewale's last year before the bears signed him? Injured most of year. Same agent, similar contract situations with teams. Bears couldn't wait to sign him as free agent.

Anyone remember Thomas Jones' injury in training camp last year after bears drafted benson and gave him the big signing bonus and didn't redo jones deal? Same agent, same team, similar contract difficulty.

So while it would be nice to put on my bears beanie, wave my bears pennant and get giddy how the bears held firm, lance folded, and therefore the bears should win superbowl this year, I just can't. If lance is injured all or part of the year, the bears still pay 7.2 million whether he plays or not.

My guess is it will be a hamstring, but might be a muscle tear, and briggs plays 4 maybe 5 games max. And when he does play he plays to protect himself, like at the pro bowl. If he were to play everygame, and put himself on the line every down, he'd risk a really serious career ending injury, be looking at zero dollars after this season. I don't think he'll be playing out of loyalty to coach babbich.

So if the bears shell out 7.2 million for briggs to rehab and stand on the sidelines for a season, who got the best of the deal?

Doesnt anyone remember Adewale's last year before the bears signed him? Injured most of year. Same agent, similar contract situations with teams. Bears couldn't wait to sign him as free agent.

Anyone remember Thomas Jones' injury in training camp last year after bears drafted benson and gave him the big signing bonus and didn't redo jones deal? Same agent, same team, similar contract difficulty.

So while it would be nice to put on my bears beanie, wave my bears pennant and get giddy how the bears held firm, lance folded, and therefore the bears should win superbowl this year, I just can't. If lance is injured all or part of the year, the bears still pay 7.2 million whether he plays or not.

My guess is it will be a hamstring, but might be a muscle tear, and briggs plays 4 maybe 5 games max. And when he does play he plays to protect himself, like at the pro bowl. If he were to play everygame, and put himself on the line every down, he'd risk a really serious career ending injury, be looking at zero dollars after this season. I don't think he'll be playing out of loyalty to coach babbich.

So if the bears shell out 7.2 million for briggs to rehab and stand on the sidelines for a season, who got the best of the deal?

Navarro, you are right so often I am kinda scared to disagree, but Tillman takes on the "Star" receivers like Charles Johnson and Randy Moss. Its kinda like how Urlacher is viewed. Others just look so much better playing beside him.

Douglass. . . .

Briggs was offered a contract at fair market value FOR WHAT HE DOES.

Freeney, Joey Porter, Adalius Thomas . . . . they are all pass rushers. Getting pressure on the QB is a premium in the NFL. Just look at our team. If we could have generated any type of pass rush in the SB, things may have been different.

Briggs does a lot of things well, but he is not by any stretch a pass rusher capable of playing outiside in the 3/4 set. He also doesn't produce a great number of turnovers, despite his skill in pass coverage.

He's more than just another guy at LB, but in the end, he is really just a LB. And he's no Ray Lewis, Urlacher or healthy Al Wilson.

If you aren't a freak of nature or able to rush the passer, the market for you as a LB is limited. LB's are only in front of S's in terms of salary compensation. And with Briggs, you are getting a LB who clearly benefits from playing in both a system that funnels action to the Weak-Side, and a guy who plays next to a potetnail HOFer.

Briggs would not have gotten that type of money, sans from the drunken sailor Redskins, and the only chance he has of getting that money this year is to demonstrate he can do more than get into position and tackle 90 percent of the time.

That skill is more easily replaced, and the Bears have their priorities straight by locking up players at more key positions, especially within this defense. They can't sign everyone, but NEED to next sign Tommie Harris.

I think Tillman is the better corner and he is getting paid accordingly. He is certainly not the weak link of the D. Tillman made some great plays and limited his mistakes and has gotten better and more consistent every year. When a DB makes a mistake it is usually more memorable because it usually results in a TD. The Carolina playoff game a couple of years ago has really stained Tillman and it has been hard to shed that image. But I remember plenty of games last year where Tillmans coverage was so good that the opposing QB never threw in his direction. He simply shut down the WR on his side. And that happened on more than one occasion. Don't get me wrong I think Vasher is a great DB as well, and with Manning Jr., I think we have one of the top (if not THE top) threesome of corners in the league. But I think Tillman with his size and skill is a great DB and can cover the 6-5 wideouts that are appearing all over the place, much better than some of the shorter DB's on our team and around the league. To say Tillman is the weak link of the D is way off. He earned the contract extension he got, and I'm really glad to see him staying with the Bears.

Greg Couch's article today on the Bears was pathetic. What is his problem with Rex Grossman. Is he and Marriotti in a contest to see who can be the most despicable lap dog to national media in the City? What has this kid done to get treated so poorly by the Chicago press? All he has done is come in and been a polite, model citizen in the city, and oh yea, lead the Bears to the Super Bowl in his first season as a starter. Sure he struggled mightily at times last year, as do most first year quarterbacks. The difference is that most first year quarterback struggle, but don't throw 23 touchdowns and go to the superbowl. He was not awful in the Super Bowl either. Since when is 20-28 - 163 yrds 1 TD and 2 INT in a downpour count as awful? Manning also threw two picks and it took him 8 years to get to the Super Bowl! Can someone please explain to me how the Super Bowl loss gets pinned on Grossman? The defense stunk! It stunk all of the second half last year after Harris got hurt. Did everyone forget the Colts ran for over 200 yards on the Bears in that game. The defense is where the loss should be laid. I for one an ecstatic that Ron Rivera was run out of here. The media hated it though because he was their buddy, he sucked!

Grossman lead the Bears from almost dead last in offense to 15th last year. That is a very big jump for the offensively challenged Bears. I believe his 23 touchdowns last year would rank in the top 5 all time for a single season for Bears quarterbacks. What kills me is that if it was Orton who put up those numbers you would be praising him as the next Elway. What is their problem with this kid?

As for Brian Griese, that was the worst signing that Jerry Angelo has ever made. There are a lot of stupid Bear fans out there that always love the back up quarterback, even one with no future like Griese. Griese is on his 4th team for a reason, not only is he bad at quarterbacking, he is a bad teammate. He has been run out of three towns already, and let's not forget he is the one that leaked to ESPN that he had gotten half the reps in practice before the Rams game. He is a loser and a scum bag.

I understand why this city hasn't had a franchise quarterback in so long. The media and the fans run the out before they ever get a chance to develop. Thank god idiots like Couch and Marriotti are sports writers and not scouting directors, or god forbid general managers.

Later,

Joe Barrett

Posted by: LDC | July 27, 2007 09:26 AM

Thank you, I truly did not know Lance was not a pass rusher or defensive lineman. Thank you so much for letting me know he is worth less than Peanut Tillman! But glad you pointed out he gets an A for playing in the defensive scheme which is Lovie Smith's, but makes tackles 90% of the time! Oh yeah and he plays well! Thanks for letting me know he is more than a regular guy, but never the less still nothing outstanding! (great sentence there).***nothing outstanding, but labeled a franchised player*** And the kicker, he plays next to a potential/future HOFer! (might as well give it to him, you not really giving Lance much)

The throat slasher - give Tillman - $41 mil, but Lance SCREW YOU! And how many damn teams was chasing Peanut Butter & Jelly?

Again Mr Briggs, I am glad you decided to take the money! Invest it wisely and please move where they will not judge you before they get to know you. When the season is over go FISHING, take ome TRIPS, maybe TEACH underprivilege kids ANY THING! There are many viewing you as one-fourth the talent of an Urlacher, and feel as though you can only play for the Redskins...sigh

I like the "Make my day, FIRE Jay" mantra. It's nice that we all are entitled to our own opinion...so here's mine. I've been around long enough to see the pattern of Rex as compared to other QB's over the years. We are so quick to jump on him and run him out of town. But, there are a couple of QB's who's fans were screaming for their QB's heads too when only in their first few years as a starter. Those QB's are Brett Favre and Terry Bradshaw. If any of you so called experts go back and look at those two QB's in their first couple of years as a STARTER, and their stats you will see that Rex is only going through the normal process of developement. The comparisons in style and mental make up are similar when I picture Rex at this stage of his career and Favre/Bradshaws at the same point. I much prefer a QB who makes aggresive mistakes than a conservative QB that takes no risks. Rex doesn't have to be GREAT for the Bears to win, but I believe he has the tools to be great. 7 games with a passer rating over 100, 10 games rated over 80 (that's still above average),and they still lost ONLY 3 games in the regular season. He's entitled to have some bad games. That's why it's a team sport. The defense and special teams have to contribute too. No team in the NFL can be carried a whole season with just the QB and win. I believe Rex is gonna make it, and we should support him.

GO BEARS!

I understand why folks are not supportive of Grotesque-man. He is hot or cold, and NO ONE knows when the hot one will show up! If he turned it on and off at will, then I would be cool with him and I would be tired from our superbowl celebration. But nooooo! Bad-rex shows up whenever he pleases, like a poltergeist! Bears are planning a road trip with an engine that will die on you anytime!!!! And especially when you need it the most. That is why folks are chopping this guy up!! And he earned every stinkin jot, tittle and letter of it!

It does make a major difference what position Briggs plays, Douglas, and how he impacts the game, especially in this system on this team. The Bears can pay everyone, and NFL teams certainly will not pay just anyone big bucks.

You are attempting to compare a former Defensive Player of the Year candidate (Freeney) to the second best linebacker on a deep defensive unit. Not only is Briggs the lesser of Urlacher, a lot of people would argue he is a less important cog than Mike Brown, Tommie Harris Charles Tillman and Nate Vasher. Lance Briggs does what he does very well, but he doesn't have the same overall impact that any of the other playes bring with regards to turnover creation, pass rushing or pass coverage. And given the fact that the two other "stud" LB's let go by the Bears haven't done close to what they did with Urlacher, it may be safe to assume that they could likely get by with another undersized, quick LB next to him. After all, Hunter Hillenmyer looks good next to Urlacher, and he's hardly a stud.

In the long run, keeping in tact the defensive backfield, which was very solid when everyone was healthy, as well as saving money for the team's best two pass rushers in Anderson and Harris, is more important than keeping Briggs for the money he wants. he can be more easily replaced.

As far as teams chasing Peanut, none did, because he is under contract. Meanwhile, by all accounts, only one team wanted Briggs, the Redskings, and that franchise has the worst personnel record in the NFL over the past five years, overpaying the likes of Mark Brunell, Adam Archuletta, Antwan Randle-El, the kick returner Morton, and argualby Clinton Portis in giving up Bailey AND a second round pick.

Beyond the Skins, no one else wanted him, probably because they didn't feel he was worth a high pick, and a lot of teams needed a LB.

Briggs, in this market, with his skill set, isn't worth what he thinks he is, and that's exactly why he's back in camp. A holdout would have reduced his value even further.

You are attempting to compare a former Defensive Player of the Year candidate (Freeney) to the second best linebacker on a deep defensive unit. Not only is Briggs the lesser of Urlacher, a lot of people would argue he is a less important cog than Mike Brown, Tommie Harris Charles Tillman and Nate Vasher.

Posted by: LDC | July 27, 2007 02:36 PM

Wow-wee! If that is the case why franchise him (Lance)? I believe the Colts put a franchise tag on Freeney didn't they? What you perceive as attempts of comparison is simply the money and how the other players throughout the league have/has acquired the big salary. But you probably a Rex & Ced fan anyway! Don't stumble and hurt yourself to the fridge man!

Another BIG WOW-WEE! After all, Hunter Hillenmyer looks good next to Urlacher, and he's hardly a stud.

If that is the case, the Bears could have a cheap LB and no need for Lance and have even more money under the salary cap! Why the media negativity and the many Roman blogs on this topic? Remember these are the McCaskeys! Hell, just go with the stud Hillenmyer!

Again, what was the purpose of the franchise tag, if he is NOT at the top of the league - or to use your word - a STUD? Do you mean to say the Chicago Bears, George Halas Team, The Mike Dikta mantra - throw nickels around like manhole covers - player/coach - and the team had the opportunity to start a Hillenmyer and the young kid drafted playing backup on the cheap? If only Washington was interested and other teams did not have the money to give Lance a few extra million on a signing bonus to come back if he got an offer wouldn't have hurt the coffers. That is quite apparent from the recent signings now isn't it?

Regardless if Tillman is under contract or not, you making an excuse for Mr. Briggs NOT to receive his deserve BIG PAYDAY as other NFL players. Think about it? You allow for Peanut to garner one, but not the lowly **franchise player** of the team! Not even respected as a FRANCHISE PLAYER!..*sheesh*

Pleae keep explaining your logic it is starting to make sense.

Lance INVEST & SAVE the money man! Hillenmyer is going to take your place next year, for get that by game six of the season!

YOU HEARD IT FIRST RIGHT HERE FROM LDC = Lance Drubbing Comic!

Hey,Joe Barrett, I don't think Couch was that negative.I thimk he's just scared to be too cocky for fear of hexing the big bad bruins.I agree that the negativism on Rex is at least partly undeserved. Interesting attitude about Griese. I don't know enough about him to argue with you, and I do still like Orton, but Griese seems to me to be a comfort to have as a back-up. Lots of people feel about Zambrano the way you feel about Griese,but having him start every fifth day is doubtless still a boon for the Cubs.

The franchise tag allows a team to keep players they may not sign from leaving as free agents without any compensation. It by no means is an indication of the player's overall value to the team,

Who would you say is Seattle's best player? I'm certain Josh Brown did not come to mind. But he was franchised by the team last season. They wanted to make sure they could at least keep him for another season.

I don't agree with the franchise system, but it is what it is. The Bears believe Briggs is valuable enough for one more season, but they don't want to give him the contract he desires. And part of that logic rests with the fact that they likely want to keep Berrian, Harris, Fred Miller and possibly Rube Brown for another season. And if Grossman plays well, they may have to resign him as well.

I don't blame Briggs for his threat. At the same time, I don't blame JA for applying the tag to retain him for another season. They have a chance to win a ring, and Briggs certainly has talent.

At the same time, the team needs to look to the future, and someone was bound to not be a part of it. The decision was Briggs, and in this system, I feel its a sound decision.

No one is saying he won't get a big pay day. After this season, he will get one. In fact, if he does well, he will get even more on the market, on top of a one year salary of a measley 7.2 mil.

Douglas you're right. Some people do miss the big picture: why give a guy the franchise tag if he isn't your franchise player? It's a blatant attempt to get something for less than it's worth. If Lance had hit the open market he would've been able to get from anyone exactly what he was worth. No matter that he's the fifth or 13th best player on the team. He should be able to reap the rewards of playing good ball irregardless of who he's playing beside. HH wasn't good enough to play along side Barnett in Green Bay. He couldn't make special teams of half the teams in the NFL. That's the guy who should be kissing the pinky-ring of B-Lach. Forget the fact that Colvin and Holdman played along side Urlacher for a few years, together. They benefitted and you have to say that Urlacher benefitted too. But no way on earth would Urlacher be able to wear that cape if he had to cover up for not having a player of Lance's caliber. Think about it: Urlacher,HH and some other guy with no pro experience? No way,no how. The BEARS knew what they were getting (somewhat)by getting rid of Jones and giving the starting position to Benson. Why throw 7 million dollars to any player if you really felt like his replacement was a virtual guarantee and ready to take his place? The braintrusts on this team KNOW that Lance is better than a lot of you guys are willing to give him credit for.

First off, Greg Couch = Jay light...pretty sure Greg reads Jay, then he writes his "own" column.

Not sure when Lance became the second coming of Lawrence Taylor. The Bears have decided who they will pay on defense...Tillman, Vashar, Urlacher, and will ultimately Tommie Harris. They have so much money to spread around and they did offer a long term deal last year to Briggs.

There were many defenders victimized in the SB...Lance was at the top of the list so I'm not crying like a lot of you. I like the guys on D that they Bears have decided to keep for the long term.

Oh man...you think teams give out the franchise tag because they think he's their "franchise" player? That's probably the dumbest think I've read here. The players union agreed to this entire process so if they're po'd, tell it to Gene Upshaw.
For God's sake, teams have franchised kickers!

Business schools should do a case study on this to demonstrate how to screw up a bargaining position...

Briggs and Rosenhaus totally overplayed their hand:
1. turned down long term deal last year
2. went to the media after the SB with their "demands" when they had zero bargaining power
3. because of #2, the Bears turned down the Redskins more than fair offer for a trade which would have landed Lance the long term deal he wanted. The Bears turned it down because it would have set a bad precedent to have a player/agent extort their way off the team in a franchise contract situation
4. left them with 2 choices...a) sit out the year and not get paid, and also get franchised again b) accept a contract they never wanted from the beginning (since it would bring into play an injury situation that could end any hope for a long term deal) and look like a fool (albeit a $7M richer fool).

Well played Lance...I highly suggest Kellogg's negotiating class for you!

Paul sez: "I don't usually knock sportswriters, but Mariotti does seem pretty inconsistent."

Au contraire my friend. Jay is extremely consistent: as dependable as the sun rise.

In fact, can almost predict the subject matter for his columns before they're even written. In his relentless quest to find the dark cloud beneath every silver lining, this front running, bandwagon jumping, natering nabob of negativity, can be counted on to do his best impression of Henny Penny / Chicken Little.

Anytime you want to read that the sky is about to fall, he's your man.

Thank you Mr. Donald for seeing the forest and not just a tree!

Franchise and Transition Tags

Considering there are some who want to fool around with another person’s career as though he is a toy – and every athlete is to some extent - let’s read, deconstruct, decipher then recreate with objectivity in why some differ/agree with the Chicago Bears decision about Lance Briggs. – Only the previous statement is MY words, and the last sentence at the end of post as well; all others are from research on the topic.

Understanding the Difference
• A club can designate one franchise player or one transition player in any given year.
• The salary level offer by a player's old club determines what type of franchise player he is.
• An "exclusive" franchise player -- not free to sign with another club -- is offered a minimum of the average of the top five salaries at the player's position as of April 16, or 120 percent of the player's previous year's salary, whichever is greater.
• If the player is offered a minimum of the average of the top five salaries of last season at his position, or 120 percent of the player’s previous year’s salary, he becomes a “non-exclusive” franchise player and can negotiate with other clubs. His old club can match a new club's offer, or receive two first-round draft choices if it decides not to match. The signing period for non-exclusive franchise players to sign with new clubs is March 3 through November 9 (10th week of the season).
• A transition player has received a minimum offer of the average of the top 10 salaries of last season at the player's position or 120 percent of the player's previous year's salary, whichever is greater.
• A transition player designation gives the club a first-refusal right to match within seven days an offer sheet given to the player by another club after his contract expires. If the club matches, it retains the player. If it does not match, it receives no compensation. Transition players can be signed from March 3 through July 22."
"Franchise Player"
Definition: A club can designate one franchise or transition player in any given year.
• The salary level offer by a player's old club determines what type of franchise player he is.
• An "exclusive" franchise player -- not free to sign with another club -- is offered a minimum of the average of the top five salaries at the player's position as of April 16, or 120 percent of the player's previous year's salary, whichever is greater.
• If the player is offered a minimum of the average of the top five salaries of last season at his position, or 120 percent of the player’s previous year’s salary, he becomes a “non-exclusive” franchise player and can negotiate with other clubs. His old club can match a new club's offer, or receive two first-round draft choices if it decides not to match.

Please check out the link below:
http://www.armchairgm.com/index.php?title=%22Tag%22%2C_You_Are_it...%22Franchise%22_Style

It is the team's choice whether it uses an exclusive or a non-exclusive franchise tag. While it may seem that a team would always choose the exclusive option, there are two reasons a team might prefer the non-exclusive option instead. The first is that the salary is based on the top 5 salaries of the previous year instead of the current year, which could be a significant difference. The second reason is that a team may want the opportunity for the two first-round draft picks they would receive if they lost their player.

What is/was Mr. Briggs status when being Tasered – I am sorry – Tag (I really meant to say Tag) by the Bears organization.

I love how a Bears blog begins with something else, but ultimately turns into a debate about Rex Grossman.

The bottom line is the Bears will win the weak NFC North and be back in the playoffs, probably with as little as 9 wins. By that time everyone and the kitchen sink will have had enough time to evaluate the Bears D. and whether senior Grossman will get another shot at leading the Bears to the promised land.

We'll just have to be patient and wait till January to see how this soap opera plays out

I like some Chicagoans savvy. Not only can you guys cite player stats you can also wrap your minds around the salary cap and franchise tags and think just like owners. I'm curious: is there a blog where owners go and talk about how they can only put 20 million dollars under their mattress. And how hot dogs are really worth $6.00.Maybe the same fans that side with them can join in and tell them what a great job they're doing. Honestly: what's the deal with siding with ownership? Will they give you a discount on your PSLs if you see things their way? Maybe they can go on a blog where your boss can be thanked for not giving you a raise that you deserved. Really, why do some of you cut people down for, basically ,siding with the players? Yeah, we know what the franchise tag is for. Just like we knew what Plan B free agency was about. Either way it's a blatant attempt to hold onto players and get rid of whomever they want at a reduced rate. We get that. We understand that. We just don't agree with it. That's all a person was saying. But others always take it upon themselves to jab someone else with their "knowledge". In lastly, we get the fact that you think you're an intellect but really what good is intellect when it comes to sports. It's about feelings and emotion and results. MR.Spock need not apply.

Wow, Mark, nice invective on Mariotti. I like him at times, but he did annoy me more than usual today, and lived up to your criticism. "Natering nabob of negativity" is alliteration well worthy of repetition.

I'VE BEEN A MAJOR BEARS FAN SINCE 1968. I AM SICK AND TIRED OF LOVEY DEFENDING "INSPITE OF" GROSSMAN.

THE OTHER DAY, I HEARD HIM AGAIN SAY THAT "INSPITE OF" LED THE BEARS TO THE SUPER BOWL. WE ALLLLLL KNOW THAT'S A LIE! THE DEFENSE LED THEM TO THE SUPER BOWL, WE ALLLL KNOW THAT TOO.

I DON'T FAULT GROSSMAN ONE BIT! HE'S DOING HIS BEST, AND HE SHOULD BE TRYING TO STAY ON THE FIELD. I FAULT LOVEY! HE'S THE COACH. IT'S HIS JOB TO KNOW BETTER THAN TO PLAY HIM.

THIS IS CHICAGO. WE PLAY IN "THE BLACK AND BLUE LEAGUE". WE NEVER HAVE, AND BETTER STOP MAKING EXCUSSES FOR POOR PLAY.

I'M AN AFRICAN AMERICAN, AND I'M HAPPY FOR THE ACCOMPLISHMENTS OF LOVEY, BUT HE BETTER DO A BETTER JOB OF BEING A BEARS COACH! THIS IS THE FIRST TIME IN MY LIFE WHEN I CONSIDERED NOT SUPPORTING THE BEARS. PLAYING "INSPITE OF" IS NOT FAIR TO THE TEAM NOR THE FANS! A BEARS COACH IS SUPPOSED TO KNOW BETTER.

AND AT THE VERY LEAST, STOP LIEING ABOUT WHAT HE'S DOING!

LIKE WITH THE "BABY BULLS", FANS WILL SUPPORT BEST EFFORTS. NOT LIES!