Griff
March-30th-2007, 07:26 AM
From NFL.Com:
The Lance Briggs story
http://images.nfl.com/photos/img10095978.jpg
By Pat Kirwan
NFL.com Senior Analyst
(March 29, 2007) -- I had a chance to listen to the Lance Briggs story from a number of angles this week at the owners meeting in Phoenix. I have a grip on the Bears' point of view and the agent's perspective, and I believe a deal can get done to move Briggs.
There are a number of points that have to be resolved to understand the value of Lance Briggs to the Bears. If you believe the Bears are never going to want to sign Briggs to a long-term deal valued at over $36 million over five years, then trading him is the best option.
The Falcons arrived at the conclusion they were never going to sign Matt Schaub to a long-term deal, and a year from now would get nothing for him because he would be a free agent. Schaub has never really established his ability to play in the NFL, although all signs point toward an excellent career. Atlanta believed he was worth a mid-first-round selection, which has a point value on the draft trade chart of 1,000 points. They got the compensation they were looking for when they traded him to Houston.
If the Bears were to accept the offer from the Redskins to swap first-round picks for Lance Briggs, it basically puts Briggs' value at the same level as Matt Schaub. The Redskins have draft spot No. 6, which is worth 1,600 points. The Bears have spot No. 31, which is worth 600 points. The difference is 1,000 points, or the value of the 16th spot in the draft. Is Lance Briggs worth more than Matt Schaub because he has established himself as an NFL star (even though it isn't at quarterback)? The Bears have to believe a linebacker with 130 tackles last year is worth more, but is he overvalued with a franchise tag on him?
One GM said to me Briggs doesn't have enough sacks to warrant franchise money. He believed Adalius Thomas got the big money this year because of his ability to rush the QB. Thomas might have received the big contract from the Patriots because of that particular skill, but when you study the five linebackers that constitute the franchise-tag salary, pass-rush skills and sacks really aren't what drive the top-five paid linebackers to those salaries.
Here are the five highest-paid linebackers in the NFL, thus the reason Lance Briggs has a $7.2 million franchise tag on him. Note the average number of sacks these men have produced in their careers. They are being paid to make tackles, and that's what Briggs does, too.
The rest of the article:
http://www.nfl.com/news/story/10095969
From the Chicago Tribune:
McMichael backs Briggs
Ex-Bear fears replay of Marshall's exit to Washington
Published March 29, 2007
Lance Briggs hasn't received much love from Bears fans who find it difficult to fathom turning down a guaranteed salary of $7.2 million next season.
But Steve "Mongo" McMichael is in the corner of the All-Pro linebacker.
"I think he's right," said McMichael, who was a two-time Pro Bowl defensive tackle for the Bears.
Briggs is threatening to sit out the first 10 games next season instead of accepting the Bears' franchise tag.
"He deserves [a long-term deal]," McMichael said. "For the first three years when [the Bears] weren't negotiating with him, I was having Wilber Marshall déjà vu."
After the 1987 season, Marshall bolted for the Washington Redskins when the Bears refused to pay him what he wanted.
And now there are reports Washington is offering to swap first-round picks with the Bears in next month's draft to acquire Briggs.
"This is the way the NFL has made it today—about business," McMichael said. "It's worse now than when I played (1981-94). Free agency crushed the last bastion of loyalty.
"You're called an independent contractor now as a player. I learned that in the business world. It's about getting what you deserve."
McMichael is head coach of the Chicago Slaughter, a seven-man indoor football team that opens its season Friday night against the Miami Valley (Ohio) Silverbacks.
"It's one notch below arena ball that the Rush is in now," he said. "It's seven-on-seven, which means it's a faster game. There are three offensive linemen, and you have three defensive linemen right across from them. So it looks like the interior of (the Bears') old '46 defense. I love that.
"These guys are trying to move up to another level in this (Continental Indoor Football) league. I tell my players if a scout comes to watch them and they make a mental mistake, he'll scratch you off his list."
Chicago Tribune (http://www.chicagotribune.com/sports/columnists/cs-070328mitchell,1,2688370.column?coll=chi-sportscolumnistfront-hed)
and this is intresting, The Bears have their 10th fan convention this weekend, with a Q & A on Saturday.
"Angelo, coach Lovie Smith and president Ted Phillips will be on hand Saturday morning for a Q&A session with fans that is sure to include plenty of questions about Briggs, the two-time Pro Bowl linebacker, and his potential trade to the Washington Redskins. Two Bears players declined to speak on the record but said the situation has become a giant mess for both sides. Briggs, who could get a multiyear deal from the Redskins, has threatened to sit out the first 10 games for the Bears next season after he was given the franchise tag and a one-year deal worth about $7.2 million last month."
SunTimes (http://www.suntimes.com/sports/football/bears/319907,CST-SPT-bear30.article)
We will have to check back on this one Sat. night for comments.
The Lance Briggs story
http://images.nfl.com/photos/img10095978.jpg
By Pat Kirwan
NFL.com Senior Analyst
(March 29, 2007) -- I had a chance to listen to the Lance Briggs story from a number of angles this week at the owners meeting in Phoenix. I have a grip on the Bears' point of view and the agent's perspective, and I believe a deal can get done to move Briggs.
There are a number of points that have to be resolved to understand the value of Lance Briggs to the Bears. If you believe the Bears are never going to want to sign Briggs to a long-term deal valued at over $36 million over five years, then trading him is the best option.
The Falcons arrived at the conclusion they were never going to sign Matt Schaub to a long-term deal, and a year from now would get nothing for him because he would be a free agent. Schaub has never really established his ability to play in the NFL, although all signs point toward an excellent career. Atlanta believed he was worth a mid-first-round selection, which has a point value on the draft trade chart of 1,000 points. They got the compensation they were looking for when they traded him to Houston.
If the Bears were to accept the offer from the Redskins to swap first-round picks for Lance Briggs, it basically puts Briggs' value at the same level as Matt Schaub. The Redskins have draft spot No. 6, which is worth 1,600 points. The Bears have spot No. 31, which is worth 600 points. The difference is 1,000 points, or the value of the 16th spot in the draft. Is Lance Briggs worth more than Matt Schaub because he has established himself as an NFL star (even though it isn't at quarterback)? The Bears have to believe a linebacker with 130 tackles last year is worth more, but is he overvalued with a franchise tag on him?
One GM said to me Briggs doesn't have enough sacks to warrant franchise money. He believed Adalius Thomas got the big money this year because of his ability to rush the QB. Thomas might have received the big contract from the Patriots because of that particular skill, but when you study the five linebackers that constitute the franchise-tag salary, pass-rush skills and sacks really aren't what drive the top-five paid linebackers to those salaries.
Here are the five highest-paid linebackers in the NFL, thus the reason Lance Briggs has a $7.2 million franchise tag on him. Note the average number of sacks these men have produced in their careers. They are being paid to make tackles, and that's what Briggs does, too.
The rest of the article:
http://www.nfl.com/news/story/10095969
From the Chicago Tribune:
McMichael backs Briggs
Ex-Bear fears replay of Marshall's exit to Washington
Published March 29, 2007
Lance Briggs hasn't received much love from Bears fans who find it difficult to fathom turning down a guaranteed salary of $7.2 million next season.
But Steve "Mongo" McMichael is in the corner of the All-Pro linebacker.
"I think he's right," said McMichael, who was a two-time Pro Bowl defensive tackle for the Bears.
Briggs is threatening to sit out the first 10 games next season instead of accepting the Bears' franchise tag.
"He deserves [a long-term deal]," McMichael said. "For the first three years when [the Bears] weren't negotiating with him, I was having Wilber Marshall déjà vu."
After the 1987 season, Marshall bolted for the Washington Redskins when the Bears refused to pay him what he wanted.
And now there are reports Washington is offering to swap first-round picks with the Bears in next month's draft to acquire Briggs.
"This is the way the NFL has made it today—about business," McMichael said. "It's worse now than when I played (1981-94). Free agency crushed the last bastion of loyalty.
"You're called an independent contractor now as a player. I learned that in the business world. It's about getting what you deserve."
McMichael is head coach of the Chicago Slaughter, a seven-man indoor football team that opens its season Friday night against the Miami Valley (Ohio) Silverbacks.
"It's one notch below arena ball that the Rush is in now," he said. "It's seven-on-seven, which means it's a faster game. There are three offensive linemen, and you have three defensive linemen right across from them. So it looks like the interior of (the Bears') old '46 defense. I love that.
"These guys are trying to move up to another level in this (Continental Indoor Football) league. I tell my players if a scout comes to watch them and they make a mental mistake, he'll scratch you off his list."
Chicago Tribune (http://www.chicagotribune.com/sports/columnists/cs-070328mitchell,1,2688370.column?coll=chi-sportscolumnistfront-hed)
and this is intresting, The Bears have their 10th fan convention this weekend, with a Q & A on Saturday.
"Angelo, coach Lovie Smith and president Ted Phillips will be on hand Saturday morning for a Q&A session with fans that is sure to include plenty of questions about Briggs, the two-time Pro Bowl linebacker, and his potential trade to the Washington Redskins. Two Bears players declined to speak on the record but said the situation has become a giant mess for both sides. Briggs, who could get a multiyear deal from the Redskins, has threatened to sit out the first 10 games for the Bears next season after he was given the franchise tag and a one-year deal worth about $7.2 million last month."
SunTimes (http://www.suntimes.com/sports/football/bears/319907,CST-SPT-bear30.article)
We will have to check back on this one Sat. night for comments.