Lance Briggs Requests A Trade

Added on Sep 02, 2011 by Scott in

NFL

Six-time Pro Bowl linebacker Lance Briggs wants out of Chicago. The lack of movement on a new contract led agent Drew Rosenhaus to file a trade request just nine days before the Bears season opener. Briggs has three years remaining on the six-year, $36 million deal signed in 2008, but feels he has outperformed those numbers.

This isn’t the first time Briggs has butted heads with Bears management. Prior to the 2007 season, he publicly declared he didn’t want to be on the team any longer after being franchise tagged. A near trade to the Redskins was vetoed by general manager Jerry Angelo and Briggs played on a one-year deal. Despite the strained relationship, both sides agreed to a long-term contract in March of 2008.

Flash forward to today and it’s deja vu all over again.

“The Bears made their decision, now I have to make mine,” Briggs told the [Chicago Tribune]. “It’s just how the business works. It’s not going to take away from what I do on the field. I’m 100 percent a Bear, until I’m not a Bear anymore.”

He’s 100% a Bear, but doesn’t really want to be, unless he gets paid. Fellow linebacker Brian Urlacher pulled a similar ploy a few years ago and ended up with a substantial raise and signing bonus. Whether or not the Bears decide to open their checkbook for Briggs remains to be seen, but it seems unlikely they’ll ship him elsewhere this close to the start of the season.

Briggs has posted 100-plus total tackles in six of eight seasons, but is coming off a 2010 campaign that saw him record 89 stops, the lowest number since his rookie year. He’s also notched 10.5 sacks, 12 interceptions and 12 forced fumbles.

As good as he’s been, Briggs will turn 31 in November and is entering the downside of his career. At this point, the Bears must decide if he’s worth the investment.

Source: NFL.com