Bears designate Briggs as franchise player
By Larry Mayer


LAKE FOREST, Ill. – Determined to keep one of the NFL’s top defenses intact, the Bears on Friday designated Lance Briggs as their franchise player, guaranteeing him a one-year contract for $7.2 million, the average of the top five highest paid linebackers in the league. The 6-1, 240-pounder was due to become an unrestricted free agent March 2.

Briggs can sign an offer sheet with another NFL team, but the Bears would have the right to match the deal or receive two first-round draft picks as compensation, a stiff price that most clubs are generally unwilling to play for any free agent.

In 2006, Briggs set a career high with 176 tackles and was selected to his second straight Pro Bowl. He reached double digits in tackles in 12 games while leading the Bears in tackles eight times, tying him with fellow linebacker Brian Urlacher.

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We checked the right box! YAAAY.

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"Play until it hurts, then play until it hurts to not play."
http://soundcloud.com/darkside124 HOF 2013, MM Champion 2014

Im glad to see it. I hope he doesn't throw a fit over it though in training camp.

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May 1, 2007 - CSFMB Civil War
“Those who don’t remember history are doomed to repeat it.”

Can the Bears just franchise Briggs every year?

I believe the rule was changed so now the Bears can only franchise him for next season, and then he becomes an unrestricted free agent after that.

Hopefully, both sids can work out a long-term deal still, and we don't have to worry about a potential holdout in training camp.

On another note, the Bears window is wide open to win a Super Bowl as long as Rex Grossman gets better, and becomes a good QB, not what he is now, an inconsistent QB.

The offensive line is going to need an overhaul within the next two seasons, but the team has no gaping holes on it,and can use this year's draft to replenish the OL, and provide additional depth at WR, CB/S, and LB.

I don't buy Boers' argument that the Bears will decline after one more season as they are young at QB (here's hoping that Rex gets better), RB with Benson the future after next season, WR with Berrian/Bradley, LB with Urlacher/Briggs/Hillenmeyer, and DL with Harris, Johnson, Dvoracek, A.Brown, and Mark Anderson.