Briggs wants more money
After seeing others surpass him, linebacker seeking adjustment from Bears


NASHVILLE, Tenn. — Matt Forte isn't the only Bear with contract issues as the regular season approaches.

Linebacker Lance Briggs confirmed to the Tribune that he recently approached the Bears about a pay raise, although he declined to elaborate on the matter. Briggs, who missed his second consecutive exhibition Saturday night with a knee bruise, said the injury and his contract stance are unrelated. He vowed to be back on the field when healthy.

Briggs, 30, has three years left on his current deal and is scheduled to make $3.9 million this season (including bonuses), $4 million in 2012 and $6.5 million in 2013.

The six-time Pro Bowl selection wants money added to this year's salary after watching Packers linebacker A.J. Hawk secure $10.95 million (including bonuses) this season, Steelers linebacker Lawrence Timmons pull in $18 million in bonuses earlier this month and Jets linebacker David Harris secure $29.5 million guaranteed in a four-year deal. Moreover, the Panthers rewarded linebackers Jon Beason and Thomas Davis with five-year extensions.

All five are younger than Briggs.

When approached Saturday evening about Briggs' situation, Bears general manager Jerry Angelo declined to comment. He obviously isn't too thrilled with Briggs' request.

A veteran linebacker approaching the organization for a raise with multiple years left on a contract is not unprecedented. Brian Urlacher did the same in 2008 with four years remaining and received a one-year extension that included a $6 million signing bonus and $1 million added to each year's base salary. Potentially, the deal included $18 million in new money.

The Bears considered Urlacher a special case because he's the face of the franchise. Naturally, Urlacher would say his tag-team partner Briggs deserves to be rewarded too.

Briggs has made it clear he will demand a trade if he doesn't get a new deal before the season ends. The Bears are about $19 million below the salary cap.

When he had contract issues in 2007, Briggs went public and vowed never to play for the Bears again before signing a one-year, $7.2 million franchise tender. The Bears and 49ers apparently discussed a trade that season. Subsequently, the 49ers were found guilty of tampering with Briggs and were penalized with the loss of their fifth-round draft pick and had to swap their third-round spot with the Bears.

The next season Briggs figured he was destined for the Redskins or 49ers via free agency but eventually signed a six-year, $36 million contract with $13 million guaranteed to remain in Chicago with a contract significantly less than he anticipated.

I smell a bit....

Laurence Holmes is a fucking weirdo, a nerd in denial, and a wannabe. Not a very good radio host either.

Awesome.

Fuck him. Hes got 3 years left on his contract.

Awesome.

Bears can cut him tomorrow and he'll get nothing. They'll do the same thing they did with Urlacher.

Awesome.

What the hell, I would. Post op is OK right? Right?!?!?!

Pay him. He has proven himself to be one of the top LB in the league. He certainly deserves to get paid more than the likes of Hawk

Awesome.

Laurence Holmes is a fucking weirdo, a nerd in denial, and a wannabe. Not a very good radio host either.

that is one reason why the bears have not won shit in 26 years...start running your franchise like patriots or steelers

What the hell, I would. Post op is OK right? Right?!?!?!

Bears can cut him tomorrow and he'll get nothing. They'll do the same thing they did with Urlacher.

Pee on his face.

I smell a bit....

I heard Urlacher is going to show his solidarity and support by impregnating someone...or something.

Awesome.

Laurence Holmes is a fucking weirdo, a nerd in denial, and a wannabe. Not a very good radio host either.

that is the cost of doing business..there are many players who suck and get paid..so when you have a player who outperforms his contract you should pay him? fuck that ..so lemme get this straight..you want to pay all the guys who outperform their contracts and still have to pay the bums who suck, that are under contract?.. you win some (forte) and lose some(chester taylor) that is just the way the ball bounces...if briggs is not happy with his deal that he signed then he should get a new agent. i would like to see the bears not give forte anything until the season ends and then evaluate him and i would tell briggs to shut up n play ball because he has zero leverage and is not getting shit

Awesome.

that is the cost of doing business..there are many players who suck and get paid..so when you have a player who outperforms his contract you should pay him? fuck that ..so lemme get this straight..you want to pay all the guys who outperform their contracts and still have to pay the bums who suck, that are under contract?.. you win some (forte) and lose some(chester taylor) that is just the way the ball bounces...if briggs is not happy with his deal that he signed then he should get a new agent. i would like to see the bears not give forte anything until the season ends and then evaluate him and i would tell briggs to shut up n play ball because he has zero leverage and is not getting shit

When a player sucks and gets cut no one cares about it. They don't say the owner should honer the contract. When a player outperforms his deal everyone gets pissed when he asks for more money. It's really weird. Even if it's a guy like Forte that's underpaid they say he should honor his contract. Football players careers are short. They have to get as much as possible in a short period of time. Owners can always say no. Getting pissed because a player asked is stupid.