NFL Network: Bears' Briggs, 31st Pick for Skins' 6th Pick?

Don Banks (http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/2007/writers/don_banks/03/28/owners.snaps/index.html):

Though the Redskins are more than willing to do the dance, any potential trade for disgruntled Bears linebacker Lance Briggs is going to require clearing significant hurdles on Chicago's end. At the NFC head coaches media breakfast Wednesday at the Arizona Biltmore, Washington's Joe Gibbs said nothing is "imminent'' in terms of swinging a deal for Briggs, because "everybody's got to keep talking about it and saying does it work?''

Gibbs said Washington, which holds the No. 6 pick in next month's draft, has had serious trade conversations with three teams in addition to Chicago: Two of those scenarios involve the Redskins moving up in the draft, and the other moving down, in addition to the Briggs talks. Washington is willing to flop first-round draft slots with Chicago (No. 31) in exchange for Briggs, who requested to be traded or released after the Bears applied their franchise tag to him this offseason, effectively keeping him off the free-agent market.

A league source I talked to said the Bears "have things to overcome'' before consummating a deal with Washington, and that the likelihood of Briggs eventually joining the Redskins isn't high. The following issues concern Chicago:

The Bears aren't sure they want to move up to the No. 6 slot in the draft, which entails a much bigger financial commitment than staying at No. 31. Chicago also wants time to study the potential prospects available in the top 10, to ensure that there's a player special enough to justify the move. And lastly, the Bears aren't happy that Briggs' agent, Drew Rosenhaus, came to Phoenix to instigate the trade talks with Washington, believing it casts them in the role of being dictated to by a player and his agent.

"If there is a trade, that would just give any other Bears player who was unhappy a blueprint of what to do in order to get the outcome they wanted,'' the source said. "That's good for the player and the agent, but not for the Bears. So even if Washington's offer was attractive, that may end up nixing any chance of a trade.''

The Redskins' preference is to move back in the first round, but Gibbs conceded that with so many teams wanting to move down in the draft, it would likely be easier for Washington to move up. How the Redskins would manage that isn't clear. Washington has no second-, third- or fourth-round picks this year, and Gibbs said the Redskins are committed to keeping their 2008 draft choices intact.

"From what you hear, your best bargains this year will be in the second round,'' Gibbs said. "That's where a lot of the players are. It's almost as if once you get past all the hype of the first round, that's where all the guys that you want will be.''

POSTED 7:31 p.m. EDT, March 28, 2007
'SKINS WILLING TO PAY $20 MILLION GUARANTEED TO BRIGGS
The Chicago Sun-Times reports that, if the Bears and Redskins work out a deal for linebacker Lance Briggs, the 'Skins will pay the franchise-tagged free agent $20 million in guaranteed money (http://www.suntimes.com/sports/football/bears/315865,CST-SPT-mully28.article) as part of a deal that averages $7.5 million per year.
The Redskins have offered to swap first-round picks with the Bears for Briggs. Chicago would get the No. 6 overall pick, and Washington would take the No. 31 selection.
Under the trade chart, the move results in a net gain of 1,000 points for the Bears (http://www.profootballtalk.com/draftchart.htm), which is equivalent to the No. 16 overall pick.
Multiple league insiders expect the Bears to balk. The No. 6 pick lands in the high-rent district, and the Bears might not be inclined to pay a rookie a ton of money. If we were calling the shots in Chitown (and Bears fans everywhere should rejoice in the fact that we don't), we'd ask for the No. 6 pick straight up, and then we'd slap the two picks together in an effort to make a play for one of the few guys that Rex Grossman can't overthrow -- receiver Calvin Johnson.

got this from probootballtalk.com's rumor mill

Don Banks (http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/2007/writers/don_banks/03/28/owners.snaps/index.html):

Though the Redskins are more than willing to do the dance, any potential trade for disgruntled Bears linebacker Lance Briggs is going to require clearing significant hurdles on Chicago's end. At the NFC head coaches media breakfast Wednesday at the Arizona Biltmore, Washington's Joe Gibbs said nothing is "imminent'' in terms of swinging a deal for Briggs, because "everybody's got to keep talking about it and saying does it work?''

Gibbs said Washington, which holds the No. 6 pick in next month's draft, has had serious trade conversations with three teams in addition to Chicago: Two of those scenarios involve the Redskins moving up in the draft, and the other moving down, in addition to the Briggs talks. Washington is willing to flop first-round draft slots with Chicago (No. 31) in exchange for Briggs, who requested to be traded or released after the Bears applied their franchise tag to him this offseason, effectively keeping him off the free-agent market.

A league source I talked to said the Bears "have things to overcome'' before consummating a deal with Washington, and that the likelihood of Briggs eventually joining the Redskins isn't high. The following issues concern Chicago:

The Bears aren't sure they want to move up to the No. 6 slot in the draft, which entails a much bigger financial commitment than staying at No. 31. Chicago also wants time to study the potential prospects available in the top 10, to ensure that there's a player special enough to justify the move. And lastly, the Bears aren't happy that Briggs' agent, Drew Rosenhaus, came to Phoenix to instigate the trade talks with Washington, believing it casts them in the role of being dictated to by a player and his agent.

"If there is a trade, that would just give any other Bears player who was unhappy a blueprint of what to do in order to get the outcome they wanted,'' the source said. "That's good for the player and the agent, but not for the Bears. So even if Washington's offer was attractive, that may end up nixing any chance of a trade.''

The Redskins' preference is to move back in the first round, but Gibbs conceded that with so many teams wanting to move down in the draft, it would likely be easier for Washington to move up. How the Redskins would manage that isn't clear. Washington has no second-, third- or fourth-round picks this year, and Gibbs said the Redskins are committed to keeping their 2008 draft choices intact.

"From what you hear, your best bargains this year will be in the second round,'' Gibbs said. "That's where a lot of the players are. It's almost as if once you get past all the hype of the first round, that's where all the guys that you want will be.''
that is a bit more more reassuring, so I hope it doesnt happen.


Funny thing is this report directly conflicts with other ones. One thing we do learn is the deal was started by us, so Gibbs is onboard for this stupid trade.

For as bad as the Bears FO has been thus far in the offseason, wouldn't it be funny if they nixed this deal and were the voice of reason in this bonehead proposed trade?? Ahhh, to be a Skins fan.

For as bad as the Bears FO has been thus far in the offseason, wouldn't it be funny if they nixed this deal and were the voice of reason in this bonehead proposed trade?? Ahhh, to be a Skins fan.

Like I said somewhere else, it's great to see a clear-thinking, rational GM step in and make the right decision for the Redskins -- only it was Chicago's GM.

The only thing I would dispute from Banks' article is that the Bears would say no to a trade that might work for them, because it was instigated by a player, setting some sort of dangerous precedent.

If they discover that it's a good deal, who cares which party came up with it? Especially when it's a player who doesn't want to be on your team anyway?

Not a bad deal if we can somehow get some help at CB!

Don Banks (http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/2007/writers/don_banks/03/28/owners.snaps/index.html):

Though the Redskins are more than willing to do the dance, any potential trade for disgruntled Bears linebacker Lance Briggs is going to require clearing significant hurdles on Chicago's end. At the NFC head coaches media breakfast Wednesday at the Arizona Biltmore, Washington's Joe Gibbs said nothing is "imminent'' in terms of swinging a deal for Briggs, because "everybody's got to keep talking about it and saying does it work?''

Gibbs said Washington, which holds the No. 6 pick in next month's draft, has had serious trade conversations with three teams in addition to Chicago: Two of those scenarios involve the Redskins moving up in the draft, and the other moving down, in addition to the Briggs talks. Washington is willing to flop first-round draft slots with Chicago (No. 31) in exchange for Briggs, who requested to be traded or released after the Bears applied their franchise tag to him this offseason, effectively keeping him off the free-agent market.

A league source I talked to said the Bears "have things to overcome'' before consummating a deal with Washington, and that the likelihood of Briggs eventually joining the Redskins isn't high. The following issues concern Chicago:

The Bears aren't sure they want to move up to the No. 6 slot in the draft, which entails a much bigger financial commitment than staying at No. 31. Chicago also wants time to study the potential prospects available in the top 10, to ensure that there's a player special enough to justify the move. And lastly, the Bears aren't happy that Briggs' agent, Drew Rosenhaus, came to Phoenix to instigate the trade talks with Washington, believing it casts them in the role of being dictated to by a player and his agent.

"If there is a trade, that would just give any other Bears player who was unhappy a blueprint of what to do in order to get the outcome they wanted,'' the source said. "That's good for the player and the agent, but not for the Bears. So even if Washington's offer was attractive, that may end up nixing any chance of a trade.''

The Redskins' preference is to move back in the first round, but Gibbs conceded that with so many teams wanting to move down in the draft, it would likely be easier for Washington to move up. How the Redskins would manage that isn't clear. Washington has no second-, third- or fourth-round picks this year, and Gibbs said the Redskins are committed to keeping their 2008 draft choices intact.

"From what you hear, your best bargains this year will be in the second round,'' Gibbs said. "That's where a lot of the players are. It's almost as if once you get past all the hype of the first round, that's where all the guys that you want will be.''

Looks like the Bears may not let this happen. Gibbs was also quoted in today's Post talking about moving up, he said it many times and then talked about how impressed he was by Calvin Johnson??

What the heck are they thinking moving up? That would be the worst idea I've heard yet.

Gibbs also recently met live with Springs and Brandon Lloyd, wonder what that is all about.

Is it just me or have the Redskins Brass become like Secret Service Agents.

Looks like the Bears may not let this happen. Gibbs was also quoted in today's Post talking about moving up, he said it many times and then talked about how impressed he was by Calvin Johnson??

What the heck are they thinking moving up? That would be the worst idea I've heard yet.

Gibbs also recently met live with Springs and Brandon Lloyd, wonder what that is all about.

Is it just me or have the Redskins Brass become like Secret Service Agents.
It's all about blowing smoke...

There throwing everything out there... we're well known to go crazy in F.A., but this year we're being smarter. Players, and especially there agents, want to come to Washington... and Joe Gibbs is just sowing the fields, if something is juicy enough... we'll strike.

that is a bit more more reassuring, so I hope it doesnt happen.


Funny thing is this report directly conflicts with other ones. One thing we do learn is the deal was started by us, so Gibbs is onboard for this stupid trade.
whoa hoo. you only know what you have read in the paper. is everything there always the truth? we should just wait and see how this turns out, before getting our panties in a twist

Yet another article on it

NFL.com - NFL News (http://www.nfl.com/news/story/10095969)