Lance Briggs - Potential Free Agent

According to this article, Lance Briggs is considering testing the free agent market. As you'll recall, we almost traded for him, but the Bears wanted Rocky McIntosh and we balked. Pretty good move that we did, as Rocky has turned into a fine player.

But now that Rocky is hurt and won't play for much of 2008 (and if he plays at all he won't be himself), do we consider signing Briggs?

Before we jump on the cost issue, let me say that if the Skins want him, they can make cap room for him without much trouble. That will not be a big issue. Where we'd get into cap trouble is if we tried to sign three or four studs like Briggs.

I think we should go for it. He's had an amazing season in a year when Chicago's D has been off. He's actually been better than Urlacher this year. I'm all for a prudent move here or there in free agency, without overdoing it. He'll be expensive, but the talent is crazy. This should be our one free agent signing, IMO.

SI.com - NFL - Briggs wants to test free agency waters - Wednesday December 19, 2007 7:31PM (http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/2007/football/nfl/12/19/bears.briggs.ap/index.html)

How about Alan Faneca for the OL?

Money is limited, We have to spend it on the lines.

NOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO OOOO!!!!!!!!!!!

Last time I checked, Lance Briggs does not rush the passer. This is why you draft and have guys waiting in the wings. Blades needs to step up and I think he will.

Absolutely not for Briggs, he's looking for a payday right now. Absolutely not to Faneca too, that guy is ancient.

If we go into free agency, I want us to focus on guys we got like M Washington, Randy Thomas, etc. Guys with lots of upside, pretty young, and preferably someone who won't cost a draft pick. Only thing I'd consider tossing huge cash at would be a blue chip Olinemen that's young, or maybe a chad johnson or stud DE. Jared Allen type of DE.

briggs aint that great, he's overpriced, and mcintosh is injured, so keeping him or not is pretty much moot since he's proven very little besides his ability to stay out of the starting line up :/


if we play FA, let's get someone that can prove more useful, like CJ or NA (CB oak), or even better, OL/DL. faneca is great, but he's not 25 anymore :/.

What exactly are we supposed to do with Briggs when Rocky comes back? Unless we're planning on getting rid of Marcus Washington which IMO would be a mistake.

nope. I think blades can play, and rocky may be back mid season next year.

I love the Chad Johnson idea.... I would buy his jersey in a heart beat. We could get rid of B.Lloyd. Think about lining up with Santana on one side, 85 on the other, Cooley in the slot and Portis behind Campbell..... now that is scary. Then get some more deepth on the oline.

We don't need Briggs and we certainly can't afford him. Teams to used to run all over us when they ran left and since Rocky became a starter we haven't been gashed like we use to. Now that Rocky is out it will be interesting to see how we do this weekend against the Vikings' who will no doubt run left all day long and exploit our weakness with their strength.