Lance Briggs Wants Out of Chicago

[GMScud]

To there is just no question it's about greed with this guy. I don't think it has anything to do with the whole "what if I take a 1 year, $7+M deal and suffer a horrible injury?" He turned down a $33M deal last year and came back and played for small potatoes this season. What if he suffered a career ending injury this season?? Even if he plays this year for the $7M and loses a leg, he still has SEVEN MILLION DOLLARS to fall back on for the rest of his life!!! In my opinion he is what's wrong with professional sports today. He's f-ing pathetic and the more I think about it the angrier it makes me. Ohhhh, poor Briggs. The team is SOOOO disrespectful to me that they name me their franchise player and offer me over $7M to play 16 football games. Cry me a river you dick.

[jbcjr14]

Originally Posted by GMScud

To there is just no question it's about greed with this guy. I don't think it has anything to do with the whole "what if I take a 1 year, $7+M deal and suffer a horrible injury?" He turned down a $33M deal last year and came back and played for small potatoes this season. What if he suffered a career ending injury this season?? Even if he plays this year for the $7M and loses a leg, he still has SEVEN MILLION DOLLARS to fall back on for the rest of his life!!! In my opinion he is what's wrong with professional sports today. He's f-ing pathetic and the more I think about it the angrier it makes me. Ohhhh, poor Briggs. The team is SOOOO disrespectful to me that they name me their franchise player and offer me over $7M to play 16 football games. Cry me a river you dick.

That is $437,500 per week gross for 16 weeks. Assuming taxes and other union fees and dues at 40% (high side) that would be $262,500 per week take home pay. That is just insane. It takes the average american almost 5 years to make that kind of money this asshole makes in a WEEK!

[FRPLG]

I really think if people ignored the amount of money involved here more would understand Briggs' side of this. To me ignoring the amount of money helps boil it down to the fundamental issue. Including the money muddles the discussion.

How many of you would want to stay at a job where they could give you a one year contract for a good amount of money but by doing that you have no opportunity to explore a market where peers of equal or lesser perceived ability are getting similar amounts of money or greater over a longer period of time?

None of you I would imagine. To me the amount is pointless. If you wouldn't want to be tied into one year contracts and limiting your overall gain over a period time then you can understand why Briggs is upset and why so many others who get tagged are upset.

[That Guy]

Originally Posted by jbcjr14

That is $437,500 per week gross for 16 weeks. Assuming taxes and other union fees and dues at 40% (high side) that would be $262,500 per week take home pay. That is just insane. It takes the average american almost 5 years to make that kind of money this asshole makes in a WEEK!

of course, he's much more likey to drop dead at 58.

[GMScud]

Originally Posted by jbcjr14

That is $437,500 per week gross for 16 weeks. Assuming taxes and other union fees and dues at 40% (high side) that would be $262,500 per week take home pay. That is just insane. It takes the average american almost 5 years to make that kind of money this asshole makes in a WEEK!

Thank you for the reinforcement jbcjr. I'd like to smack Briggs in that greedy mouth of his (then I'd turn around and run away REALLY FAST!!)

[redsk1]

Originally Posted by Sheriff Gonna Getcha

Ya know, I'm wondering who his agent is. I would think that he would want to screen his client's comments/thoughts before he makes them public.

His agent is Drew Rosenhaus. On S/center yesterday, Briggs did say Drew told him not to go public and to play out the year. He said he went public on his own.

I do understand a little of what he is saying. Our first thought is, wow 7 million for one year, he can set himself up for life. Yea, but what would a 15 million signing bonus and a long term deal do? It would set his grandkids up for life. Let's do a little math... less taxes 30%, less agent fees..um...10%? That nets 4 million. Buy a house most likely for 1-3 million. What's left over ???

Listen, I don't feel sorry for someone who makes 7million. That should be enough to live a pretty awesome life for the average guy. But NFL players aren't average guys. I could live well off of 1million. But Briggs has an opportunity to get paid for what he feels he's worth, whatever that # may be. He could suffer a career ending injury playing out his one year contract. Just some thoughts....

[12thMan]

Originally Posted by FRPLG

I really think if people ignored the amount of money involved here more would understand Briggs' side of this. To me ignoring the amount of money helps boil it down to the fundamental issue. Including the money muddles the discussion.

How many of you would want to stay at a job where they could give you a one year contract for a good amount of money but by doing that you have no opportunity to explore a market where peers of equal or lesser perceived ability are getting similar amounts of money or greater over a longer period of time?

None of you I would imagine. To me the amount is pointless. If you wouldn't want to be tied into one year contracts and limiting your overall gain over a period time then you can understand why Briggs is upset and why so many others who get tagged are upset.

nuff said.

[GMScud]

Originally Posted by 12thMan

nuff said.

While FRGLP may be correct, and as much sense as that makes on paper, it's just tough for average joes like us to sympathize or understand when your talking about that much money. Any way you slice it, this guy is gonna end up richer than 99.99% percent of the world. While your argument is sound, I just don't care. Briggs should make his $7M and then go get his multi-year contract. It's not like this guy is on the raiders or lions for god's sake! He's got a great head coach, a great defense, and his team is the defending NFC Champs!!!

[That Guy]

player's never win in the court of public opinion on these things. they'll always be labeled as greedy (and they're hurting the local fans' chances of a super bowl, which is part of the issue... yeah the team may be being cheap, but the fans love the team, not the players). DR was right to tell him to shut up and keep low.

[12thMan]

Originally Posted by GMScud

While FRGLP may be correct, and as much sense as that makes on paper, it's just tough for average joes like us to sympathize or understand when your talking about that much money. Any way you slice it, this guy is gonna end up richer than 99.99% percent of the world. While your argument is sound, I just don't care. Briggs should make his $7M and then go get his multi-year contract. It's not like this guy is on the raiders or lions for god's sake! He's got a great head coach, a great defense, and his team is the defending NFC Champs!!!

You're right. But this aint about his coach and team. It's about Lance Briggs and what's best for him in the end.

[GMScud]

Originally Posted by 12thMan

You're right. But this aint about his coach and team. It's about Lance Briggs and what's best for him in the end.

I guess all I'm trying to say is the public greed and selfishness is sad and unfortunate.

[jdlea]

I agree with the idea that owners are full of shit. I'm so sick of athletes getting lambasted because they make huge amounts of money. SO WHAT?! If at any point I'm working a job for 40k a year, it's time for me to make mroe money and the people I work for don't offer it, if I can afford it, I'm not gonna work for them. Lance Briggs can afford to not play, good for him. **** owners! This is crap, they make hundreds of millions of dollars! Hundreds! A player wants more money? Good for them. I hope he goes somewhere and gets huge money. The Bears are a garbage organization, Lovie should have been extended before getting to the Super Bowl, he was the lowest paid coach in the league and he finally got extended just before this season. I hate this crap where the players are villified because they want a bigger chunk of what they are making for the greedy ass owners. It's greedier for an owner to not pay it than it is for a player to want more. I hate the state of pro sports where athletes are villified and greedy ass old guys who sit in the booth and never show any player any loyalty are totally absolved! It's crap!

[Sheriff Gonna Getcha]

Originally Posted by FRPLG

How many of you would want to stay at a job where they could give you a one year contract for a good amount of money but by doing that you have no opportunity to explore a market where peers of equal or lesser perceived ability are getting similar amounts of money or greater over a longer period of time?

None of you I would imagine. To me the amount is pointless. If you wouldn't want to be tied into one year contracts and limiting your overall gain over a period time then you can understand why Briggs is upset and why so many others who get tagged are upset.

Now why did you have to base your opinion on logic? I like it so much more when an argument is about pure emotion and irrational ramblings.

[jdlea]

As for everyone who doesn't like the amount of money athletes make, if no one went, watched or bought merchandise then they wouldn't be able to make enough money to pay these guys. It's our fault they make the money they do.

[freddyg12]

Originally Posted by jdlea

As for everyone who doesn't like the amount of money athletes make, if no one went, watched or bought merchandise then they wouldn't be able to make enough money to pay these guys. It's our fault they make the money they do.

Exactly!! We're all paying, even when we watch tv.