Source: Peter King, SI.com [ Full Article ]
Reading personal e-mails to me and e-mails to this column, I've been surprised at the vitriol in the
Lance Briggs case. I agree with it, but I'm surprised by it.
To sum up: Briggs is the excellent Chicago linebacker who takes great exception at the Bears placing the franchise tag on him. Instead of hitting the open market and striking it rich with a big signing bonus from a team with lots of cap room, he is "stuck" earning $7.2 million on a one-year contract with Chicago.
Last week, Briggs told ESPN's
Len Pasquarelli he wanted out of Chicago in the worst way rather than play for the one-year deal. And Monday, he echoed that to Fox's Jay Glazer, saying, "I'll never play another down for Chicago again." As I wrote Monday, Briggs is directing his anger in the wrong place. He should be angry with the NFLPA for negotiating a system in 1993 that included the right for a team to make him a franchise player and not allow him to test the open market.
But that's where we'll start today.
SUCK IT UP, LANCE. From
John Lees, of Wappingers Falls, N.Y.: "Lance Briggs needs to shut up and play. He is going to be paid over $7 million for one year of playing football. In my company, people who are paid over $100,000 per year are considered 'highly compensated individuals.' If I were a 'highly compensated individual' for 40 years, I would bring down $4 million. Lance is going to almost double that in one year and he is miffed. Cry me a river of crocodile tears. I know other guys are getting stupid money but I'll tell you, it is getting to be fed-up time with these guys. They need a little perspective."
You are one of many. Speaking of Manny ...
YOU'VE GOT TO BE KIDDING ME, LANCE. From
Manny, of New York City: "
George Halas has to be rolling over in his grave at the audacity of Lance Briggs. Why doesn't he just do what
Nate Clements did in Buffalo last year? Clements told the Bills he'd play under the franchise tag for 2006 and not make a lot of noise about it -- if Buffalo would let him go free after the season. The Bills agreed, and Clements got his money, and they all lived happily ever after."
Great idea, Manny. I hope
Jerry Angelo, the Chicago GM, is reading this. You know what I like about this? Let's say the Bears are 2-4 at the trading deadline next October, and nothing is going right. Angelo could deal Briggs for a second-round pick, and some team could make him the rich man he wants to be. Just a thought.
Shut Up And Play 
Linear Mode
