- Lance Briggs
- Linebacker
- Los Angeles Co., CA
- 11/12/1980 (29)
- Arizona
- 2003
- 4
- 4
- Chicago Bears
Briggs was a third round draft pick (68th overall) by the Chicago Bears in the 2003 NFL Draft. In 2004 he led the team in tackles with 168, and was elected as a second alternate to the Pro Bowl. In 2005, Briggs was selected to represent the National Football Conference in the 2006 Pro Bowl. However, Briggs drew controversy when he refused to attended the Bears' summer camp, resulting in a temporary demotion.
He finished the 2006 Chicago Bears season as a clutch performer on the Bear's defense. Briggs was selected to play in the 2007 Pro Bowl, but opted to defer the invitation because of an injured foot. He became a free agent following the National Football League playoffs, 2006-07, leaving his future with the Bears in the air. Despite Briggs’ high price tag, commentary from NFL on Fox revealed Urlacher was willing to take a pay-cut in order to keep Briggs on the team. On February 16, 2007, the Bears officially placed the franchise tag on him, which guarantees him a one-year contract for the 2007 NFL season at slightly more than $7.2 million dollars.
On the morning of March 3, 2007, Briggs was featured The Mike North Morning Show, and stated he was upset with the amount of money he was currently earning. Briggs later stated he enjoys his teammates, coaches and fans, but was fed up with the organization. He later went on to state he no longer wanted to be a Bear, and demanded a trade. Briggs also made his unhappiness known in a March 2007 interview with a Chicago radio station in which he said "I'll do everything that's within my power to not be with this organization."
On March 12, 2007 Briggs announced he no longer considers himself a member of the Chicago Bears. During a cell phone interview with FOXsports.com Briggs said "I am now prepared to sit out the year if the Bears don't trade me or release me, I've played my last snap for them. I'll never play another down for Chicago again." In explaining his demands, he said "The Bears have shown I'm not in their long-term plans so if that's the case, I don't want to be here." A report from FOX Sports on March 27 claimed that the Washington Redskins allegedly offered the Bears their first round pick in exchange for Briggs and the Bears' own first round pick. On March 28, Bears general manager Jerry Angelo confirmed that the Redskins have made a trade offer and stated, "We'll evaluate if that's good for us and get back to them". Angelo deferred the offer on April 3, but later stated they were interested in negotiating a deal the following day.
Briggs did not attened the team's first meeting since their Super Bowl XLI loss, or their mandatory mini camp session in May 2007. The Bears failed to sign Briggs to a long-term deal before the July 16 deadline, meaning that Briggs can sit out or sign the one-year tender. However, Briggs came to terms with the Bears on July 25, and accepted the 7.2 Million dollar contract.