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Bears place franchise tag on Briggs
Chicago Tribune
By John Mullin
February 16, 2007
The Bears, who have in recent years done one of the best jobs in the NFL of holding onto the players they view as team foundations, took another major step in that direction Friday when they placed their franchise tag on linebacker Lance Briggs.
The franchise tag, the first used by the Bears since its creation in 1993, guarantees Briggs a one-year deal worth $7.2 million and reserves for the Bears the right to match any offer or receive two first round draft choices in compensation if he leaves.
Because it limits negotiating opportunities for players, the tag is typically unpopular with players even as it locks them into a guaranteed contract equivalent to the average of the top five players at their position. But the Bears have taken steps to lock up key players such as center Olin Kreutz and linebacker Brian Urlacher, and Briggs is considered one of the NFL's elite outside linebackers.
Briggs was voted to his second Pro Bowl this season and was a first-team All-Pro last year and second-team this year. He led the Bears with 117 solo tackles this year after finishing second to Urlacher with a career-high 176 total stops.
Meanwhile, Bears strength and conditioning coach Rusty Jones, credited with dramatically improving the health and injury rate of the Bears, has been honored as the 2006 National Strength and Conditioning Coach of the Year by the Professional Football Strength and Conditioning Coaches Society.
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Copyright © 2007 Chicago Tribune, All Rights Reserved.
Chicago Tribune
By John Mullin
February 16, 2007
The Bears, who have in recent years done one of the best jobs in the NFL of holding onto the players they view as team foundations, took another major step in that direction Friday when they placed their franchise tag on linebacker Lance Briggs.
The franchise tag, the first used by the Bears since its creation in 1993, guarantees Briggs a one-year deal worth $7.2 million and reserves for the Bears the right to match any offer or receive two first round draft choices in compensation if he leaves.
Because it limits negotiating opportunities for players, the tag is typically unpopular with players even as it locks them into a guaranteed contract equivalent to the average of the top five players at their position. But the Bears have taken steps to lock up key players such as center Olin Kreutz and linebacker Brian Urlacher, and Briggs is considered one of the NFL's elite outside linebackers.
Briggs was voted to his second Pro Bowl this season and was a first-team All-Pro last year and second-team this year. He led the Bears with 117 solo tackles this year after finishing second to Urlacher with a career-high 176 total stops.
Meanwhile, Bears strength and conditioning coach Rusty Jones, credited with dramatically improving the health and injury rate of the Bears, has been honored as the 2006 National Strength and Conditioning Coach of the Year by the Professional Football Strength and Conditioning Coaches Society.
[email protected]
Copyright © 2007 Chicago Tribune, All Rights Reserved.
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