NFL Free Agency

[snoopy369]

According to TV (NFL Live):

1. Bears and Skins are talking, though it's by no means a sure thing and the Bears are annoyed it came out in the media before they were talked to formally.

2. Briggs has said he might play the last 6 games of the season, to prevent the Bears from franchising him for 2 more years (6 games = full season from NFL's point of view). He'd only get 6/16 pay but he would only have one more year of franchising possible.

[-Jrabbit]

This is just Rosenhaus blowing more smoke. For the past month, Briggs said he'd "never play another down" for the Bears. Now he's coming back for weeks 12-17? Very notable that it was Drew making this announcement...

The flip side of that coin is that the Bears have the right to deny him the playing field. They can fine him for every practice missed (see Branch), and can suspend him for conduct detrimental (see Keyshawn) if they wish. They would still have the right to franchise him in 2008 regardless of whether he deigned to get off his high horse and participate in the presumed playoff run.

Rosenhaus is desperately trying to create leverage. Legally, according the CBA, he has none.

[snoopy369]

I think his point is that he could be franchised for 2008 no matter what, but not for 2009 if he shows up week 12.

Rosenhaus either way is an ass

[-Jrabbit]

If the proposed deal is fair, and real, fine. But...
Just once, I'd like to see a Rosenhaus client forced to eat dirt.
This jerk needs his comeuppance, and Angelo would be a hero to GMs everywhere.

[snoopy369]

lol... you mean like Scott Boras

[Donegeal]

So Rosenhaus says that Briggs will play if the Bears won't franchise him in 2008 and the Bears agreed, but nw he's saying that's not enough?

What a jackass.

[SlowwHand]

Briggs is very good. He doesn't want to be a part of the team. The Bears need to get rid of negatives. Make a deal.

[-Jrabbit]

Here's the sequence, Donegeal:

1. Rosenhaus brings Briggs to the GM meetings in Phoenix to introduce him around.
2. Angelo suggests a one-on-one meeting with Briggs. Rosenhaus agrees, but first he puts Briggs on NFL Network (again) to show how reasonable they're being.
3. Angelo and Briggs meet. Angelo offers to make Briggs a free agent in 2008 (no franchise tag) if he will play in 2007.
4. Rosenhaus announces that this offer does not give them what they need -- which is either free agency or a trade -- and rejects it.
5. A bit later, Rosenhaus announces the "sit 11 weeks" plan. Despite rosenhaus suggesting that this somehow gives Briggs leverage, all it does is require the Bears to pay his salary for the weeks he plays. Oh, and it does give Briggs his critical 4th year for full vesting in the NFL pension plan. But it does not change his contract situation one iota.

@Sloww -- The Bears have a real problem with getting bullied. In this case, it's not just Rosenhaus (with whom they've had successful dealings in the past), but also the Redskins. Local reports here, confirmed by John Clayton on ESPN Radio today, say the Bears are pretty pissed that the proposed deal got into the press. That's not how they do business.

Personally, I'm sick and tired of agents pushing athletes to go outside the rules that their own Players Association agreed to, convincing them that they're entitled to top dollar TODAY, then manipulating the media to frame the team who holds their rights as the bad guys.

Rosenhaus needs to be put in his place.

I understand Briggs (Rosenhaus) wanting his big payday. He has put in three great years as a 3rd rounder on his first contract, and as a 2X Pro Bowler would command a huge price on the open market.

But he's NOT on the open market.

The fact that Briggs is legally bound to the Bears is...

An Inconvenient Truth.

A little history: The Bears had two defensive starters (safety Todd Bell and LB-DE Al Harris) who held out in 1985. Granted this was prior to full-on free agency. No trade, no renegotiation. They sat. Bell was replaced by Dave Duerson, Harris by Wilbur Marshall. The defense became legendary, and the team won the Super Bowl.

The same ownership is in place. Do you really think they'll allow one guy to hold them hostage?

I hope not.

[SlowwHand]

Then put him on disciplinary list and don't pay him. Take the full hit of doing it. He doesn't need to be in the locker room with his negativity, and I wouldn't want to count on him to play full speed, as he wouldn't want to risk his future negotiating strength.

[-Jrabbit]

I totally agree, Sloww., but you're putting the cart before the horse. If this actually gets to Week 12 2007, they can suspend him for conduct detrimental or whatever.

But there are a lot of checkpoints before that...
1. Draft day
2. First day of training camp -- fines begin
3. First day of season -- salary loss begins
4. Week 12

A lot can happen between now and then. Rosenhaus could talk some team into ponying up with a great deal. Briggs could have a change of heart. Doubtful, but possible. Gotta let it play out.

[SlowwHand]

First day of season. His ass spreads from sitting in his recliner for the coming year. If he's out, let him be out.
That's why I say deal him now. My only viable alternative is adios, have a nice year.

[Richelieu]

Originally posted by -Jrabbit
Nope, they're cool -- about $8-9 MM under the cap before this deal.

Added salary cap savings with this deal:
Takeo Spikes -- save $3MM vs. cap
Kelly Holcomb -- save $3.3MM vs. cap

Not sure what Darwin Walker costs, but he's a 5-year vet who started 15 games with 6 sacks as a DT last year. He's a bright lad, too -- got a degree in structural engineering and owns his own construction company.

Walker will be a good payer immediately for the Bills and lord knows they do need the help there.

Spikes may or may not come back to his form before the achiles injury. I read that those sometimes take 2 years to completely heal. This is year #2.

Holcomb is a good backup but they feel they can get by with Nall at that position, and they've already decided that they're sticking with Losman as starting QB since he has been showing some progress.

But with Spikes gone, they'll need to do something at the LB position.

[-Jrabbit]

Rosenhaus and Briggs are asking the world to believe that he would give up (arguably) two of the most productive years of his athletic career (and roughly $15.9 MM in guaranteed salary) because he chooses to be "insulted" by being tagged the Bears' franchise player? Does he really think anyone will pay him that kind of money after two years off the field?

I say call his bluff. Make him sit.

Teach him and Rosenhaus the meaning of a contract.

[H Tower]

what happens when Briggs sits for 10 games, and then shows up for the last 6? He gets paid his 7 mil, and becomes a free agent after the season.

[-Jrabbit]

Not true! This is exactly the type of misperception that Rosenhaus plays to his advantage in the media.

1. Remember that, to do this, he has to sign off on the franchise tag contract. That means he is subject to fines and discipline like any othe rplayer under contract.

2. Briggs would be paid only for games he makes himelf available for. According to Agent Drew's Master Plan, that's 6/17 of his $7.2MM contract ($2.54MM), minus whatever fines the Bears hit him with for all the time missed.

3. The Bears do NOT give up their franchise tag rights for 2008 in this situation. Briggs would still have to wait until 2009 to be a free agent.