Lance Briggs, the Bucs, and the Franchise Tag

by JScott on May 18, 2007 5:56 PM EDT in News Comment 2 comments

I’ve been wanting to comment on this story for some time (since March actually), but the St. Pete Times, Orlando Sentinel, and Tampa Tribune made it almost impossible to get a word in with their SUPERB coverage of the Bucs off-season. Without their coverage we might have been stuck discussing training camp jerseys, Gene Deckerhoff, and recent music releases ….. wait. With this off-season I would venture to say that the NFL’s has rivaled that of MLB’s off-season.

On with the story, the Chicago Bears put the franchise tag on LB Lance Briggs immediately after the season ended. Lance Briggs immediately responded by saying he would not play for the Bears ever again:

"I've played my last snap for them. I'll never play another down for Chicago again." – source FoxSports.com

When a player is franchised, he loses out on the complete freedom that unrestricted free agents enjoy. The franchised player loses the opportunity to represent himself and attempt to receive the highest possible contract for his services he could possibly see. The teams that attempt to sign a Franchised player are automatically forfeiting the rights to (TWO) first round draft picks, plus the franchised players team can match the offer, thus nullifying the entire deal. The problem with this, is that there are only a handful of players in the NFL worth giving up (TWO) first round draft picks for. Unfortunately for Briggs, he doesn’t classify as one of those players. Thus the predicament for Briggs: he came in to the league as a 3rd Round Draft Pick, proved himself, and played for pennies (in Professional Athlete standards). He is now due a spike in income, but the team that gave him his opportunity has robbed Briggs of this opportunity for one more season, a season in which Briggs could blow out his knee and lose all of the potential money he had worked so hard for.

I understand where the team’s rationale comes in to play, because they obviously don’t want to get into a bidding war just yet, BUT its inevitable and the Bears clearly have cap space so why punish the player who busted his butt for you? The gain for the team to me is a lot lower than the potential gain it could have had from signing Briggs and keeping an integral part of your defense in tact. Instead the Bears have rolled the dice and lost. Sure Briggs will probably play next year (he has to performance wise), but he’ll never play for the Bears again. Not only does this sour Lance Briggs from continuing to play for the Bears, this could also deter other free-agents from coming to the bears having witnessed this treatment.

Players aren’t the only personnel privy to this treatment. The Bucs ex-secondary coach in Mike Tomlin also experienced Briggs esque treatment, off-season after off-season, while working for the Bucs:

"I was denied in Tampa on more than one occasion [to talk with teams in the off-season], along with Rod Marinelli and Joe Barry, and we didn't appreciate it. People say that they care about you professionally and personally, but those actions don't match those words."

Why anybody would stop the progression of hard working men is beyond me. Either reward these guys with an increase in salary or allow them to pursue other options.

In related news, Lance Briggs himself has acknowledged that he would like to join the Bucs.

That’s great, but like I’ve said, Lance Briggs is not worth (TWO) first round draft picks and we honestly don’t have room for the man. Briggs plays weak-side linebacker, as does Pro Bowl LB Derrick Brooks and LB Cato June for that matter. Sure Brooks could move to Middle Linebacker thus giving Briggs a starting slot, but he costs a lot of money and Brooks doesn’t need to move, the guy is plenty productive despite whispers of him losing a step. Lance good luck with your situation!!!

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Let me drop a few facts that you left off

before you lay this blame on the Bears.

Firstly, he was offered a long term contract prior to last year, but he wanted Urlacher money. Sorry, but he is not worth that.

Next, we are playing by the rules the NFLPA agreed to, so don't drop this on a team, drop it on them. The players agreed to this.

Thirdly, if Briggs had handled his business like an adult instead of whining and crying and trashing everybody he could think of, maybe the Bears would have been more likely to work with him.

by WCG on May 22, 2007 8:59 AM EDT reply actions 0 recs

here we go

before you lay this blame on the Bears

It's not about laying blame on anyone, no-ones to blame, but the Bears caused this. Briggs would be in camp and happy had he been paid what a player of his ability is worth.

Firstly, he was offered a long term contract prior to last year, but he wanted Urlacher money. Sorry, but he is not worth that.

The guy is clearly worth more than what he's making now (and what the Bears feel he's worth). I would also argue that he is just as productive as Brian Urlacher (without of course, the name recognition). Briggs finished 2nd in the league this year in solo tackles, 20th in '05, and 3rd in '04. Thats a fairly productive Linebacker. In comparison Urlacher finished '06, 13th in most solo tackles, 9th in '05, and (due to injuries) 50th+ in '04. I can't account for intangibles on-and-off the field as I don't watch Bears games unless their playing the Bucs or i'm force-fed via MNF.

Next, we are playing by the rules the NFLPA agreed to, so don't drop this on a team, drop it on them. The players agreed to this.

There's what, over 1500 players in this league? If I myself attempted to change the tax policy for the district I work in, do you think my one voice would be given the time of day, much less be heard? Not to mention ... It is WIDELY known and viewed that Gene Upshaw is a puppet for the NFL's Player Association and that he rarely has the players well being in mind. Regardless, the Franchise Tag explicitly hurts players like Lance Briggs who come into the league on the league minimum, make a name for themselves and then are handicapped come time to reap the benefits. Just because the "rule" is in place doesnt make it right.

Thirdly, if Briggs had handled his business like an adult instead of whining and crying and trashing everybody he could think of, maybe the Bears would have been more likely to work with him.

Don't feed me this. Anyone else you could say this to, but NOT a Buccaneers fan. This same montra was thrown at RB Warrick Dunn (model citizen, we all know this), S John Lynch (nicest guy you'll ever meet), and DT Warren Sapp (okay so he likes to talk). My point is, the player is damned if he does and damned if he doesnt. I grew up following the players and I'm probably a little biased in that I feel for them before I'd feel for a multi-million dollar company, but the players are getting hosed via the Franchise Tag.

my .02 cents

by JScott on May 22, 2007 12:35 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs