Chicago Bears: Lance Briggs Wants a New Deal or a Trade from Team

Lance Briggs wants a new deal from the Chicago Bears before the end of the season or he will demand a trade.

Before we move on, let's also note that Briggs has stated that this development has nothing to do with him sitting out the preseason. His bruised knee is the cause of his inactivity in the past two preseason games and being that he has given an end-of-season time-line to the Bears, there is no reason not to believe the six-time consecutive pro-bowler.

Briggs confirmed to the Chicago Tribune that he approached the Bears franchise seeking a pay raise after watching the contracts doled out this offseason.

Briggs still has three years left on his six-year $36 million deal he signed in 2007 which, if you remember, was the culmination of a two-year struggle than included a franchise tag and Briggs saying he would never play for the Bears again.

Briggs refused to sign the six-year $33 million dollar deal the Bears offered him in 2006, forcing the Bears to franchise him over an average of $500 thousand per year (wait, that number sounds oddly familiar, doesn't it?) and creating a rift between Briggs and the team.

He and Agent Drew Rosenhaus promised that Briggs would never play for Chicago again, but when possible trade partner Washington backed away from his asking price in 2006, Briggs signed the $7.2 million franchise tag the Bears placed on him, with a promise from the Bears that they wouldn't franchise him in 2007.

The truth is that Briggs thought his market value was much higher than it actually turned out to be, and he priced himself out of the market, with suitors like New Orleans, San Francisco and Washington turning to other options.

Now, just three years into the deal, Briggs is unhappy again and is again taking it to the media.  The last time around he aired his grievances out in public, too.  That is, until he crashed his Lamborghini and left it sitting in a median.  After that, he rarely spoke to the media and when he did, he suddenly changed his tune about staying in Chicago.

This time around, you can expect Briggs to drive a little more safely.

Does Briggs deserve a pay raise? The market will determine that question, but if the past month's signings are any indication, then the answer is clear: Absolutely.

Several other high profile linebackers have signed lucrative contract extensions this offseason, including Jon Beason, and Briggs previous contract was front loaded into the first three seasons.  His is set to make $3.65 million this year and $3.75 million in 2012, which would certainly appear to be low for his caliber of play.

Urlacher also requested a contract extension in 2008 with four years left on his deal.  The Bears obliged by adding $1 million dollars to his annual salary and giving him a $6 million signing bonus.  

The last time Briggs had a contract dispute, fans were quick to label him disloyal and his public threats didn't help.  

But, in fairness, if the Bears were to land a better linebacker next season, they certainly wouldn't consider loyalty before dumping his contract for cap room. Ask Alex Brown or Olin Kreutz.  The Bears ditched Brown when they acquired Julius Peppers and parted ways with Kreutz over $500 thousand after Kreutz gave the Bears a hometown discount with his two previous contracts.  

And now it's your turn, ladies and gentlemen.  Step right up to the soapbox below—know as the comment thread—and tell us what you think about Briggs and his latest contract dispute.