Briggs is Bears' money player
Linebacker is team's lone representative in Pro Bowl
December 17, 2008
BY BRAD BIGGS bbiggs@suntimes.com
As a general rule, the Bears don't like to put Pro Bowl clauses in players' contracts because they believe if they're paying top dollar, they expect all-star performance.
Weak-side linebacker Lance Briggs delivered on that when he was named to the NFC Pro Bowl team for the fourth consecutive season Tuesday, but the announcements otherwise were a letdown for the Bears, who have invested so richly in their own players over the last year and a half. Briggs was the only Bear selected, as much a sign of his new standing as the face of the defense as it was a reflection of the team's roller-coaster 8-6 season.
''After four Pro Bowls, I am definitely a big piece of what we do,'' Briggs said. ''Whether it's my defense, or whose defense it is, that's not necessarily for me to decide right now. I do think my role, as far as what we do, is definitely bigger.
''I've always looked at myself as a valuable player, and I don't necessarily think that being voted to a Pro Bowl validates that for all these teams. But if a coach says, 'This guy makes plays,' or 'This guy shows up,' or 'This is a guy we need to worry about,' that is more valuable to me when my opponent or my opponent's coach says, 'Look, you guys better strap yourself on because this guy is coming after you. This is one of their playmakers right here.'''
Briggs returned to the Bears in March with a six-year, $36 million contract after testing free agency and not finding a lot of interest. The big money he was seeking wasn't there because he doesn't rush the passer, but he has remained every bit the playmaker for the team that drafted him in the third round in 2003. He leads the Bears with 122 tackles with six tackles for loss, six pass breakups, three interceptions and two fumble recoveries.
Only five linebackers in the history of a franchise famous for the position have been named to more Pro Bowls: Mike Singletary (10), Dick Butkus (8), Bill George (8), Brian Urlacher (6) and Joe Fortunato (5).
Six Bears were named as potential substitutes. Defensive tackle Tommie Harris is a first alternate, punter Brad Maynard, center Olin Kreutz and tight end Greg Olsen are second alternates, and returner Devin Hester and Urlacher are third alternates. Kreutz and Urlacher, six-time Pro Bowl choices, have missed the game two consecutive years.
Hester finished first in fan balloting, one-third of the selection process, and Urlacher was second, but neither received similar support from peers and coaches. Hester has been removed as the Bears' kickoff returner and is averaging just 5.6 yards per punt return after setting records in his first two seasons.
''I didn't deserve it this year,'' he said. ''Every football player wants to be in the Pro Bowl. If you don't, then there is something wrong with you. Hopefully, I'm back next year.''
That hope for next year applies to a handful of players from whom more is expected as general manager Jerry Angelo hasn't gotten a full return on his money. The Bears spent $185.39 million from February through August to extend or re-sign 10 players, including Briggs, and with that came expectations.
Urlacher's contentious negotiations included one of his agents telling the Bears he might retire because of injuries and therefore not have to repay a portion of the signing bonus on his contract from 2003. Urlacher's contention was that players could be forced to take pay cuts for a lack of performance, but there was no protection for players when they outperformed contracts. Eventually, he received a one-year, $18 million extension for 2012 with $6 million paid in a signing bonus and an additional $1 million added to his base salary each year from 2008 through 2011.
San Francisco's Patrick Willis and Carolina's Jon Beason were chosen ahead of Urlacher at inside linebacker. New York's Antonio Pierce is the first alternate and Washington's London Fletcher the second.
''It was kind of a tough go for [Urlacher] at the beginning of the year, and there has been a lot of good linebacker play in the NFL,'' Briggs said.
Harris is the first alternate behind Dallas' Jay Ratliff and Minnesota's Kevin Williams and Pat Williams. With Pat Williams out two to six weeks with a broken scapula, an opportunity could be extended to Harris, who does have a Pro Bowl clause in the $40 million extension he received this summer.
Having battled injuries all season, it's unknown if Harris would take up an offer to play in the game. But his $8 million roster bonus in 2012 contains a de-escalator that will drop by $1.5 million because he's not going to hit his playing-time lever of 74 percent. It also requires him to be a ''first ballot'' Pro Bowl selection, which he would not be.
The real slight on the Bears went to Maynard, who leads the league with 34 punts inside the 20-yard line and has only four touchbacks. This is the sixth time in 12 seasons he has been named an alternate. The Giants' Jeff Feagles got the nod.
''I've kicked well, but I didn't expect it,'' Maynard said. ''That's just the way it is.''
Briggs, who has not played in the Pro Bowl since being chosen for the first time in 2005, said he plans to attend the Feb. 8 game.
''You never want to go there by yourself or be the lone [representative] of your organization, but that is just the way it goes sometimes,'' he said.