Briggs another linebacker who's taking the offseason off
April 18, 200
BY
BRAD BIGGS bbiggs@suntimes.com
Brian Urlacher isn't the only Pro Bowl linebacker choosing not to participate in the Bears' offseason program.
While Urlacher is bucking for a raise and has introduced the prospects of being traded or retiring, that can't be the explanation for the whereabouts of Lance Briggs, who also has skipped the workouts, according to teammates. Briggs just signed a $36 million deal that's already $250,000 lighter because he has missed the maximum number of days.
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Briggs' absence could speak volumes about how he feels about the six-year contract he received last month after there surprisingly was no market for him following his long-awaited arrival in free agency.
Briggs, who missed the majority of the offseason programs the last two years, has been making stops on national TV and radio shows recently to rehab his image, sources said. Apparently, showing up for voluntary workouts isn't part of the PR campaign.
The offseason program began April 7 and lasts 10 weeks. It runs Monday through Thursday each week, with makeup dates on Fridays. Briggs' contract mandates he attend 85 percent of workouts to earn the $250,000 bonus. With 40 dates, the most he could miss and reach the threshold was six.
Urlacher is missing out, too. His nine-year, $56.65 million contract contains a modest $50,000 workout bonus. The work is voluntary, but you can't collect if you don't volunteer.
Coach Lovie Smith said last week he wasn't concerned about Urlacher's absence. At best, the Bears no longer will be able to trumpet terrific offseason participation. At worst, it's a sign that the message isn't resonating with cornerstones in the locker room.
Urlacher and Briggs aren't the only ones missing. Kicker Robbie Gould, entering the final season of the bargain four-year contract he signed in 2005, hasn't checked in.
Skipping the workouts is the only leverage Gould has in pursuing a new contract after making the Pro Bowl in 2006 and being an alternate last season. The Bears have been in discussion with his agent, Brian Mackler, who declined to comment on the situation.
Gould didn't receive a signing bonus when he replaced Doug Brien in Week 5 of the 2005 season. The Bears can hang the franchise tag over his head, but there's only one of those for 2009, and if defensive tackle Tommie Harris can't work out an extension, he might wind up wearing that collar. The Bears also could apply the less-used transition tag.
Without another kicker on the roster, the Bears could look into Mike Vanderjagt. The most accurate kicker in league history had a tryout in Denver earlier this week. Vanderjagt doesn't have a strong leg for kickoffs, but neither does Gould.
Harris, who's in negotiations for an extension of his own, has been showing up. That's staying true to his word to be involved and not become a sideshow. Returner Devin Hester also is in the hunt for a big payday, and his confidant Deion Sanders let it be known Hester is upset this week on NFL Network.
''Devin Hester isn't happy with his contract, and he deserves to be paid among the league's best,'' Sanders said.
And you thought finding an offensive tackle, running back and quarterback were general manager Jerry Angelo's only issues eight days before the draft.