BU54

Bears' Briggs 'not bitter' about demotion

BOURBONNAIS, Ill. (July 28, 2006) -- Lance Briggs hopped on his bike with a smile on his face, refusing to criticize the Chicago Bears or his situation. In less than six months, he's gone from Pro Bowl linebacker to backup.

Like teammate Thomas Jones, the team's leading rusher last season, Briggs was demoted off the first unit by coach Lovie Smith after skipping voluntary workouts over the offseason.

With a year left on his contract, Briggs and the Bears failed to reach agreement on an extension for a linebacker who made a career-high 170 tackles last season and has returned three interceptions for touchdowns in his three-year career.

It seems a little harsh to me for missing "voluntary" workouts.
There must be more to the story but it sounds like he will be starting if he gets in shape fast enough.
Full story here
http://www.nfl.com/teams/story/CHI/9576235

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Bears always have and always will need a quarterback!! But not a MLB.


10-7-07 Bears 27,Packers 20
12-23-07 Bears 35, Packers 7
Then Brett Favre Retired...

Potatoking

he'll start, it's just a matter of time

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Jayhawk_Colin

If he doesnt start the bears may be the dumbest franchise ever

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From Seinfeld:

George is scoffing shrimp at a meeting.

Reilly: The ocean just called, they are running out of shrimp.
George: The jerk store just called, they're running out of you.
Reilly: That shouldn't be a problem since you are there all time best seller.
George: I slept with your wife!

Potatoking

Lovie was Coach of the year, he knows what he's doing

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Jayhawk_Colin

Lovie is good, but you dont bench a Prow Bowler because he misses "voluntary" workouts

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From Seinfeld:

George is scoffing shrimp at a meeting.

Reilly: The ocean just called, they are running out of shrimp.
George: The jerk store just called, they're running out of you.
Reilly: That shouldn't be a problem since you are there all time best seller.
George: I slept with your wife!

Fielding

Reading This Post Is "Voluntary," Meaning You Must Read It

oh the bizzarre world of professional football. Dont you people know that Voluntary really means Mandatory in the NFL,

When a player skips "voluntary" workouts the media often presumes that the player has a quable with the team, or that there is unhappyness in the player, That is almost never the case. the NFL season is 6 months long and with real, actual mandatory workouts taking two, sometimes three months. Players ussualy want to enjoy the down time and skip the stuff that they dont need to be there for. But if a player decides to spend time with his family or take his boat out the lake, or just sit a home and watch oprah they are labled rebelious and called "turds".

For coaches the voluntary workouts are there to gauge team dedication and "want to" for players its the perfect time to kiss rear end, in short, voluntary workouts are the political side of football. It shows that you "care". not much happens on coluntary workouts, players just lift weights, play a few pickup b-ball games and run a little, nothing the player that skips cant do at home.

If coaches want players to show up to Voluntary workouts, then he should just make them Mandatory and not punish a player for breaking a rule that doesnt exists. Briggs did nothing wrong, yet he is being benched at a very pivotal time in his carreer. If he doest not play well in the final season of his contract, or play at all for that matter, that might hurt his bank account come march. Bizzarre world, indeed

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Jayhawk_Colin

So Voluntary = Mandatory

It's ashame that players a pushed around like that. They do deserve family time. Shame on Lovie.

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From Seinfeld:

George is scoffing shrimp at a meeting.

Reilly: The ocean just called, they are running out of shrimp.
George: The jerk store just called, they're running out of you.
Reilly: That shouldn't be a problem since you are there all time best seller.
George: I slept with your wife!

Professor

if there is viable reasons they are discussed in the backround. The only ones that ever make the papers are the ones that have obvious disputes most of the time involving contracts or such. There are plenty of players that don't go to the OTA's that doesnt even get talked about. Briggs is under contract and started talking crap. He is demoted for a couple of preseason games, big deal. He and everybody else knows he is the starter and it will be that way. period.

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BU54

Ahhh Fielding you figured it out. I was wondering if someone would.
Many teams and especially Da Bears want "dedicated kiss up" players if you will.
Remember, umm I think it was you, we were talking about the Bears upper management, the McCaskys in particular love kiss ups and not necessarily good players. Also management wants to set an example.
However I think in this case for this season anyway Brigs will be the starter.JMO

__________________
Bears always have and always will need a quarterback!! But not a MLB.


10-7-07 Bears 27,Packers 20
12-23-07 Bears 35, Packers 7
Then Brett Favre Retired...

chinasky

Briggs will be the starter but i don't known if he'll signs a new extension... probably he wants to go away from Chicago, he talked with a radio two months a go and sayd that (if Chicago don't pay the right contract) he sholud be a good FA next off season. Ron Rivera talked very well about rookie Jamar Williams recently, he thinks Williams played with same movements, tactics and phisycall of Briggs. Maybe Chicago wants to keep alert on Briggs and say "we have a great substitute, don't need you, paid attention" and reach a good compromise with the player for the new contract.

Sorry for my english, as i wrote on my entering fprum i'm italian. I will improve in the future.

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