Lance Briggs
Encyclopedia
Lance Marell Briggs is an American football
linebacker
for the Chicago Bears
of the National Football League
. He was originally drafted by the Bears in the third round of the 2003 NFL Draft
. He played college football
at Arizona
.
in Elk Grove, California
. He was a two-time first-team All-Pac-10 Conference selection as a linebacker at the University of Arizona
. Briggs finished his college career with 308 tackles, 10.5 sacks, 36 tackles for losses, three interceptions, 10 passes deflected, five forced fumbles and four fumble recoveries in 33 games at strong side linebacker.
in the 2003 NFL Draft
. In 2004, he made 126 tackles and was elected as a second alternate to the Pro Bowl
. In 2005, Briggs was selected to represent the National Football Conference
in the 2006 Pro Bowl
. However, Briggs drew controversy when he refused to attended the Bears' summer camp, resulting in a temporary demotion.
He finished the 2006 Chicago Bears season
as a clutch performer on the Bears' defense. Briggs was selected to play in the 2007 Pro Bowl
, but opted to defer the invitation because of an injured foot. He became a free agent following the 2007 playoffs, leaving his future with the Bears in the air. Despite Briggs’ high price tag, commentary from NFL on Fox
revealed Brian Urlacher
was willing to take a pay-cut in order to keep Briggs on the team. On February 16, 2007, the Bears officially placed the franchise tag
on him, which guarantees him a one-year contract for the 2007 NFL season
at slightly more than $7.2 million dollars.
On the morning of March 3, 2007, Briggs was featured on the Mike North Morning Show, and stated he was upset with the amount of money he was currently earning. Briggs later stated he enjoys his teammates, coaches and fans, but was fed up with the organization. He later went on to state he no longer wanted to be a Bear, and demanded a trade. Briggs also made his unhappiness known in a March 2007 interview with a Chicago radio station in which he said "I'll do everything that's within my power to not be with this organization."
On March 12, 2007 Briggs announced he no longer considers himself a member of the Chicago Bears. During a cell phone interview with Foxsports.com
Briggs said "I am now prepared to sit out the year if the Bears don't trade me or release me, I've played my last snap for them. I'll never play another down for Chicago again." In explaining his demands, he said "The Bears have shown I'm not in their long-term plans so if that's the case, I don't want to be here." A report from Fox Sports
on March 27 claimed that the Washington Redskins
allegedly offered the Bears their first round pick in exchange for Briggs and the Bears' own first round pick. On March 28, Bears general manager
Jerry Angelo
confirmed that the Redskins have made a trade offer and stated, "We'll evaluate if that's good for us and get back to them". Angelo deferred the offer on April 3, but later stated they were interested in negotiating a deal the following day. The Bears then proposed a trade with the Redskins which included linebacker Rocky McIntosh
as well as the Redskins first-round pick in exchange for Briggs. Briggs did not attend the team's first meeting after their Super Bowl XLI
loss, or their mandatory mini camp session in May 2007.
Despite this, on March 1, 2008, the Bears re-signed Briggs to a six-year, $36 million contract; he remained a Chicago Bear.
On September 2, 2011 Briggs and his agent, Drew Rosenhaus
, formally asked the Bears organization for a trade, with three years left on his six-year contract. The request came after Briggs asked the Bears for a raise.
crashed on Chicago
's Edens Expressway. Briggs first told the Illinois State Police that his car had been stolen, but later changed his story. Briggs told officials that he was driving the car alone when it crashed. Briggs was charged with leaving the scene of a property damage accident, a class A misdemeanor, as well as failure to give immediate notice of an accident and improper lane usage. Officials stated that Briggs was not tested for alcohol or drugs, and too much time had passed to perform such tests by the time they had interviewed him. Briggs appeared before a court on October 4, 2007 and pleaded guilty; he was sentenced to 120 hours of community service and fined $485.
American football
American football is a sport played between two teams of eleven with the objective of scoring points by advancing the ball into the opposing team's end zone. Known in the United States simply as football, it may also be referred to informally as gridiron football. The ball can be advanced by...
linebacker
Linebacker
A linebacker is a position in American football that was invented by football coach Fielding H. Yost of the University of Michigan. Linebackers are members of the defensive team, and line up approximately three to five yards behind the line of scrimmage, behind the defensive linemen...
for the Chicago Bears
Chicago Bears
The Chicago Bears are a professional American football team based in Chicago, Illinois. They are members of the North Division of the National Football Conference in the National Football League...
of the National Football League
National Football League
The National Football League is the highest level of professional American football in the United States, and is considered the top professional American football league in the world. It was formed by eleven teams in 1920 as the American Professional Football Association, with the league changing...
. He was originally drafted by the Bears in the third round of the 2003 NFL Draft
2003 NFL Draft
The 2003 NFL Draft was the procedure by which National Football League teams selected amateur college football players. The draft is known officially as the "NFL Annual Player Selection Meeting" and has been conducted annually since 1936. The draft was held April 26–27, 2003 at the Theatre at...
. He played college football
College football
College football refers to American football played by teams of student athletes fielded by American universities, colleges, and military academies, or Canadian football played by teams of student athletes fielded by Canadian universities...
at Arizona
Arizona Wildcats football
The Arizona Wildcats football team is the football team of the University of Arizona, located in Tucson, Arizona, United States. The team competes in the Pacific-12 Conference at the NCAA Football Bowl Subdivision level.-Early years:...
.
Early years
A Sacramento native, Briggs attended Elk Grove High SchoolElk Grove High School (Elk Grove, California)
Elk Grove High School or EGHS, is a public four-year high school located in Elk Grove, California,in the United States. It is part of the Elk Grove Unified School District, which also includes Cosumnes Oaks High School, Florin High School, Franklin High School, Laguna Creek High School, Monterey...
in Elk Grove, California
Elk Grove, California
Elk Grove is a city in Sacramento County, California, located just south of the state capital of Sacramento. It is part of the Sacramento–Arden-Arcade–Roseville Metropolitan Statistical Area. As of the 2010 census, the population of the city is 153,015...
. He was a two-time first-team All-Pac-10 Conference selection as a linebacker at the University of Arizona
University of Arizona
The University of Arizona is a land-grant and space-grant public institution of higher education and research located in Tucson, Arizona, United States. The University of Arizona was the first university in the state of Arizona, founded in 1885...
. Briggs finished his college career with 308 tackles, 10.5 sacks, 36 tackles for losses, three interceptions, 10 passes deflected, five forced fumbles and four fumble recoveries in 33 games at strong side linebacker.
Professional career
Briggs was a third round draft pick (68th overall) by the Chicago BearsChicago Bears
The Chicago Bears are a professional American football team based in Chicago, Illinois. They are members of the North Division of the National Football Conference in the National Football League...
in the 2003 NFL Draft
2003 NFL Draft
The 2003 NFL Draft was the procedure by which National Football League teams selected amateur college football players. The draft is known officially as the "NFL Annual Player Selection Meeting" and has been conducted annually since 1936. The draft was held April 26–27, 2003 at the Theatre at...
. In 2004, he made 126 tackles and was elected as a second alternate to the Pro Bowl
Pro Bowl
In professional American football, the Pro Bowl is the all-star game of the National Football League . Since the merger with the rival American Football League in 1970, it has been officially called the AFC–NFC Pro Bowl, matching the top players in the American Football Conference against those...
. In 2005, Briggs was selected to represent the National Football Conference
National Football Conference
The National Football Conference is one of the two conferences of the National Football League . This conference and its counterpart, the American Football Conference , currently contain 16 teams each, making up the 32 teams of the NFL.-Current teams:Since 2002, the NFC has comprised 16 teams,...
in the 2006 Pro Bowl
2006 Pro Bowl
The 2006 AFC-NFC Pro Bowl was played on February 12, 2006 at Aloha Stadium in Honolulu, Hawaii. It marked the 27th consecutive time that the National Football League's all-star game was held in Honolulu...
. However, Briggs drew controversy when he refused to attended the Bears' summer camp, resulting in a temporary demotion.
He finished the 2006 Chicago Bears season
2006 Chicago Bears season
The 2006 Chicago Bears season was their 87th regular season and 25th post-season completed in the National Football League. The club posted a 13-3 regular season record, the best in the NFC, improving on their previous year’s record of 11-5...
as a clutch performer on the Bears' defense. Briggs was selected to play in the 2007 Pro Bowl
2007 Pro Bowl
The 2007 AFC-NFC Pro Bowl took place on February 10, 2007, at Aloha Stadium in Honolulu, Hawaii. The game was held on a Saturday instead of the usual Sunday after the Super Bowl because of a request by broadcaster CBS....
, but opted to defer the invitation because of an injured foot. He became a free agent following the 2007 playoffs, leaving his future with the Bears in the air. Despite Briggs’ high price tag, commentary from NFL on Fox
NFL on FOX
NFL on Fox is the brand name of the Fox Broadcasting Company's coverage of the National Football League's National Football Conference games, produced by Fox Sports...
revealed Brian Urlacher
Brian Urlacher
Brian Keith Urlacher is an American football player for the Chicago Bears of the National Football League . He attended the University of New Mexico, where he was one of the school's most decorated athletes. In addition to setting multiple university records, Urlacher earned consideration for the...
was willing to take a pay-cut in order to keep Briggs on the team. On February 16, 2007, the Bears officially placed the franchise tag
Franchise Tag
In the National Football League, the franchise tag is a designation a team may apply to a player scheduled to become an unrestricted free agent. The tag binds the player to the team for one year if certain conditions are met. Each team has access each year to only one franchise tag and one...
on him, which guarantees him a one-year contract for the 2007 NFL season
2007 NFL season
The 2007 NFL season was the 88th regular season of the National Football League.Regular-season play was held from September 6 to December 30....
at slightly more than $7.2 million dollars.
On the morning of March 3, 2007, Briggs was featured on the Mike North Morning Show, and stated he was upset with the amount of money he was currently earning. Briggs later stated he enjoys his teammates, coaches and fans, but was fed up with the organization. He later went on to state he no longer wanted to be a Bear, and demanded a trade. Briggs also made his unhappiness known in a March 2007 interview with a Chicago radio station in which he said "I'll do everything that's within my power to not be with this organization."
On March 12, 2007 Briggs announced he no longer considers himself a member of the Chicago Bears. During a cell phone interview with Foxsports.com
Foxsports.com
Foxsports.com provides sports news, scores, sports statistics, sports and entertainment video, sports fantasy leagues and fantasy information. Launched in July 2001, it is a unit of Fox Interactive Media, which also includes other News Corporation online businesses, including MySpace, IGN...
Briggs said "I am now prepared to sit out the year if the Bears don't trade me or release me, I've played my last snap for them. I'll never play another down for Chicago again." In explaining his demands, he said "The Bears have shown I'm not in their long-term plans so if that's the case, I don't want to be here." A report from Fox Sports
Fox Sports (USA)
Fox Sports is a division of the Fox Broadcasting Company . It was formed in 1994 with Fox's acquisition of broadcast rights to National Football League games...
on March 27 claimed that the Washington Redskins
Washington Redskins
The Washington Redskins are a professional American football team and members of the East Division of the National Football Conference in the National Football League . The team plays at FedExField in Landover, Maryland, while its headquarters and training facility are at Redskin Park in Ashburn,...
allegedly offered the Bears their first round pick in exchange for Briggs and the Bears' own first round pick. On March 28, Bears general manager
General manager
General manager is a descriptive term for certain executives in a business operation. It is also a formal title held by some business executives, most commonly in the hospitality industry.-Generic usage:...
Jerry Angelo
Jerry Angelo
Jerry Angelo is the General Manager for the National Football League's Chicago Bears. He has held the role since 2001. Prior to joining the Chicago Bears, Angelo spent 14 years overseeing Tampa Bay Buccaneers' scouting department as their Director of Player Personnel...
confirmed that the Redskins have made a trade offer and stated, "We'll evaluate if that's good for us and get back to them". Angelo deferred the offer on April 3, but later stated they were interested in negotiating a deal the following day. The Bears then proposed a trade with the Redskins which included linebacker Rocky McIntosh
Rocky McIntosh
Roger A. "Rocky" McIntosh is an American football linebacker for the Washington Redskins of the National Football League. He played college football at the University of Miami.-Early life:...
as well as the Redskins first-round pick in exchange for Briggs. Briggs did not attend the team's first meeting after their Super Bowl XLI
Super Bowl XLI
Super Bowl XLI was an American football game that featured the American Football Conference champion Indianapolis Colts and the National Football Conference champion Chicago Bears to decide the National Football League champion for the 2006 season...
loss, or their mandatory mini camp session in May 2007.
Despite this, on March 1, 2008, the Bears re-signed Briggs to a six-year, $36 million contract; he remained a Chicago Bear.
On September 2, 2011 Briggs and his agent, Drew Rosenhaus
Drew Rosenhaus
Drew Rosenhaus is an American sports agent who represents professional football players. He owns the Miami-based sports agency, Rosenhaus Sports, and is known for using aggressive tactics on behalf of his clients who play in the National Football League.Rosenhaus currently represents approximately...
, formally asked the Bears organization for a trade, with three years left on his six-year contract. The request came after Briggs asked the Bears for a raise.
Car accident
On August 27, 2007, the Illinois State Police discovered Briggs' Lamborghini MurciélagoLamborghini Murciélago
The Lamborghini Murciélago is a two-door, two-seat sports car produced by Italian automaker Lamborghini between 2001 and 2010. Successor to the Diablo and flagship of the automaker's lineup, the Murciélago was introduced as a coupé in 2001. The automaker's first new design in eleven years, the car...
crashed on Chicago
Chicago
Chicago is the largest city in the US state of Illinois. With nearly 2.7 million residents, it is the most populous city in the Midwestern United States and the third most populous in the US, after New York City and Los Angeles...
's Edens Expressway. Briggs first told the Illinois State Police that his car had been stolen, but later changed his story. Briggs told officials that he was driving the car alone when it crashed. Briggs was charged with leaving the scene of a property damage accident, a class A misdemeanor, as well as failure to give immediate notice of an accident and improper lane usage. Officials stated that Briggs was not tested for alcohol or drugs, and too much time had passed to perform such tests by the time they had interviewed him. Briggs appeared before a court on October 4, 2007 and pleaded guilty; he was sentenced to 120 hours of community service and fined $485.