lance briggs

[SkinsFreak]

Todd McShay: I agree, Marc. Briggs is obviously a very good player, but I think it helps a lot playing with his supporting cast -- Urlacher, DT Harris, DE Ogunleye, etc. The 'Skins hate drafting. I don't get it. They can sit at No. 6 and get the best defensive player in this year's draft if they want. I'd like to see them take DE Gaines Adams to improve their horrid pass rush (19 sacks) from a year ago.

We hear this a lot and there is some truth to it, but it is also exaggerated a bit. Currently, half of our 22 starters were drafted by us.

Campbell
Betts
ey
Samuels
Jansen
Cartwright
Taylor
Rogers
Golston
Smoot
McIntosh

That's not as bad as some would suggest. There are some good players there as well. And that doesn't take into account others that were drafted for depth, like Doughty, Kili Lefotu and Montgomery. We always say it should be a balance of both, free agency and the draft. Is that not balance?

[Fios]

Todd McShay: I agree, Marc. Briggs is obviously a very good player, but I think it helps a lot playing with his supporting cast -- Urlacher, DT Harris, DE Ogunleye, etc. The 'Skins hate drafting. I don't get it. They can sit at No. 6 and get the best defensive player in this year's draft if they want. I'd like to see them take DE Gaines Adams to improve their horrid pass rush (19 sacks) from a year ago.

We hear this a lot and there is some truth to it, but it is also exaggerated a bit. Currently, half of our 22 starters were drafted by us.

Campbell
Betts
ey
Samuels
Jansen
Cartwright
Taylor
Rogers
Golston
Smoot
McIntosh

That's not as bad as some would suggest. There are some good players there as well. And that doesn't take into account others that were drafted for depth, like Doughty, Kili Lefotu and Montgomery. We always say it should be a balance of both, free agency and the draft. Is that not balance?

Shhhhhhhh ... stop confusing people with facts

[steve09ru]

Todd McShay: I agree, Marc. Briggs is obviously a very good player, but I think it helps a lot playing with his supporting cast -- Urlacher, DT Harris, DE Ogunleye, etc. The 'Skins hate drafting. I don't get it. They can sit at No. 6 and get the best defensive player in this year's draft if they want. I'd like to see them take DE Gaines Adams to improve their horrid pass rush (19 sacks) from a year ago.

We hear this a lot and there is some truth to it, but it is also exaggerated a bit. Currently, half of our 22 starters were drafted by us.

Campbell
Betts
ey
Samuels
Jansen
Cartwright
Taylor
Rogers
Golston
Smoot
McIntosh

That's not as bad as some would suggest. There are some good players there as well. And that doesn't take into account others that were drafted for depth, like Doughty, Kili Lefotu and Montgomery. We always say it should be a balance of both, free agency and the draft. Is that not balance?

Betts- isn't the starter
Cartwright- kickoff returns
Golston- only started due to injury
McIntosh- not a starter

so that leaves 7 starters who we drafted over the last while that are actually starting...

There is good talent there, but it is not exaggerated at all. how many picks do we have this year? 4 that is pathetic...we simply like to trade our picks away. it's as simple as that. BUT we are still getting a first rounder if the Brigg's deal goes through...and a probowl linebacker

[fleetus]

Todd McShay: I agree, Marc. Briggs is obviously a very good player, but I think it helps a lot playing with his supporting cast -- Urlacher, DT Harris, DE Ogunleye, etc. The 'Skins hate drafting. I don't get it. They can sit at No. 6 and get the best defensive player in this year's draft if they want. I'd like to see them take DE Gaines Adams to improve their horrid pass rush (19 sacks) from a year ago.

We hear this a lot and there is some truth to it, but it is also exaggerated a bit. Currently, half of our 22 starters were drafted by us.

Campbell
Betts
ey
Samuels
Jansen
Cartwright
Taylor
Rogers
Golston
Smoot
McIntosh

That's not as bad as some would suggest. There are some good players there as well. And that doesn't take into account others that were drafted for depth, like Doughty, Kili Lefotu and Montgomery. We always say it should be a balance of both, free agency and the draft. Is that not balance?

Betts- isn't the starter
Cartwright- kickoff returns
Golston- only started due to injury
McIntosh- not a starter

so that leaves 7 starters who we drafted over the last while that are actually starting...

There is good talent there, but it is not exaggerated at all. how many picks do we have this year? 4 that is pathetic...we simply like to trade our picks away. it's as simple as that. BUT we are still getting a first rounder if the Brigg's deal goes through...and a probowl linebacker

Smoot is not a starter YET either. He couldn't hold down a starting job for the Vikings so he's gonna have to elevate his play first. Plus, he's also a free agent signee so you're not proving the draft pick angle at all.

Find me another NFL team that can only find 6 starters from all of its drafts.

[fleetus]

Todd McShay: I agree, Marc. Briggs is obviously a very good player, but I think it helps a lot playing with his supporting cast -- Urlacher, DT Harris, DE Ogunleye, etc. The 'Skins hate drafting. I don't get it. They can sit at No. 6 and get the best defensive player in this year's draft if they want. I'd like to see them take DE Gaines Adams to improve their horrid pass rush (19 sacks) from a year ago.

We hear this a lot and there is some truth to it, but it is also exaggerated a bit. Currently, half of our 22 starters were drafted by us.

Campbell
Betts
ey
Samuels
Jansen
Cartwright
Taylor
Rogers
Golston
Smoot
McIntosh

That's not as bad as some would suggest. There are some good players there as well. And that doesn't take into account others that were drafted for depth, like Doughty, Kili Lefotu and Montgomery. We always say it should be a balance of both, free agency and the draft. Is that not balance?

Betts- isn't the starter
Cartwright- kickoff returns
Golston- only started due to injury
McIntosh- not a starter

so that leaves 7 starters who we drafted over the last while that are actually starting...

There is good talent there, but it is not exaggerated at all. how many picks do we have this year? 4 that is pathetic...we simply like to trade our picks away. it's as simple as that. BUT we are still getting a first rounder if the Brigg's deal goes through...and a probowl linebacker

Smoot is not a starter YET either. He couldn't hold down a starting job for the Vikings so he's gonna have to elevate his play first. Plus, he's also a free agent signee so you're not proving the draft pick angle at all.

Find me another NFL team that can only find 6 starters from all of its drafts.

[SkinsFreak]

Betts - ok, technically not classified as a starter, but plays in every game, it's a two back system.

Golston - still started 14 of 16 games last year.

Cartwright - ok, agreed, not one of the "22" starters, but still plays in every game and has a significant role as a KR.

McIntosh - finished the year as a starter, and is projected to be a starter, if we don't take Briggs. If he isn't starter quality, why then do we say we don't need Briggs?

And I'm assuming that our 1st round pick will be a starter this year.

There is good talent there, but it is not exaggerated at all. how many picks do we have this year? 4 that is pathetic...

If we had... say... 10 picks in this years draft, how many of them would you predict would actually make the final 53-man roster? And after you finish with that, let us now who you'd cut to make room for all those rookies.

[SkinsFreak]

Smoot? Oh, who do you predict will be the starters in our nickle and dime packages? And we did draft Smoot, even though he took a break in Minny for a while.

[brad7686]

There are 2 words that would make this the stupidest thing that has ever happened.

19 sacks

19!!!!!!!!!!!!

that's it

pathetic

[SkinsFreak]

Even if our personnel stayed exactly the same, what makes you think the sack numbers would remain the same next year? Remember, Griffin, Salave'a, Daniels, and Wynn all sustained injuries last year, and that many injuries is somewhat of a fluke. Also, Williams didn't blitz as much last year because our secondary was getting scorched. LB's, DB's and safeties are ALL blitzers and all add to sack totals in Williams' schemes.

[frankcal20]

Bears want more for Briggs
<Mar. 29> Bears general manager Jerry Angelo returned to Chicago from the league's annual meeting Wednesday night and is believed to be preparing a counteroffer to the Redskins' trade proposal for Briggs, the Chicago Sun-Times reports.

The Redskins are proposing a swap of first-round draft picks that would move the Bears from No. 31 to No. 6, but Chicago is thought to want a better package in exchange for a Pro Bowl linebacker.

[SkinsFreak]

Linebackers on the Move

March 29, 2007

The Eagles added punch to their defense this week by adding Buffalo's Takeo Spikes and the Giants reshuffled their deck at linebacker by brinigng in Kansas City's Kawika Mitchell.
Dallas basically was quiet on the linebacker front but the Redskins already have made major moves in that area and there are suggestions of additional possibilities. All of a sudden, then, it appears the NFC East is the place to be if you're an established linebacker looking for a new address.

The Redskins already have added middle linebacker London Fletcher from the Bills and the reports about the possibility that Lance Briggs of the Bears may be heading to Washington aren't going away.

The Redskins have discussed a trade for the disgruntled Chicago linebacker, NFL.com reported Wednesday. The talented Briggs has told the defending NFC champs he may sit out the 2007 season after Bears placed a franchise tag on him.


London Fletcher hopes to be the top catch
According to the NFL.com report, Briggs' agent, Drew Rosenhaus, told a Chicago-area newspaper: "The two teams have talked and it's in their hands now."

Bears general manager Jerry Angelo, in Phoenix for the NFL meetings, said there was no timetable for such a proposed deal. Briggs and Angelo met in Phoenix on Monday, as has been widely reported.

As the franchise designee, Briggs, a two-time Pro Bowl linebacker, would earn $7.2 million in 2007 from the Bears, the average of the five highest salaries at his position.

Redskins head coach Joe Gibbs told reporters in Phoenix Wednesday that a deal involving Briggs is not "imminent."

For now, the Redskins hold a precious pick-No. 6-in the first round of the April 28-29 NFL Draft while the Bears' first-round pick is far down the line at No. 31.

Chicago has tried to work out a long-term deal with Briggs but has not been successful. When the Bears applied the franchise tag on Briggs, they prohibited him from going on the open market. Those events did not sit well with the linebacker, it's fair to say.

According to reports, on Monday Briggs met briefly with Angelo and the player called the meeting a "positive" step.

The 26-year-old Briggs, who played his college ball at Arizona, is regarded as one of the NFL's top young linebackers. Of this, there is little doubt.

He's coming off two straight Pro Bowl years with the Bears, who possess one of the NFL's toughest defenses year-in and year-out. That defense has been spearheaded by outstanding play from linebackers Brian Urlacher and Briggs.

In the offseason, the Redskins made efforts to upgrade their linebacker group by reaching out for Fletcher, who figures to start in the middle, where Lemar Marshall had been stationed.

Marcus Washington was injured in the latter stages of 2006 but has been working his way back into shape for 2007.

Marshall and second-year player Rocky McIntosh are also in the mix for assistant head coach-defense Gregg Williams and new linebackers coach Kirk Olivadotti.

So far, in a survey of the NFC East, Fletcher, Spikes and Mitchell have been the big names on the move in terms of linebackers.

New York had some level of interest in Denver's Al Wilson before settling for Mitchell. He'll move outside with Antonio Pierce remaining in the middle. Also, the Giants parted company with LaVar Arrington and Carlos Emmons.

Philly has struggled at linebacker and Spikes, part of the trade that cost the Eagles defensive tackle Darwin Walker, could be an answer. In another linebacker transaction, Shawn Barber left Philadelphia for Houston.

It's become a position regarding which you really have to stay tuned. As things now stand, the Redskins are hoping Fletcher is the linebacker who turns out to have the most significant impact.

http://www.redskins.com/news/newsDetail.jsp?id=25436

Are they setting the stage?

[SkinsFreak]

If this swap of picks with the Bears for Briggs goes down, and we end up dropping down to the 31st pick overall in the 1st round, maybe we can take that pick at #31 and package it together with Warrick Holdman to move up a few spots.

[brad7686]

Even if our personnel stayed exactly the same, what makes you think the sack numbers would remain the same next year? Remember, Griffin, Salave'a, Daniels, and Wynn all sustained injuries last year, and that many injuries is somewhat of a fluke. Also, Williams didn't blitz as much last year because our secondary was getting scorched. LB's, DB's and safeties are ALL blitzers and all add to sack totals in Williams' schemes.

What makes you think they won't get injured? Of course they are going to get injured. They get injured every year. Thats like saying Javon Kearse isn't going to get injured, it is just impossible. Some people just can't play sports without getting injured and Daniels and Griffin are two of those players. Even if they don't there is no pass rush. We have nobody capable of double digit sacks on the team.

[Mississippi Hog]

I do not think that we need Briggs. However, if we are so set on trading down, how about this.

Our beloved Skins need help in more than one area, LB not being one of them. Signing Fletcher was great and Marshall and Rocky can battle for the WS slot. We still need secondary help and DL. We could send our 6th pick to the Bears for Briggs and the #31, as was offered, and send Briggs to the Broncos for Bly. I know he just signed a contract, but if we can afford 7m+ to Briggs, we can afford the 6m+ that Bly just signed for. We could then move Spings to safety(which gibbs said may happen) and bly and rogers/smoot at the corners and rogers/smoot at nickel. We could also possibly throw Springs in to Denver, and swap their first pick with the #31 we get from Chicago. This may not be the best deal, but it is definitely better than the Briggs and 31 to us for the 6th pick.

Just a thought. Whatcha think??

[Gibbs4Life]

The worst thing that could have happened to us in this deal happened...the media got the terms and then they basically told the bears well Mark Schlereth on ESPN said "hopefully the bears can sweeten that deal" and so now chicago is "preparing a counter offer" Personally I like the deal as it was and I don't think we should sweeten the deal in anyway...WE HAVE THE 6th pick OVERALL, people have given up entire drafts for less, No to the counter offer let the original offer stand.

[Skins2daGrave]

man that would suck if they got Rocky and he turned out to be a pro-bowler and Lance Briggs turned out to suck for us...oh wait that probably will happen...

[Justice Hog]

The worst thing that could have happened to us in this deal happened...the media got the terms and then they basically told the bears well Mark Schlereth on ESPN said "hopefully the bears can sweeten that deal" and so now chicago is "preparing a counter offer" Personally I like the deal as it was and I don't think we should sweeten the deal in anyway...WE HAVE THE 6th pick OVERALL, people have given up entire drafts for less, No to the counter offer let the original offer stand.

Didn't the Saints give us everything they had for the #5 pick back in the day to draft Ricky Williams? If memory serves me correctly, didn't we drop to #8 that year and still pick up Champ?

[gibbs4president]

The worst thing that could have happened to us in this deal happened...the media got the terms and then they basically told the bears well Mark Schlereth on ESPN said "hopefully the bears can sweeten that deal" and so now chicago is "preparing a counter offer" Personally I like the deal as it was and I don't think we should sweeten the deal in anyway...WE HAVE THE 6th pick OVERALL, people have given up entire drafts for less, No to the counter offer let the original offer stand.

Didn't the Saints give us everything they had for the #5 pick back in the day to draft Ricky Williams? If memory serves me correctly, didn't we drop to #8 that year and still pick up Champ?

Yes, they gave up a ton for that 5th pick... that was awesome...

[steve09ru]

Betts - ok, technically not classified as a starter, but plays in every game, it's a two back system.

Golston - still started 14 of 16 games last year.

Cartwright - ok, agreed, not one of the "22" starters, but still plays in every game and has a significant role as a KR.

McIntosh - finished the year as a starter, and is projected to be a starter, if we don't take Briggs. If he isn't starter quality, why then do we say we don't need Briggs?

And I'm assuming that our 1st round pick will be a starter this year.

There is good talent there, but it is not exaggerated at all. how many picks do we have this year? 4 that is pathetic...

If we had... say... 10 picks in this years draft, how many of them would you predict would actually make the final 53-man roster? And after you finish with that, let us now who you'd cut to make room for all those rookies.

I'll agree with Bett's...but McIntosh...started 12 games and got 1/2 a sack...and third amongst the dline in total tackles. And Rocky will not be starting this year or is not projected to...we still have Marshall (who can easily play weakside lb).

No rookie will start in our defensive until 6th or 7th week...maybe a week or two earlier if 100% necessary. I'm not saying that we need draft picks...i'm saying that whoever we pick up at #6 on defense WILL NOT start the season off...it is almost a guarantee...we lost 3 picks in picking McIntosh and he didn't start and won't start next season (marshall is above him)....

I look for a trade to involve McIntosh and our 6th, for Briggs, their 31st, and 3-5th rounder...which would be a respectable trade if u ask me.

[Gibbs4Life]

No way, if we give up Rocky it should be for full value and a 3rd - 5th is not full value for Rocky McIntosh, 2nd and your talking but still you gotta stick with your offer...what option do the bears really have, watching Lance sit out most of the year then go be a FA and get nothing for him? There gonna try and sucker us into giving more when we are the only real viable option they have.

[SkinsFreak]

Briggs - 2 time Pro Bowler and just 26 years old. Ok, we already know this. But here's my question; Briggs was franchised by the Bears, right? I believe the appropriate compensation would be TWO 1st round picks, right? I'm not an expert on the value of picks in the draft, but, if we wanted Briggs, wouldn't that require our 6th pick this year and our 1st round pick next year, if a franchised player commands TWO 1st round picks?

At the current trade offer, It seems to me that merely swapping picks with the Bears for Briggs, and not giving them anything, gives the Skins the best of this deal. Am I missing something? Seriously. I could be wrong, but I think the Skins are in the driver's seat here.

I'll agree with Bett's...but McIntosh...started 12 games and got 1/2 a sack...and third amongst the dline in total tackles. And Rocky will not be starting this year or is not projected to...

Sounds like your making a case for Briggs.

No rookie will start in our defensive until 6th or 7th week...maybe a week or two earlier if 100% necessary.

Well, I know what you're trying to say, but with regard to the DE position, it we are to take a DE in the 1st round, I would hope that he can start over Daniels or Wynn.

I look for a trade to involve McIntosh and our 6th, for Briggs, their 31st, and 3-5th rounder...which would be a respectable trade if u ask me.

Agreed, although slightly tipped in our favor, if we don't have to give up an additional 1st round pick due to the franchise tag.

[redskins_89]

We came to a agreement and that the redskins with briggs. The bears will have 7.5 mill cap space and the 6th pick.
Man I wish they can just get a life seriously!

[fireman]

The two first round picks is standard but if the bears will take less than two first rounders they can if they feel it is still a good deal.

[Hog Heaven]

Wll nobody is ofering them anything better than our trade... the whole 2 1st round picks thing is meant to keep other teams from signing the franchise players to wavers... to keep the team (in this case Da Bears) in the drivers seat. It doesn't mean the player is worth 2 1st round picks... Look at the past trades teams have made for franchise players, I bet you dont find too many teams giving up multiple 1st rounders.

[brad7686]

This thing doesn't make sense for the bears either, they lose a linebacker and none are good enough to go at 6 and they would need to trade down if they would even be given the option. Super dumb on all levels.