Getty ImagesThe stories of August will mostly be forgotten after the first Sunday of the regular season. That’s a good thing for the Bears, who have undeniably had a rough, odd post-lockout period.
The latest drama comes from linebacker Lance Briggs, who wants his contract upgraded. That’s not going to happen, but David Haugh of the Chicago Tribune writes that Briggs’ complaint is only the tip of the iceberg.
“Fair or not, Briggs believes he represented a growing number of teammates unhappy with the way the Bears organization deals with players,” Haugh writes. “To hear some insiders other than Briggs describe morale at various times this preseason, the Bears could become the first NFL team to use the Disenfranchised Tag for players.”
This often happens after successful seasons. It also happens when veterans like Matt Forte and Chris Harris can’t work out new contracts, while the Bears admit expensive free agent mistakes like Chester Taylor and Brandon Manumaleuna.
Bears players have apparently been critical to Haugh about many of the Bears’ front office moves, from failing to re-sign Olin Kreutz and Danieal Manning, to trading Greg Olsen.
Whether the Bears players have a case here is almost irrelevant. The players aren’t happy and Haugh writes that it “smells a lot like 2007″ inside the Bears locker room.
The bizarre story of Chester Taylor thinking he was cut on Monday isn’t helping.
Melissa Isaacson of ESPNChicago.com runs down the Bears’ latest blunders and says it’s easy to see the organization as a “dysfunctional embarrassment.” She writes they are becoming “the NFL’s best source of comic relief.”
That NFC title game appearance didn’t buy as much goodwill in Chicago as you’d expect.
The Bears are counting on magic between Cutler and Williams to save them. I read that here on pft.
Quiet as its kept, Jerry Angelo has slowly morphed into Matt Millen.
“Lance Briggs isn’t the only unhappy Chicago Bear”
Yes if we include the fans in that count there are 11 million or so who are unhappy.
da bears!
i meant duh, bears
Are they all finally realizing how overrated they are?
the bears are starting to remind me of a crappy Cowboys team. complaining all the time and what not….and imagine that, they have ex cowboys on their team…
Its unreal how this many stories have been done on this front offices mistakes. How can they NOT clear house at the end of the season ? And the regular season hasn’t even started yet ! As a Bears fan, I’m done already…
He’s a saaaaaaaaaaaaaaaad panda [Bear]
Imagine how unhappy they’ll be at the end of the season, after 10 losses.
As a Packer fan, I fully endorse this article.
All of the Bears were busily preparing for their annual six month snooze. They were quite plump and pleased with themselves. All of them that is, except Briggs Bear. One day, (in a very loud voice), he suddenly said, “I WANT MORE MONEY!”. This made all the other Bears start to wonder, “Oh dear, if Briggs Bear needs more money, perhaps we do as well.”. Yes, they were well fed, and yes they were plump. But they were no longer pleased with themselves………
A shrub-like head coach, a front office manned by Jerry The Talking Mule, and an OC whose solution is to snap up a derelict receiver and keep Cutler running for his life. At least the turf might be better.
maybe if Cutler tossed his ex-girfriend to Briggs, he would be much more happy….
i know i would
Angelo must think he’s Billy Beane and the movie “Moneyball” is about him. More like “Money Shot” if you ask me.
Briggs is a greedy moron…trade him (if you can)
While Forte is nothing “special”…he’s still a good player…get him signed! (If he’s willing to be reasonable)
Olsen was worthless to Martz…boo-who if the locker room is sad…good trade.
Taylor isn’t as good as Bell…he thought he was cut? He should be…
Kruetz was done…and was over-powering Cutler…good move to let him go.
Oh…and Soldier Field is a joke.
Jerry has actaully done quite well I think.
Having said all that…
I’m an Iggles fan…living in Chi-town…
This team is a joke…and amazes me every year…
Going in I think…”they can’t win 8 games” yet..13-3!
What the?
Matt Forte needs to be paid, he’s broken giant runs the last 2 years which saved the Bears when Cutler wasn’t producing.
Granted i’m biased because i was able to steal Forte late in fantasy last year and he won me my league
Pay the man says I! Lance Briggs already got paid, he needs to get a beat down in the locker room for taking somebody elses cheese at this point
Dear Lance,
The BEARS are who we thought they were!
Signed,
Dennis Green
If Lance Briggs thinks he’s underpaid, imagine how the interior of the Bears offensive line feels, having to face Ndamukong Suh, BJ Raji and Kevin Williams twice a year!
In related news, Julius Peppers just bought a small Island.
I’ve said many times that as long as the McClaskey family (descended from papa Bear George Halas) owns the team it will be mediocre. Some good years, like last year, mostly crapola years. There is no good reason to sell the team – it’s a guaranteed cash cow every year in and year out. The fact that they are usually crappy is not a big deal as long as the money keeps rolling in, which it will. This year they’ll be lucky to win 8 games and the Lions – big mouths and all – will wind up in the playoffs for the first time since the civil war. The Bears will be in 3rd and the Vikes will be last.
And the Packers will win the division.
The Bears are falling hard. I feel bad for their fans, although some of them somehow feel like they still have a chance to win the division…
At least they’ll beat the Vikings this year in the division.
You signed a front-loaded six year deal, Lance. I emphasize the FRONT-LOADED part. No one put a gun to your head and made you sign your FA contract with Chicago. You got the proverbial “phat cash” for three years, now you get the back end for three years. Deal with it.
“A shrub-like head coach.” I could only think Monty Python as I blew snot bubbles out of my nose.
A shrubbery!!!!!
drew05:
All good points. Feel bad for you, though. Brady money for Vick?? Ouch.
We’ve got it and don’t spend it.
I’m a Bears Fan first off.
Lance got front loaded money on his last contract, He has 3 years left and he’ll be 31. Cry me a river, If they give in to him we are going to see everyone asking for a raise and the value for each player and position is going to continue to grow. Giving him an extension is not good business.
FORTE DESERVES HIS MONEY- Jerry better get this one straightened out because no one deserves it more than him.
For all you idiots who keep putting Da Bears or DUH Bears….really? Everyone posts that on every blog whenever it concerns the Bears…Come on be original DUH BEARS is played out and shows you have no imagination or creativity.
AND PEOPLE Stop acting like mentioning Fantasy Football has relevance to this conversation. Nobody cares who you drafted or how your affected by these stories. I play Fantasy Football but hearing idiots talk about their draft, trades or opinion of a player based on FF is ridiculous and childish. NO ONE CARES ABOUT YOUR FANTASY TEAM. Arian Foster had it right and good for him. All you people are sick and need to get a life if you think telling a player to produce more for your Fantasy Numbers is a legitimate request.
Despite the record they pulled in last year, when it is said that the Bears are becoming “the NFL’s best source of comic relief”, it’s very true.
Isnt Lance Briggs the idiot that abandoned his Ferrari a couple of yrs back? Oh well
I didn’t actually read the article yet. But as soon as I saw the headline the first thing I thought was “If I played for the Bears I’d be unhappy too.”
When there was NO salary cap or salary floor, the Bears paid dearly for Julius Peppers, Chester Taylor ($7M last year alone) and Brandon Manamamula (who got cut).
They also for the first time spent money on coaches (as all their asses were on the line). They promoted Rod Marinelli to D-Coordinator and gave him a healthy increase in pay. They brought in Mike Tice, and paid him good money. They brought in Mike Martz, and paid him good money.
Danieal Manning sucked – no Bears fans are upset he walked. Olin Kreutz was offered $3M, then $4M and refused to go up to $4.5M. He ended up in Nawlins for $2M. Ya… the Bears are cheap.
Gimme a frickin’ break.
Lance Briggs was a UFA three years ago and got ZERO interest. Why in the f*&% would the Bears pay him more money now? He doesn’t bring sacks, he doesn’t get picks. He’s a good open field tackler. Plus this system is geared for HIM to flourish, just like it did for Derrick Brooks.
It’s all white noise… The Bears are a couple of million away from the salary cap floor of $108M – and will extend Forte, and possibly Chris Harris before Briggs sees a dime, which I hope he doesn’t.
He must have overextended himself, or knocked a few more women up, or crashed another Maserati or Lamborgini….
This is great for Dolphins fans! We needed some other organization to steal the spotlight for a change…
The Bengals and Raiders have filed complaints against Isaacson, pointing out they are much farther ahead than the Bears are in providing the NFL with comic relief.
I love it. I picked them to be the Cellar Dwellars of the NFC north. Hopefully all of this translates to the field. That crappy crappy field.
Jerry Angelo and Tim Ruskell have got to go. Period. I hope George Mckaskey has a better sense of what’s up than his brother did. If he knows “Football”, he will dump these two a soon as possible.
pigskinswag says:
Aug 30, 2011 11:44 AM
Quiet as its kept, Jerry Angelo has slowly morphed into Matt Millen.
having Martz , Roy Wiiliams , and Rod Marinelli makes this comment gold
Hey – how about I buy all of you NFL players who are never happy with your salary a giant cup of SHUT THE F UP?
I’m convinced that Jerry Angelo watches Packers games on Sundays and daydreams about what his team should be like. Because he obviously isn’t paying attention.
This roster is fine we just need A NEW COACH with a new system. Yes we won a SuperBowl with a stellar defense and running the football. But, that was 26 years ago. You can’t still believe in that philosophy year after year and expect miracles to happen. You keep bringing in the same coach with the same philosophy and get the same result. Every once in awhile you might slip up and get in the playoffs but its not bringing a championship.
I honestly get tired of watching the Bears play because of seen the same style for YEARS (I can almost call the plays myself before they are ran). Not to mention the same basic players. That defense can only win you games for so long. You have a crazy good quarterback (for the first time in 20 years) and you need to cater to his talents. AND FOR GODSAKES GIVE HIM SOME PROTECTION AND PEOPLE WHO CAN ACTUALLY CATCH THE FOOTBALL.
I could go on but my fingers are tired.
You all might want to go back and look at the past contracts… THE BEARS PAY THEIR PLAYERS… Including Briggs!…Urlacher got paid too! Chester got paid…So he needs to STHU.. They signed the #1 free agent in football last year in Peppers. Forte will get paid too. For all you people who say the Bears don’t pay people is ridiculous. Yes, I am a Bears fan. I am also proud to be a Bears fan. Half of the people who are ripping the Bears are probably fans of teams who haven’t made the playoffs in 10 years!
BTW… They did Olsen a favor by trading him so he has no reason to bitch either. I hope he does well. He was a great guy not to mention a good player.
Not a big Vick fan…Iggs fan so…
I have to be a Vick fan…too much money agreed.
But…teams HAVE to spend a large portion of the cap this season…
These teams that are sitting on millions…
(Bucs/Bears)
What are they gonna do…overpay just to get where they need to be?
A little mentioned fact…
My Iggs have signed a lot of these FA’s to one year deals…to get where EVERY TEAM needs to get to..
90% of the cap?
Bears are 30 million short.
(don’t recall the exact numbes)
She writes they are becoming “the NFL’s best source of comic relief.”
I think the Skins still hold that title.
When you have a “born leader” like Jay Cutler leading the team, it’s really hard to imagine that anyone is unhappy.
Bears had to cancel some local community fan events because the sky is falling over Soldier Field.
If Cutler plays as well as he did in his third year in Denver, I think a lot of Bears players/fans will feel a lot better about everything.
Look at his stats – he made a huge jump in that third season and I think he’ll do the same this year.
As a Lions fan I am so happy to see Chicago thought they could get “Magic” from the coaches that brought us in Detroit the first 0-16 season. You ACTUALLY hired them!!!..hahahaha
Forget about Cutler saving you. When the Silver Crush gets a hold of him, he won’t finish the game. And I wish the Silver Crush would have been called the Wreckers like in Transformers Dark of the Moon. Then we could have played that clip from the movie before Cutler gets hurt. “WRECKERS, KILL HIM!!!” “THIS IS GOING TO HURT….A LOT!!!!!!!!!!!!!”
Cutler sucks.
this is just getting stupid now.
The Bears have made some of the dumbest signings imaginable. (And I say that as a Bears fan). I mean, seriously – Vernon Gholston? Roy Williams? When have those guys ever showed any indication whatsoever of being NFL players?
Somewhere, Matt Millen is laughing.
The Bears need to clean house, and they need to start at the top.
“That NFC title game appearance didn’t buy as much goodwill in Chicago as you’d expect.”
Because they lost to the Packers maybe??
Jerry Angelo is a jag bag!!!
The day the Bears dump his sorry ass is the day this stuff starts getting fixed … Period.
Usually by this time of year, fans of the Bears are talking SB because of a newly signed FA. Seems to be a lot of disgruntled fans this year, and for good reason…….it really sucks to go from 1st to worst. Enjoy the basement this year Bears fans!
She writes they are becoming “the NFL’s best source of comic relief.”
I think the Skins still hold that title.
___________________________________
The Cincinnati Bungles (Who Dey Say Gonna Sign Them Criminals) beg to differ.
drshankenstein says: Aug 30, 2011 11:50 AM
Its unreal how this many stories have been done on this front offices mistakes.
====================================
Yes… it is like no other team in the NFL has these problems and every little thing is blown out of proportion.
Right PFT?
As a Seahawks fan, I feel bad for Bears fans for having to deal with Tim “I know more than anyone else” Ruskell
jasncondit says: Aug 30, 2011 12:49 PM
Forget about Cutler saving you. When the Silver Crush gets a hold of him, he won’t finish the game. And I wish the Silver Crush would have been called the Wreckers like in Transformers Dark of the Moon. Then we could have played that clip from the movie before Cutler gets hurt. “WRECKERS, KILL HIM!!!” “THIS IS GOING TO HURT….A LOT!!!!!!!!!!!!!”
====================================
Silver Crush?
That sounds like a new Zima flavor.
This is great. Finally another team taking the blunder spot light. Wish we could add the Packers to it. I would rather see a functional and competitive division rather a two team race.
Packers 11-5 where’s Dan Devine when you need him.
Lions 10-6 if healthy
Vikings….7-9 at best
Bears……5-11
The Bears have had a core group of players around for a long time. Many of them are handsomely paid. Every team deals with this kind of thing when you have continuity. You don’t see players begging the Redskins to re-up their contracts for a reason – they all want out of there by the time theirs are up.
One thing that puzzles me is that a team like the Patriots are highly successful, have pretty much one highly-paid player in Brady, and the rest of them are happy to be there, even though they’re probably underpaid. I suppose New England is the exception and not the rule.
Forget about Cutler saving you. When the Silver Crush gets a hold of him, he won’t finish the game. And I wish the Silver Crush would have been called the Wreckers like in Transformers Dark of the Moon. Then we could have played that clip from the movie before Cutler gets hurt. “WRECKERS, KILL HIM!!!” “THIS IS GOING TO HURT….A LOT!!!!!!!!!!!!!”
————————————————–
enough said…
Does Briggs actually think he is an above average LB??
@bearsrulepackdrool
It sounds like you watch the Packer games on
Sundays and daydream about the Bears someday being as good as the Packers.
McDaniels – thank you for finding a fool to take Jay Cutler for a pile of draft picks. If you only hadn’t screwed those picks up…
Due to the high volume of attitude received mentioning players in light of fantasy football, I shall continue to talk about fantasy football
BEARS SUCK, CUTLER SUCKS, LOVIE SUCKS
But I want to draft Forte, so GO MATT FORTE!
I have 2 words for you …. TIM RUSKELL ….
I have 2 words for you …. TIM RUSKELL …. WATCHED HIM MUTILATE MY HAWKS!!!
Briggs signed that big contract already, has years left, and he wants more? I wonder if this new demand has anything to do with the recent exposure of the teams under the salary cap. Can you say GREEDY?
Angelo’s approach is just all wrong.
Identify core players on the roster and sign them long term. No question Forte is one.
Respect the veterans, even if you’re cutting them. No one in the locker room had to like the decision to move on from Olin Kreutz at C, but it came across that they just dumped him like any old player, when he meant more than that and deserved a little more from the org.
Sign free agents sparingly, and make damn sure those guys can contribute. No one can say anything if a guy is producing. Peppers was an outstanding signing for them. Who on the roster can complain he’s not worth it? On the other hand, Chester Taylor was a disaster. No only didn’t he earn it, it’s basically rubbing Forte’s nose in it. They’ll spend a lot on a RB, just not the guy already on the team. Same thing with Brandon Manumaleuna. You’ll spend money on this guy but ditch Greg Olson?
Just all wrong.
LMAO @ the dude trying to start a new nickname for the lions.
I’m starting to hope the Lions win the Super Bowl this year, otherwise, there’s going to be a lot of PFT commenters from Michigan standing on bridges and rooftop ledges in early January.
spacincasen says:
Aug 30, 2011 1:37 PM
Forget about Cutler saving you. When the Silver Crush gets a hold of him, he won’t finish the game. And I wish the Silver Crush would have been called the Wreckers like in Transformers Dark of the Moon. Then we could have played that clip from the movie before Cutler gets hurt. “WRECKERS, KILL HIM!!!” “THIS IS GOING TO HURT….A LOT!!!!!!!!!!!!!”
————————————————–
enough said…
===================================
A perfect example of why the Bears are gonna be bad this season…..they and their fans continue to live in the past.
Welcome to a new season.
I’ve said it before, and I’ll say it again:
I hope Jerry Angelo is the Bears’ GM until Terminators take over the Earth.
Me thinks ALL the bears will be un-happy once they lose again to the Packers. HA!
This dissention is good news for the Vikes and Lions.
comeonnowguys says: Aug 30, 2011 2:26 PM
LMAO @ the dude trying to start a new nickname for the lions.
I’m starting to hope the Lions win the Super Bowl this year, otherwise, there’s going to be a lot of PFT commenters from Michigan standing on bridges and rooftop ledges in early January.
comeonnoiwguys doesn’t keep up with things very well does he
@spacincasen
Nice vid of Stafford getting hurt right before halftime…did ya happen to peep the score that’s right there on the still? ENOUGH SAID!!!
As a Lions fan I love Jerry Angelo just as much as bears fans loved Matt Millen. As a Lions fan I applaud the fact the Bears hired the coaches and players that the Bears fans have blasted us about over a decade of ineptitude. Hope they ALL stay around for a good decade
schmitty2 says: Aug 30, 2011 1:47 PM
Does Briggs actually think he is an above average LB??
============================
Have you EVER seen Lance Briggs play football? He’s easily one of the best in the league. 6 straight Pro Bowls. Better than Urlacher. The most consistent player on that defense since his rookie year.
Get all bent out of shape because someone is asking for more money if you want (never understood why any fan really takes it so personally), but he’s a beast, period.
@spacincasen
Nice vid of Stafford getting hurt right before halftime…did ya happen to peep the score that’s right there on the still? ENOUGH SAID!!!
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Did ya happen to peep the final score of that game?? Or the final score of the next time those two teams met in Detroit?
Losing to the Packers twice at home in a couple weeks does not make a successful season.
A perfect example of why the Bears are gonna be bad this season…..they and their fans continue to live in the past.
Welcome to a new season.
———————————————————
If Detroit wants to talk about how they are going to hurt Cutler, I’m going to talk about what we’ve already done to Stafford.
The first is a matter of opinion, the latter is a matter of fact.
Jerry Angelo is a pretty crappy GM- PERIOD. What more needs to be said? He still has a job because every few years he manages to stumble into a great season that NEVER results in a Super Bowl VICTORY. Angelo is just Jim Hendry 2.0 except instead of signing a bunch of overpaid shmucks 2 years too long, he picks off the scrap heap to go with the FEW aging players we still have on the squad. Who was the last free agent we had who actually outperformed their contract?? Every free agent signing we make is for either an older player on his last legs or is named Julius Peppers. THAT’S IT. When Urlacher retires, this team is toast for years to come. We draft terribly, our biggest free agent signings of the last decade have been what, Moose, Peppers, Tait and???? Otherwise, it’s been all replacement level players with a few studs thrown in. I hate this team for being just another business when it’s so much more to every single one of their fans.
If you had to put up with the average Chicago resident on a regular basis you’d understand that this is simply Karma punishing them.
So what we’re learning this summer is that Lions fans are to Bear articles what Viking fans are to Packer articles.
You think the players are unhappy? If the Bears start out 0-3, Jerry, Martz, Lovie, and the rest of the staff won’t like their contracts either.
If the Bears organization were a restaurant, I wonder what Gordan Ramsay would say about them?
All the criticism is relevant, but in a positive way. Both Forte and Briggs are playing for a contract. Historically, this means they’ll play great since they want to optimize their salaries, guaranteed money, and leverage at the bargaining table.
Did anyone see Forte run against the Titans? Or did someone happen to notice how good the much-maligned Bears O-line has run blocked? How about Briggs having no legs to stand on? Him and Rosenhaus are trying to rock the boat in hope that the Bears FO will give him a little icing on the cake.
PFT- keep on knocking the Bears cause that’s when they play they’re best.