Bears Blitz

Published by Aris Theotokatos on September 2, 2011
Article Source: Bleacher Report - Chicago Bears

Drunk Chicago Bears fans were dancing exotically to the bucket boy drummers outside of Soldier Field after an easy 24-14 win over the Cleveland Browns. It’s preseason, but the city sleeps peacefully, without heartache, after a Chicago victory.

So what if it was backups and bubble boys playing for the final roster spots? Fans still shouted the Bears fight song after a touchdown with the same passion as a regular season game. Besides, no one likes to lose to Cleveland.

This was my first Bears game of the year. I had planned to write an article about players who impressed me last night, but after I awoke from my comfortable slumber, I found out on ESPNChicago that Lance Briggs is demanding a trade after being denied a raise.

Well, there’s that heartache I was just talking about.

What a selfish little (expletive)! He got his extension three years ago (and has three years left) when he wasn’t satisfied with his last contract. We all remember his trade demands then, too. Do the Bears really want to associate themselves with someone as low-balling as this?

Actually, yes. Yes they do.

After the initial shock, I took a peak at Briggs’ salary. He’s only slated to earn around $14.5 million over the next three years (I know, only right?), which is hardly the salary a six-time Pro-Bowler deserves. I don’t care how unreasonable and back-stabbing his methods are.

By comparison, Briggs is due to make the 21st highest base-salary for linebackers this season at $3.6 million. Players that will make more, include:

• Chad Greenway – $10 million

• DeMeco Ryans – $5.8 million

• Joey Porter – $5.7 million

• Aaron Curry – $5 million

How many of those players made the Pro Bowl in the last two seasons? Only DeMeco Ryans.

Of course Briggs deserves to get paid, and I don’t know what Bears management was thinking when they said no. Should Briggs have gone public with his raise demands? Probably not, especially on the heels of the team dealing with Matt Forte‘s desired extension, but he did.

The real question here is if fans should be worried.

Normally, this would be a definite no. However, with general manager Jerry Angelo operating like a senseless child behind the scenes, I wouldn’t blame fans for sweating this.

Fans are sometimes too emotionally attached to the team to fully understand the business side of football. That’s all this is, according to Briggs. Business.

He could have waited until after the season to ask for more money, though, instead of right before the first game.

Bears fans may get drunk as a result, but there won’t be any dancing.  There’s that heartache again.

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