Lance Briggs: Bad News Bear?

Tank Johnson got all the media attention at Bears minicamp this weekend as linebacker Lance Briggs was expectedly a no-show. Lance is, of course, upset with being tagged Chicago’s franchise player and not getting a long-term deal. The franchise tag guarantees him a one-year contract worth $7.2 million (which is quite nice) but it prevents him from reaching the unrestricted free agent market. As I said before, it’s time to pay Lance Briggs. He’s one of the best young LBs in the NFL. But by the way head coach Lovie Smith is talking, he expects Lance will miss minicamps, training camps and even some of the regular season:

“History tells me that guys will occasionally miss minicamp. History will tell you that they’re sometimes late for training camp, some maybe miss training camp. History tells me that players don’t miss an entire football season. Lance is a part of us. We would like to have him here. Hopefully in time we’ll get him back.”

Hopefully in time we’ll get him back? That doesn’t sound good, but it does sound accurate. Lance has said he’ll holdout for 10 games and report for the final six to qualify as serving one year as a franchise player. Are the Bears really going to be happy with that scenario? Again, I say pay the guy. But trade him if you’re not going to pay him what he wants so you can get someone on the football field for all 16 games.