NFL: Chicago Bears news...

[The_Dude]

via Yahoo! Sports:

LAKE FOREST, ILLINOIS (TICKER) -- The Chicago Bears have finally rewarded coach Lovie Smith and general manager Jerry Angelo.

Smith and Angelo officially signed contract extensions on Thursday morning after both met with president Ted Phillips on Wednesday.

Smith was given a four-year extension through 2011 and Angelo a six-year extension through 2013.

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Financial terms were not disclosed, but Smith reportedly received $22 million.

"I wanted to get something done because I wanted to move on to more important things," Smith said. "We have the free agency period about to begin and I wanted to focus on what we need to do to get better next season."

In just his third year as coach, Smith guided the Bears to their first Super Bowl appearance in 21 years this past season. He became the first black coach to make the Super Bowl when the Bears beat the New Orleans Saints in the NFC championship game.

Hours later, Smith's good friend Tony Dungy made the Super Bowl as well when the Indianapolis Colts defeated the New England Patriots in the AFC championship game. Dungy became the first black coach to win a Super Bowl when the Colts beat the Bears, 29-17, last month.

Despite his success, Smith was the lowest-paid coach in the NFL at $1.45 million in 2006. The extension will now make him one of the highest paid coaches.

Hired in January 2004, Smith has posted a 29-19 regular-season record and a 2-2 mark in the playoffs. The Bears have won back-to-back NFC North titles under Smith, who was named Coach of the Year in 2005.

The Bears last appeared in the Super Bowl in January 1986 under coach Mike Ditka before Smith arrived.

[bwohlgemuth]

Thomas Jones got his wish....

The Bears reached a preliminary agreement to trade running back Thomas Jones to the New York Jets on Monday for a second-round draft pick.

A person familiar with the trade told The Associated Press the Jets will give up a second-round draft pick, 37th overall, for Jones, who rushed for 1,210 yards and six touchdowns in helping the Bears make the Super Bowl. The person did not wish to be identified because the trade has not been officially announced.

I really have to wonder if Jerry is going to clear house with Rosenhaus' clients. Both Jones and Briggs are demanding a trade and both are his clients. Only thing that really worries me is Tommie Harris is one of his clients as well.

[The_Dude]

Here's the article from Yahoo! Sports:

CHICAGO (AP) -- The Chicago Bears reached a preliminary agreement to trade running back Thomas Jones to the New York Jets on Monday for a second-round draft pick.

A person familiar with the trade told The Associated Press the Jets will give up a second-round draft pick, 37th overall, for Jones, who rushed for 1,210 yards and six touchdowns in helping the Bears make the Super Bowl. The person did not wish to be identified because the trade has not been officially announced.

The 28-year-old Jones must pass a physical and agree to a contract extension before the deal is complete. The Jets also would receive Chicago's second-round choice, No. 63 overall, in the trade. New York would surrender the second-rounder it received from Washington in a previous deal.

The Jets have been looking for a No. 1 running back since Curtis Martin was sidelined a year ago by knee problems. Martin is expected to retire.

Jones, who also has played for Arizona and Tampa Bay, had big postseason performances this year. He rushed for 123 yards and two touchdowns in the NFC championship game win over New Orleans, then had 112 yards on 15 carries in the Super Bowl. He has one year remaining on his contract.

The Bears have decided to go with Cedric Benson, their first-round pick (fourth overall) in 2005. Benson, who's been a backup to Jones, injured his knee in the Super Bowl and had only two carries for minus-1 yard.

Benson gained 647 yards during the regular season, averaging 4.1 yards per carry, the same as Jones.

Jones, the seventh overall selection in the 2000 draft by the Cardinals, rushed for 1,335 yards in 2005, becoming the second runnning back in Bears history to surpass 1,300. The other was Walter Payton.

He should fit well in the Jets' offense, which ranked 20th last season, but got a spark from Leon Washington. Washington is only 5-foot8, 202 pounds and not considered an every-down back.

The Jets recently waived Kevan Barlow and Derrick Blaylock, leaving them with Washington and Cedric Houston at running back.

The deal would be the latest move in a whirlwind offseason for the Bears, who've given contract extensions to coach Lovie Smith and GM Jerry Angelo; decided not to retain defensive coordinator Ron Rivera; and designated Pro Bowl linebacker Lance Briggs as their franchise player. Briggs said earlier this week in an interview with ESPN.com that the team should remove the tag or trade him.

[The_Dude]

ESPN Radio is reporting the Bears have placed the franchise tag on LB Lance Briggs.

[The_Dude]

Bad news, Bears fans...

LOS ANGELES (TICKER) -- It appears Lance Briggs is determined to escape the Windy City.

The two-time Pro Bowl linebacker of the Chicago Bears became disenchanted when the team placed the franchise player designation on him late last month. He apparently has not cooled off.

"I've played my last snap for them. I'll never play another down for Chicago," Briggs told FoxSports.com late Monday. "I am now prepared to sit out the year if the Bears don't trade me or release me."

By putting the franchise tag on Briggs, the Bears are obligated to pay him $7.2 million in 2007 - the average salary of the top five players at his position.

The Bears can match any offer Briggs gets or they may receive two first-round picks as compensation.

Briggs, 26, has developed into one of the game's best linebackers at his weakside position while playing alongside Brian Urlacher, a six-time Pro Bowler who anchors the middle of the Chicago defense.

In helping the Bears reach the Super Bowl for the first time in 21 years, Briggs recorded a career-high 130 tackles to go along with one sack and two interceptions.

A 2003 third-round pick, Briggs has registered 445 tackles, 3 1/2 sacks, six interceptions and three touchdowns in 64 career games.

[bassjones]

I don't get this - at all. Why would he want to go somewhere else? He's going to be paid as a top 5 linebacker - as he should be - and he's going to be playing for the odds-on favorite to go to the Superbowl again from the NFC... How much more money can he possibly need?

[bwohlgemuth]

He's turned himself against the Chicago fans....here's the latest image going around on one of the Chicago Bears boards....



I was hoping he would do what Thomas Jones did, play through on the Franchise contract and then Angelo let's him go.

Frankly, it's going to be very tough for him this year even if he signs a contract. If he holds out....Bears fans remember what happened to Todd Bell and Al Harris.

[The_Dude]

You actually expect him to feed his family on a mere 7.2 mil? Rrright.

[bassjones]

I guess the big hangup is that it's only a one year deal, so no security, which I understand. If they had signed him to a 5 year deal, he probably would have gotten the same money, but a huge signing bonus and some security had he gotten hurt. Let's face it, it's a very real possibility that he could suffer a career ending injury at any point from training camp on next year.

Can't really blame him there I guess. Blame Gene Upshaw instead...

[The_Dude]

I know and I do agree, actually.

However, if the Bears aren't going to give him an extension, they're stupid to not trade him. Do they call his bluff? I'd say they should get what they can for him while they have some leverage instead of calling his bluff, him sitting out all of next year, and then leaving via Free Agency.