Briggs still unsigned at 'franchise' deadline
Chicago Bears07/17/2007 10:06 AM The Chicago Sun-Times reports the NFL's deadline to sign players designated with the franchise tag to a long-term contract expired Monday afternoon, but the Bears' window to lock up LB Lance Briggs well into the future closed long ago. Detroit Lions DT Cory Redding got a deal done just in time, a seven-year contract that reportedly will pay him $49 million and makes him the highest-paid at his position in the league. That left Briggs and New England Patriots CB Asante Samuel as the only players who will go into the 2007 season playing under the franchise tag. The Bears turned their attention elsewhere when negotiations on a deal with agent Drew Rosenhaus were called off before the 2006 draft. Briggs was told then that the club would seriously consider placing the tag on him. No serious talks were held since, and three things could happen as training camp approaches in nine days for the weak-side linebacker. Read more