Dan Wiederer of the Chicago Tribune reports that impending free agent OLB Lance Briggs has no plans to retire next year, and is instead expected to test the open market next year.
Chicago officially placed Briggs on season-ending injured reserve Friday with a groin injury. He was expected to miss a few weeks due to the injury, so it really wasn’t all that surprising to his 2014 season come to an end.
Briggs, 34, is in the final year of his deal, and he has already raised the possibility that this could be his last year in Chicago. He’ll be an unrestricted free agent next March, but veteran linebackers haven’t fared all that well on the open market in recent years, so it will be interesting to see what opportunities he has in the coming months.
The Buccaneers could at least kick the tires on Briggs as he is plenty of familiar with Lovie Smith’s defensive system.
His 2014 season comes to an end with him recording 35 tackles, one interception and a forced fumble over the course of eight games. Pro Football Focus ranks Briggs as the No. 7 4-3 outside linebacker, a grade he earned primarily because of his ability against the run.
Looking for the latest NFL Insider News & Rumors?
Be sure to follow NFL Trade Rumors on TWITTER and FACEBOOK for breaking NFL News and Rumors for all 32 teams!
LOL, I called this one. No way Lance will hang up his cleats and retire as a Bear as long as someone will write him a pay check. He was a great player (emphasis on was) for many years but it’s always been about Lance first and team second. He was Robin to Urlacher’s Batman and once Batman retired that ended Briggs string of Pro Bowls. Lance is a product of a system that greatly aided his stats and his post season recognition. Without Lovie’s system and Urlacher in the middle he’s just a halfway decent LB oft injured and in serious decline.
I would bend over backwards to find a way to keep Peanut Tillman around but as for Lance Briggs all I can say is good luck finding a team that will pay you what you’ll want for playing half a season and spending the rest injured. I respect the player he once was but his replacement has already been drafted and it’s time to find out whether or not he can fill Briggs shoes.