Lance Briggs on IR: Chicago Bears Career Likely Over
Mandatory Credit: Mike DiNovo-USA TODAY Sports
The Chicago Bears placed veteran linebacker Lance Briggs on IR on Friday, a move that ends Briggs’ 2014 season and likely ends his 12 year Chicago Bears career. Briggs suffered a groin injury last Sunday against former head coach Lovie Smith’s Tampa Bay Buccaneers. He was termed as “day to day” after the game last week, but on his show on Comcast SportsNet, Briggs said it could be “a few weeks” so clearly it wasn’t going to heal in time to salvage a last game in the Navy and Orange. Briggs is in the final year of his contract and if you read between the lines, it’s been clear from both sides that Briggs isn’t coming back to the Bears on another deal. Briggs tweeted this message via his Twitter account:
Not exactly how I planned it, but I love & appreciate EVERY FAN that has shown love or supported me through your tweets today! #55
— Lance Briggs (@LanceBriggs) November 29, 2014
Briggs has been slowed by injuries the last couple of seasons. When Briggs returned from injury last season, he had ballooned up and couldn’t run. By the time this train wreck of a season is over, Briggs will have missed 15 games over the last two seasons by injuries. If we’re being honest, Briggs’ Bears career ended the day Lovie Smith was terminated at the end of the 2012 season. I don’t think Briggs ever bought in to Marc Trestman and always seemed to be sulking about Lovie Smith getting fired and running mate Brian Urlacher being shown the door in a manner of speaking.
Don’t just look back at the last couple of seasons and let them tarnish Briggs’ legacy with the Chicago Bears. For a franchise with a list of linebackers that
With Briggs headed to IR for the final 4 games of the season, it puts the spotlight on second year linebacker Jonathan Bostic and undrafted rookie Christian Jones. Unfortunately, it could also mean we have to cope with more Shea McCellin. The Bears need to sort out their linebacker position in these last four weeks and figure out which if any of the players on their roster will be part of the continuing rebuilding of the Bears defense.
What do you think about Briggs? If this is the end, what’s his legacy in Chicago?