Lance Briggs for Osi Umenyiora Trade Rumor

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There was a little spark in the preseason and a slowly but quietly burning fire throughout the season.  Sean Jensen of the Chicago Sun Times is adding fuel to that fire that is Lance Briggs’ status with the Bears.  Briggs came into camp unhappy about the $36 million contract that he had signed back in 2008 and there have been little jabs here and there from Briggs to remind everyone that nothing lasts forever.

With Phil Emery in place as the new Bears GM, this will be one of the top things he gets to tackle this offseason.  Do you pay Briggs or let him play out the last two years of his deal?  If you don’t pay him, does he hold out?

To trade Briggs for Osi makes a bit of sense, especially if you look at the contracts:

"Briggs, 31, is scheduled to make $3.75 million in 2012 and $6.25 million in 2013, the final two years of a six-year, $36 million deal he signed in March 2008. Umenyiora, 30, is expected to make $3.95  million in 2012, the final year of an eight-year, $33.9  million contract he signed in 2005.The Giants and Bears would have to upgrade the pay for both players to make them happy, but they might consider that because both teams could be postseason contenders next season."

All that salary cap money the Bears had is going to disappear in a hurry, especially if they go out and address the wide receiver position (or countless others) in free agency.

Can you imagine a defensive line with Umenyiora on one side and Peppers on the other?  This deal would be so much better if only the Bears had a decent linebacker to step in behind Briggs.  Remember a couple of years ago when it seemed like they were 5 deep at the position?

What do you think?  Should the Bears trade Briggs?  Would they be better off getting more draft picks for Emery or would a veteran like Osi make sense?