Bucs interested in Briggs?

Not sure what to make of this one, but we're hearing rumblings linking the Bucs to Chicago free agent linebacker Lance Briggs.

Briggs was franchised by the Bears last season and publicly voiced his displeasure with the inability to come to terms on a long-term contract. Now, with his status as an unrestricted free agent, he is free to sign with any team with no compensation required.

The Chicago Sun-Times reported this morning that Briggs has been connected to the Bucs, 49ers and Browns, with the paper describing the Broncos as a "dark horse."

The bigger news might be the implication here: if the Bucs are sniffing around Briggs, what does that say for Derrick Brooks? The Bucs already signed a player last season in Cato June whose natural position is the same weak-side linebacker spot. Now, they perhaps are interested in another? If this were to come to pass, it would tell us all we need to know about where the Bucs stand on Brooks and his future.

Brooks already agreed to a drastic reduction in his contract two years ago and will make just more than $3-million this season. At this point, there's not a whole lot more to cut. It's more a matter of whether they want the veteran on the roster or not.

Comments

[Ty Guy]

Wow, all I can say is wow, because Cato June is who I thought would eventually replace Brooks. If we sign Briggs then trade or release Brooks, what does that mean for Cato June? He was probably under the impression that he would replace Brooks one day and then you throw Briggs into the mix and June becomes stuck with the SLB position? What does June think of that. I would just sign Demorrio Williams to compete with Ryan Nece to be the eventual starter at SLB when June moves to WLB after Brooks retires. This would make a very interesting story if Briggs landed in Tampa Bay.

[Ty Guy]

Wow, all I can say is wow, because Cato June is who I thought would eventually replace Brooks. If we sign Briggs then trade or release Brooks, what does that mean for Cato June? He was probably under the impression that he would replace Brooks one day and then you throw Briggs into the mix and June becomes stuck with the SLB position? What does June think of that. I would just sign Demorrio Williams to compete with Ryan Nece to be the eventual starter at SLB when June moves to WLB after Brooks retires. This would make a very interesting story if Briggs landed in Tampa Bay.

[Ty Guy]

My bad on posting twice.

[Ace]

why do we need to waste our money on LB? we need a playmaker at wideout, not another Pro Bowl linebacker. this deal would take up a lot of our cap space

[Stephen Holder]

Ace, I agree with you. I think this one is a long shot. I'm just providing information as it comes in. Rosenhaus wants to break the bank with Briggs, that's for sure.

[DB]

I'd rather see some work on the offensive skill players, go after Chad Johnson!! Gruden can handle him, just give him the ball. Then we will be dangerous in the air and on the ground. It's one thing to make the playoffs this could put us in the superbowl

[Mike]

No way we get Briggs. His agent is using the Bucs for leverage I'm sure. He fits our defense but Briggs is not changing positions and Brooks is going NOWHERE!

[joe]

cincy cant afford to lose ocho. too much money involved. nice thought though. unless cato is in serious trouble with the law, we dont need briggs. then again, db #55 is no spring chicken, and sadly, is declining (admit it) because he is not fast anymore. great football mind, but the legs were obviously weaker last year. and in my fantasy land, the bucs break open the bank for the chargers turner. what a bruiser!

[Brady]

I like the Chad Johnson idea way better than the Briggs idea. Save the $$ from Briggs and put it on Johnson.

[Tom]

Not sure if we need another will LB. Especially, a malcontent, crashing his exotic sports car into a pole and leaving it there, type of player.

Wouldn't play nice with DB.

[Clint]

One name. Mike Turner. Please?

[Elliot]

Brooks will always be one of my favorite bucs ever, but its time for him to move on. The Bucs linebacker play last season was not physical enough with Cato & an old Brooks. Add Briggs in the mix and the Bucs D will have the required physical play that was missing last year (no more YAC after 3 yrd passes)

[Mike]

Clint we don't need to have $100 million tied up on one position. Earnest Graham has proved that he can be the feature back. we need a compliment to EG. Bennett might be that guy.

[Mike]

What team did you watch last year Elliot? We were #1 against the pass and #2 overall. Brooks was second on the team (behind Ruud)in tackles.

[Ray]

I can only think of two reasons for this. 1) It's just a ploy. 2)If I remember, Cato got hurt towards the end of the season. Maybe his injury is worst than initially thought of.

One name. Mike Turner. Please?

Posted by: Clint | February 29, 2008 at 03:41 PM

who's Mike Turner?

[Str8BucIn]

Oh my goodness!!! What are we doing here. D-Bo is an ambassador and he deserves the same treatment the A-Train got. To go out when he's ready. I agree with Ty Guy to bring Demorrio Williams in when Brooks retires to move Cato over and we should be set. We need to address the WR, CB and DL now that we have Faine in pocket. Let's show Derrick the respect he deserves by taking pay cut after pay cut to help Gruden and Allen out of the Salary Cap troubles. He's a stand up guy and the Buc's need to be a stand up team and let him go out on his on terms. Ocho Cinco would be great to have but we don't need to break the bank with some other quality players out there for a less price tag and not having to lose a draft pick as we would have to make a trade.

[Str8BucIn]

Oh my goodness!!! What are we doing here. D-Bo is an ambassador and he deserves the same treatment the A-Train got. To go out when he's ready. I agree with Ty Guy to bring Demorrio Williams in when Brooks retires to move Cato over and we should be set. We need to address the WR, CB and DL now that we have Faine in pocket. Let's show Derrick the respect he deserves by taking pay cut after pay cut to help Gruden and Allen out of the Salary Cap troubles. He's a stand up guy and the Buc's need to be a stand up team and let him go out on his on terms. Ocho Cinco would be great to have but we don't need to break the bank with some other quality players out there for a less price tag and not having to lose a draft pick as we would have to make a trade.

[Jon]

I don't buy the Briggs rumors. We don't need another starting quality LB. We've got June, Brooks and Ruud. The SLB only needs to be steady. Even if we cut Brooks, Briggs STILL doesn't make sense. We've only got 2 LB positions where you need playmakers and we have 2-3 playmakers already (2 if you think Brooks is done).

The Bucs have a ton of money. I'm sure agents like to include their name in the hunt to drive up the price.

We need Berrian (who could be a monster for Gruden).

Also, don't overpay for Turner. A good OL can make a lot of RBs look good. I'd bet Gruden could get a LOT of production from someone like Lamont Jordan for a pittance.

We need to shore up our CB depth (preferably by resigning Kelly). Make our DL MUCH Better (our D was good last year because of a great back 7 and weak competitioin), add a young LT (probably have to work on this next year) and WRs (Berrian and draft), get a young, mobile, good QB (Delaware guy) and add quality, cheap depth elsewhere.

[Stephen Holder]

I would beware of this. We've heard this could be an ploy to pump up Briggs' value. I think he and Drew Rosenhaus are a little surprised at the lack of a market for him. That's what I've heard at least.

[Mark]

Trade for Chad Johnson or Larry Fitzgerald. I would prefer Larry because of age. Plus Larry would be better compliment to Galloway.

[dman]

look here guys and girls i think you want 2 go with larry fitzgerald cause of age then go for daunte and u would sure of having a winning season keep brooks and cut the crap with getting this lb u need a wr or wrs if u dont get one soon ur out of luck first off get alge crumpler rod coleman and daunte and larry that is were u should put the money k just remember look carefully at stats

[George Gregory]

Rumors. Why get worked up about some junk that a bored reporter decided to throw into a column as an afterthought?

[Tommy]

We are not going to go after Michael Turner when we have EG and a deep rb draft in front of us. Briggs is a definite improvement because DB is not the same DB of yester-year. I love DB but how many times did we get burned with the short passes last year and couldn't get off the field? Remember the playoff game against the Giants? Plus, now that the Briggs has been linked to the Bucs, if we don't sign him how do Gruden and Allen look Derrick in the eyes and say "We weren't really going to sign him." I think the damage has already been done between DB and the Bucs. If you Buc fans want to keep our LBs strong deep into the future then Briggs makes perfect sense. #55 is a professional and knows that this day was coming and that this would be a move to ensure a productive future.

[Kurt]

Some of you are complete morons. The numbers don't lie; Brooks has 109 tackles last year at OLB. That was good for 6th best in the league last year for his position. Oh yeah, and that was 5 spots ahead of Briggs and tied with Tatupu. Jiminy Christmas, you're friggin' idiots! DL & WR are all we need starters at; the rest is a matter of bolstering depth and fostering new talent for the future.