July 30, 2007

GM answers questions about Briggs' future as a Bear

2007 8-17: Wolfe in Bears 8-17: Tightends 8-16: 'Peanut' 8-16: Linebackers 8-15: D-Day 8-15: Madden '08 gets 8-15: Mannelly known 8-15: Cornerbacks 8-14: A step ahead 8-14: Offensive guards, 8-13: Benson has clear More

rlaird@daily-journal.com
815-937-3390

In a training camp lacking storylines and drama, Sunday was an eventful day for the Bears at Olivet Nazarene University.

The Bears traded for veteran defensive tackle Darwin Walker but the biggest news of the day was the arrival of weakside linebacker Lance Briggs, who practiced for the first time this season on Sunday.

Briggs worked out with the second unit and may continue to do so for the next couple of days as he works himself back into shape.

The Bears insist there are no longer any hard feelings on either side, even though Briggs used some harsh language during his holdout this offseason, including the now infamous statements that he liked the Bears but hated the organization and that he would never play for the team again.

Something, apparently, made him change his mind.

"As much of man of principle as his is, he said, 'Jerry, I just couldn't see not being with the team at the start of camp,'" said Bears general manager Jerry Angelo in his first press conference of training camp. "When we put the franchise tag on him, it was to reward him, not to punish him. And he wanted to be with his teammates. He wanted to be a part of this."

Briggs was named to his second straight Pro Bowl last season and has 441 tackles in four seasons.

Although Briggs is signed for only one season and almost certainly won't be slapped with the franchise tag again, Angelo said there's still a chance Briggs could be a Bear in 2008.

"I'm not going to say no to anything," he said. "I'll just leave it at that."

Saying that he wanted to see the fans, Briggs jogged off the field after practice and tried to avoid a bevy of determined reporters and cameras, but the media followed him as he signed autographs.

Briggs was persistently mum, however, as the Associated Press reported that he gave short answers such as "It's a business," and "I've said enough" to their queries while he signed.

Jamar Williams worked out once again with the first unit, but it is expected that Briggs will take over the starting position once he gets back into shape.

There had been concerns about Briggs' conditioning during the holdout, but Bears coach Lovie Smith has suggested Briggs is close to being where the team wants him.

"I thought he came in in pretty good shape," Smith said. "We look forward to getting him on the field again (today)."

* * *

Sunday was the first practice in full pads for the Bears; it was also the most contentious.

Rex Grossman was knocked to the ground on one play during 11-on-11 drills, leading safety Mike Brown to shout, "Don't hit the quarterback! What's wrong with y'all?"

Rookie guard/center Josh Beekman and defensive end Copeland Bryan were involved in the camp's first skirmish. The two were quickly separated, but not before starting right guard Roberto Garza was shoved to the ground. The skirmish, which occurred on the final rep before the two-minute drill, was quickly broken up and didn't seem to be taken too seriously by most players. One player playfully jumped onto the ensuing pile, throwing an imaginary flying elbow ala Randy "Macho Man" Savage while Chris Harris and Bernard Berrian jokingly shoved each other after the tussle was broken up.

Garza is not the type of person one would associate with fighting, as he is arguably the most charitable player on the team.

He started a charity named "Los Amigos de Roberto" and was the team's nomination for the 2006 Walter Payton "Man of the Year" Award.