Durkin: Briggs Era Likely Over In Chicago
By Dan Durkin-
(CBS) Earlier this month, Bears linebacker Lance Briggs openly acknowledged that this was likely his last season in Chicago. Given that, surely he didn't want to end his prolific career on the note it likely has.
The groin injury Briggs suffered against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers was severe enough that the team placed him on injured reserve this past Friday. Chicago coach Marc Trestman told the assembled media Sunday that the decision to put Briggs on injured reserve was purely from a medical standpoint and was independent of the team's 34-17 loss against Detroit this past Thursday.
"This is all based on trainers and doctors," Trestman said. "Everything is done according to what they decide. So as I said last week when I talked about the injury, all the information was not in at that time. Again, everything that we're doing with him is all based on decisions made by doctors."
Prior to last season, the seven-time Pro Bowler and one-time All-Pro had been a stalwart. A fixture on the Bears' dominant defenses, Briggs started in 170 games, but injuries have affected his last two seasons with the team. A shoulder fracture cost Briggs seven games in 2013, and a rib injury and now the groin injury will cut Briggs' 2014 season in half.
Undoubtedly, with 12 years of battles under his belt, Briggs has lost a step. But defensive end Jared Allen once called Briggs the "quarterback of the defense," so replacing his football acumen will be the biggest challenge moving forward.
"It's tough," Allen said. "He's a big presence on that field, not only playing against him, but playing with him. When he's out there, there's a lot of stuff that isn't in the stat sheet that he does so well from a communication standpoint. Just his overall football knowledge, his football IQ is very high. It's nice when you've got a guy like that out on the football field with you, so he's going to be missed."
Allen also went on to say that if he had a vote, Briggs would end up in the Hall of Fame.
"In my book, I'd say so," Allen said. "The guys done some incredible things. What is he, a seven-time Pro Bowler? If you look back at what the linebacker position has meant -- and there's probably no bigger team or organization of the linebacker position where the linebacker position is more highlighted than the Bears. I would have to say he's one of the top."
Jon Bostic will now become an every-down linebacker, playing the weak side in base and will be flanked by rookie Christian Jones in nickel.
With Briggs joining fellow 2003 draftee cornerback Charles "Peanut" Tillman on injured reserve, that leaves center Roberto Garza and kicker Robbie Gould as the only remaining links to the 2006 Super Bowl team.
