Briggs Starts To Take Blame

[chitownman]

Here is something that Vaugh McClure just put up on the Tribune website about regretting not doing more to prevent the collapse of this season:

 

Lance Briggs pointed the finger at one person to blame for the Bears' 5-9 collapse the season: himself.

 

"If I was a better leader, maybe we win more games, period," the linebacker and defensive co-captain said during a community visit Tuesday.

 

"Who wouldn't take it personally? I'm not a leader by default. I'm a leader because I've earned the right to be a leader. So a lot of that burden does fall on my shoulders."

 

The Bears have little chance to atone, with just two games remaining in the season. But Briggs, who leads the team with 127 tackles, vowed the Bears would finish strong against the Vikings and Lions."

 

There is a video on the website that goes along with this article. My thought is that if Briggs really wanted to be a true leader, he would have been working his a$$ off when Urlacher went down to help keep this team focused and provide true leadership. Briggs play may show leadership however, when you do not hold your teammates accountable to each other total chaos takes place and it seems that this team is just going through the motions. Makes me think that the contract that Briggs signed for his extension was not worth the money or effort the team put into it. I have been dissatisfied with Briggs since his comments about never playing in Chicago again and then changing his mind and signing the extension that was presented. Briggs is all about saving face for a joke of a season which is not about being part of the team, it is all about Briggs and only Briggs.

[AZ54]

I realize it's nice to have your MLB call plays in the huddle but I still don't understand why Briggs couldn't have done that when Urlacher went down. Instead we went with Roach who just wasn't any good at lining up his teammates. Hillenmeyer has done much better there but why couldn't Briggs have done so?

['TD']

Sounds like they made him say something after what he said about missing players and Rivera, basically callin out JA and Lovie and so on.

[nfoligno]

I have never been the fan of Briggs many others are. I think he is a damn good, even great, LB, but I don't think he is a difference maker. Further, I don't think he is a leader.

 

With that said, I do not fault him either for his lack of leadership, nor for his comments here. This is not about Briggs "saving face". Briggs is one of the very few players on this team that does not have to worry about saving face as he is one of the very few who is still looked at very highly. He has no reason to come out and talk like this, but he did.

 

As for not blaming him for not showing leadership earlier in the season, well, I personally believe you can not force a person to be a leader. Either they are or they are not. Briggs is simply not a leader. He is a danm good/great player, but not a leader. Fine. Not all players are leaders. In fact, relatively few are.

 

Just for the record, I do not believe Urlacher is a leader either. Maybe more so than Briggs, but not a field general. Urlacher, as the MLB, calls the plays for the unit, but do not confuse that w/ being a leader. Mike Brown was one of our very few leaders. He not only played the field general role, but also help players accountable, both on the field and in the locker room. Urlacher doesn't do that sort of thing.

 

Urlacher and Briggs both lead by example, but they are not leaders. Leadership is something this defense has truly lacked for years.

 

Here is something that Vaugh McClure just put up on the Tribune website about regretting not doing more to prevent the collapse of this season:

 

Lance Briggs pointed the finger at one person to blame for the Bears' 5-9 collapse the season: himself.

 

"If I was a better leader, maybe we win more games, period," the linebacker and defensive co-captain said during a community visit Tuesday.

 

"Who wouldn't take it personally? I'm not a leader by default. I'm a leader because I've earned the right to be a leader. So a lot of that burden does fall on my shoulders."

 

The Bears have little chance to atone, with just two games remaining in the season. But Briggs, who leads the team with 127 tackles, vowed the Bears would finish strong against the Vikings and Lions."

 

There is a video on the website that goes along with this article. My thought is that if Briggs really wanted to be a true leader, he would have been working his a$$ off when Urlacher went down to help keep this team focused and provide true leadership. Briggs play may show leadership however, when you do not hold your teammates accountable to each other total chaos takes place and it seems that this team is just going through the motions. Makes me think that the contract that Briggs signed for his extension was not worth the money or effort the team put into it. I have been dissatisfied with Briggs since his comments about never playing in Chicago again and then changing his mind and signing the extension that was presented. Briggs is all about saving face for a joke of a season which is not about being part of the team, it is all about Briggs and only Briggs.

 

[nfoligno]

I have never understood this either. Even if you want to say Briggs isn't good at it, then explain why Roach was calling plays when he was at MLB and Hunter was at SLB. I have never understood this idea on our team that only the MLB can call plays. Many things we see and read about are disagreeable, but for most, I can at least see the logic the staff use. I often disagree w/ that logic, but I see it. In this regard though, I just do not even see the logic. It flat out makes zero sense to me.

 

Whoever (a) knows the defense best and ( best reads the offense should be calling out plays.

 

I realize it's nice to have your MLB call plays in the huddle but I still don't understand why Briggs couldn't have done that when Urlacher went down. Instead we went with Roach who just wasn't any good at lining up his teammates. Hillenmeyer has done much better there but why couldn't Briggs have done so?

 

[DABEARSDABOMB]

Are you guys kidding me. This is a guy being a leader. He's trying to take the blame instead of have it fall on his teammates. He's just trying to lead and has said many a times how the Bears stink.

 

Something Urlacher refuses to do.

[madlithuanian]

Hard to argue with you and toher on that take. Briggs, while very good, to me just isn't all that. I'd prefer to dangle him as trade bait, especially since his stats are padded as he and Jamar admitted that defensive plays are set up to run to them.

 

He's still considered a pro-bowl calibur player by many...let's see what we can get, no? At least a true GM would explore the possibility.

 

...and agree w/ your seessment of his and Url's (lack of) leadership... However, I think Briggs is a D, and Url a C. Just a bit better. People tend to naturally flock to Url for some reason.

 

I have never been the fan of Briggs many others are. I think he is a damn good, even great, LB, but I don't think he is a difference maker. Further, I don't think he is a leader.

 

With that said, I do not fault him either for his lack of leadership, nor for his comments here. This is not about Briggs "saving face". Briggs is one of the very few players on this team that does not have to worry about saving face as he is one of the very few who is still looked at very highly. He has no reason to come out and talk like this, but he did.

 

As for not blaming him for not showing leadership earlier in the season, well, I personally believe you can not force a person to be a leader. Either they are or they are not. Briggs is simply not a leader. He is a danm good/great player, but not a leader. Fine. Not all players are leaders. In fact, relatively few are.

 

Just for the record, I do not believe Urlacher is a leader either. Maybe more so than Briggs, but not a field general. Urlacher, as the MLB, calls the plays for the unit, but do not confuse that w/ being a leader. Mike Brown was one of our very few leaders. He not only played the field general role, but also help players accountable, both on the field and in the locker room. Urlacher doesn't do that sort of thing.

 

Urlacher and Briggs both lead by example, but they are not leaders. Leadership is something this defense has truly lacked for years.

 

[madlithuanian]

Doesn't a true leader just lead, instead of telling us he should have led?

 

Just saying...

 

 

 

Are you guys kidding me. This is a guy being a leader. He's trying to take the blame instead of have it fall on his teammates. He's just trying to lead and has said many a times how the Bears stink.

 

Something Urlacher refuses to do.

 

[azbearsfan]

Doesn't a true leader just lead, instead of telling us he should have led?

 

Just saying...

 

 

 

 

 

Absolutely

[nfoligno]

Urlacher has nothing to do w/ this. Few on this board consider Urlacher a leader.

 

When you have 5 wins at this point in the yera, saying the team stinks is not showing leadership. It just shows you can state the obvious. Briggs has thrown himself on the sword, and that is well and good, but a leader needs to hold those on his team accountable, and I have not seen Briggs do that. In fact, saying it is all his fault is a nice gesture, but it also allows those truly at fault to escape responsibility.

 

Briggs is one hell of a player. No one is saying otherwise. But he is not a leader. No, Urlacher isn't either, but that is besie the point.

 

Are you guys kidding me. This is a guy being a leader. He's trying to take the blame instead of have it fall on his teammates. He's just trying to lead and has said many a times how the Bears stink.

 

Something Urlacher refuses to do.

 

[nfoligno]

I honestly see no difference in Briggs and Urlacher in terms of leadership. Urlacher calls plays, but we have learned that is more position based than player. I have a feeling that if Briggs were allowed to call plays, he would be viewed as just as much a leader as Urlacher.

 

 

 

Hard to argue with you and toher on that take. Briggs, while very good, to me just isn't all that. I'd prefer to dangle him as trade bait, especially since his stats are padded as he and Jamar admitted that defensive plays are set up to run to them.

 

He's still considered a pro-bowl calibur player by many...let's see what we can get, no? At least a true GM would explore the possibility.

 

...and agree w/ your seessment of his and Url's (lack of) leadership... However, I think Briggs is a D, and Url a C. Just a bit better. People tend to naturally flock to Url for some reason.

 

[madlithuanian]

I think it's more of an x factor. Cult of personality. Something like that. No, Urlacher is not a good leader. but, from his body language to his play on the field, to the orders he barks out pre-snap...he seems to be in more command and a better "leader' than Briggs. Kid of like being the #1 WR on the Bears. Just because you are, doesn't mean you should be or would be on other teams.

 

I think we're splitting hairs really. We're both in agrement that both aren't that good. I just feel Url is better and you see them as the same. Maybe I've simply bought into all the URl hype over the years, but there is something special to the guy that is above and beyond that of Briggs. And maybe Briggs' showdown for a contract left me with a sour taste that hasn't gone away...

 

But I feel that if Briggs were dangled for a trade, we'd get more and lose less than if it were Url.

 

 

 

 

 

I honestly see no difference in Briggs and Urlacher in terms of leadership. Urlacher calls plays, but we have learned that is more position based than player. I have a feeling that if Briggs were allowed to call plays, he would be viewed as just as much a leader as Urlacher.