Grossman-Berrian Connection Must Stay in Tact

The Bears re-signed QB Rex Grossman to a one-year deal worth $3 million plus incentives on Saturday, which is good news or bad news depending on whether you’re a Grossman supporter or not. The good news is the Bears have not given up completely on Grossman. But a short-term deal only says the much-maligned QB must play with greater consistency if he wants to stay beyond next season. The bad news is that fans have to put up with this story line for yet another year.

But even though Grossman is signed, it means nothing if the Bears don’t re-sign wide receiver Bernard Berrian, who is also a free agent. Together, Grossman and Berrian make up one of the most electric pass play combinations in the NFL. The team needs to have both in the fold if they are going to see any kind of success in the passing game next year.

Buehrle Signed, Sealed and Delivered

Just how close was White Sox GM Kenny Williams to trading starter Mark Buehrle before the two parties agreed to a four-year deal worth $56 million? In an interview with Comcast Sports Net, Williams admitted that he had “two or three legitimate offers” on the table. If Buehrle had passed on the Sox’ final offer, a trade was a phone call away. But the two sides were able to agree on a deal that will keep Buehrle on the South Side for at least another year or two. It is a good faith gesture, a move that clearly showed that Williams wasn’t about to sell out the team -- at least not yet.

Sometimes the best deal is the one you don’t make.

Briggs Lets His Ego Do the Talking

For the past few weeks, Bears’ linebacker Lance Briggs has taken to the airwaves to complain about how the Bears are not willing to give him a long-term deal. Their offer of $7.2 million for one year just isn’t good enough, Briggs told ESPN, saying that there was not job security in the deal and he wants to be traded. If he wanted job security, why didn't he accept the Bears' six-year, $33-million dollar offer last season? He has threatened to sit out the entire 2007 season.

Briggs also complains that he wants to be treated as the number one guy on defense and as long as he is with the Bears and playing with Brian Urlacher that will never happen. He says that the Bears don’t respect him, but it seems like they respect him enough to offer a deal worth $7.2 million for one year. I know a lot of people who would not turn that kind of money down.

If you listen closely to Briggs, you can almost hear an echo of another high-profile NFL loudmouth – Terrell Owens. It’s no coincidence that the two players have the same agent – Drew Rosenhaus. I don't remember Briggs being so arrogant, so you wonder if this stunt is coming from him and if Rosenhaus is pulling the strings. I picture Rosenhaus manipulating the strings of a marionette puppet, while Briggs is the puppet.

I say, let Briggs sit out the season. After sitting out a whole year whining and grumbling, he'll realize that the six-year, $33 million offer was a pretty darn good deal after all.