CHICAGO, IL - NOVEMBER 8: Linebacker Lance Briggs #55 of the Chicago Bears runs in pursuit against the Arizona Cardinals at Soldier Field on...

...defeated the Browns 30-6. (Photo by Joe Robbins/Getty Images) CHICAGO, IL - OCTOBER 4: Linebacker Lance Briggs #55 of the Chicago Bears runs in pursuit against the Detroit Lions at Soldier Field on...

The one and onlys

From the November 30, 2009 issue of ESPN The Magazine: an investigation of the most irreaplaceable players in the NFL -- among them Leon Hall, Ryan Clady, DeMarcus Ware and Andre Johnson.

Story | Conversation | November 18, 2009

The Pro Bowl drama begins

...in the top five of their positions are center Olin Kreutz (No. 5, 59,581), linebacker Lance Briggs (No. 5, 66,579) and kick returner Devin Hester (No. 3, 56,721). In addition to...

D Up! OLBs are A-OK in 2009

Jim McCormick discusses the emergence of outside linebackers this season as he prepares IDP league owners for Week 10.

CHICAGO - NOVEMBER 02: Lineman Lance Briggs #55 of the Chicago Bears forces Michael Gaines #86 of the Detroit Lions to fumble the...

Game notes: Bears talk bounce back

Bears players, coaches react to Thursday night's loss to the 49ers

Positive note

...only three passes for 16 yards. "We have to build on this [defensive effort]," Bears linebacker Lance Briggs said. "Five losses doesn't put you out. We have to build on this and get...

Cutler plagued by lack of leadership

The Bears don't need apologies from their QB; they need a leader

Nike Football Training Camps

2009 Nike Camps

Who will pay for this mess?

Cutler has been bad, but there is plenty of blame to spread around for the Bears.

No time for nostalgia for Singletary

There's no time for nostalgia for 49ers coach Mike Singletary.

Around the NFC West: Briggs and the 49ers

...of the Sacramento Bee looks at what might have been if the 49ers could have acquired Lance Briggs from the Bears. Barrows: "The courtship by the 49ers began before the trade deadline in 2007...

Black and Blue all over: Davis piles on

...feeling -- to paraphrase Larry David -- pretty, pretty, pretty good. Continuing around the NFC North: Bears linebacker Lance Briggs thought he was headed to San Francisco in 2007 before a tampering charge scuttled the deal...

Tracing the Bears' defensive decline

...Consider the Cardinals' first third-down conversion last Sunday. The Bears showed blitz by running linebackers Lance Briggs and Hunter Hillenmeyer to the line, but ultimately rushed only four players on third-and-10...