The Chicago Bears six-time All-Pro linebacker Lance Briggs isn’t happy with his current contract and he wants to be traded.

Briggs wants a new contract that will give him a significant bump in salary but the Bears have been unwilling to rework his deal that still has three years remaining.

"The Bears made their decision, now I have to make mine," Briggs told the Chicago Tribune. "It's just how the business works. It's not going to take away from what I do on the field. I'm 100 percent a Bear, until I'm not a Bear anymore."

This is probably the last distraction the Bears need going into a critical must-win season for head coach Lovie Smith. Briggs is scheduled to make $3.9 million.

The Tribune says Briggs would be satisfied if the Bears would simply restructure his deal where they would flip-flop this year’s salary and the final year at $6.5 million. The Bears are reportedly $19.3 million below the salary cap this season, so the money is available.

Briggs has certainly seemed to earn his request, leading the team in tackles in two of the last three years and he is just one of four linebackers in Bears history to make six straight Pro Bowls.

But apparently none of that means enough to the Bears to adjust his current contract.

"I understand and respect their decision," Briggs said.
Contact Terrance Harris at terrancefharris@gmail.com or follow him on Twitter @Terranceharris

 (Photo: DENNIS WIERZBICKI/CSM /Landov)