First, The Examiner:
[I]t appears the desire to trade is one-sided in favor of Washington. And, at this point, it's unlikely to happen.
According to sources in Chicago, the Bears aren't wild about trading into the top 10, where they'd have to pay a draft pick a much larger signing bonus. Also, one league source, who doubted the trade would happen, said general managers often fear a move like this would set a bad precedent by having an agent publicly orchestrate a trade.
I think it's interesting that it's possible Drew Rosenhaus -- and by proxy his client -- is getting punished for making the deal public. Drew's strength as an agent has been his ability to manipulate the news waves, though in this case it might have actually hurt his -- and by proxy his client's -- chances. If GM Jerry Angelo was even diminutively motivated against the trade because of the behavior of Rosenhaus, perhaps it is a step towards less flamboyant Player Agents. How tragic </sarcasm>.
CBS.SportsLine.com reported that Redskins owner Dan Snyder and vice president of football operations Vinny Cerrato initiated the trade talks. However, a source close to the situation said coach Joe Gibbs signed off on the deal as well.
Consistent with all other reports, the trade was initiated and created in the mind of Dan Snyder (or else Dan Snyder
and Vinny Cerrato) and later "signed off" on by the Coach of the team.
And then the Examiner goes off on why this is such an odd proposal, given that we blew two 2nd round picks to select Rocky McIntosh in last year's draft (didn't one of those picks go to Chicago?), that we have Lemar Marshall in reserves as an OLB, and that we need help on the Defensive Line. You know, the standard "What the fudge is going on, this trade is bonkers."
The Washington Times calls the deal unlikely. First, though, they remind us:
Last week, Washington vice president of football operations Vinny Cerrato said there was "no merit whatsoever" to reports the Redskins were trying to acquire the Bears' Pro Bowl linebacker. Those reports intensified yesterday with comments from Briggs' agent, Drew Rosenhaus.
I had suggested previously that Drew Rosenhaus was a lying liar that lies because he said the Redskins were interested in Briggs, a point denied by Vinny Cerrato earlier in the week. Now I think I owe Mr. Rosenhaus an apology; Vinny Cerrato is a lying liar that lies. There was absolute merit to rumors that the Redskins were trying to acquire Lance Briggs. Or else Vinny told the truth -- speaking only on his own behalf -- but couldn't possibly have predicted his owner would throw out an offer for Briggs a few days later. I don't know what is going on. Perhaps wisely, Vinny Cerrato finally declined to decline anything:
Reached by telephone at the NFL meetings Arizona, Cerrato declined to comment.
And then of course the Times closes with the obligatory "WTF Mate?" doing their best to, perhaps, kill this Trade:
The Redskins' interest in Briggs would be puzzling because they moved up to draft outside linebacker Rocky McIntosh in the second round last year; they already have highly-paid linebackers in Marcus Washington and the newly acquired London Fletcher; and the team has more pressing needs. And with the sixth overall pick, the Redskins have an opportunity to trade down while acquiring additional first-day selections.
Finally,
The Post, with the only encouraging news:
The agent for Lance Briggs, a two-time Pro Bowl linebacker for the Chicago Bears, said yesterday that the Washington Redskins have made an offer for his client, but team officials dismissed the possibility as rumors.
"Right now, it's just a bunch of stuff that got thrown around" Monday, said Redskins Coach Joe Gibbs, interviewed yesterday at the NFL owners meetings in Phoenix. "Just a bunch of rumors."
Said Vice President of Football Operations Vinny Cerrato, "We don't comment on rumors."
BAM, Washington Post. This is the only good news to come out of it, as the Post is alone in saying that this is all scuttlebutt and conjecture. It at least
sounds possible that Snyder went a little crazier than was warranted in his proposal, went to Gibbs, and the deal was shot down. Of course this is contrary to all other reports by the Chicago Media and others who have suggested that formal talks have taken place. Maybe talks have taken place but the Dan's original deal was modified per discussion among the actual
Football people? Again, I don't know what is going on. And the Post suggests
someone is lying moments later:
Briggs's agent, Drew Rosenhaus, confirmed published reports stating that the Redskins have offered to switch places with the Bears in the first round of next month's draft, exchanging the sixth pick for the 31st, to acquire Briggs.
"That's what I've been told," Rosenhaus said. "The two teams have talked and it's in their hands now."
So either Team Officials are not being honest in their semi-denial ("a bunch of stuff that got thrown around" doesn't explicitly say that it was false; true "stuff" gets thrown around all the time, I imagine) or else Drew Rosenhaus is lying or else there is a general lack of informed opinion on what the deuce is happening between these two teams.
