I was hysteric about the Lance Briggs trade that finally (hopefully?) suffered a slow death due to the Redskins refusal to accept a Bears counter offer that included Rocky McIntosh. I've maintained throughout that Jerry Angelo saved the Washington Redskins from themselves, and now he provides one more reason for a Hogs Haven salute, per the Chicago Sun Times:
Even if Angelo had wanted to, he couldn't accept the Redskins' offer of the No. 6 pick for Briggs and the No. 31 pick during the owners meetings. Had he taken the deal, it would've been a signal to other players that if they make enough noise, they, too, can force their way out of a contract situation.
''I didn't like the way the whole thing was presented, and I let Washington and [Rosenhaus] know that,'' Angelo said. ''We are a profession, and there are certain ways that you do business. But we're over that.''
Whether or not shackling Briggs to Chicago is the right thing for the Bears, which doesn't appear to be the case, I still appreciate Jerry Angelo for saving the Redskins from a bad trade, simply by saying "only if..."