Players Finally Asked About Smith's Job
by John M. Crist of BearReport.com, November 19, 2009 at 4:15pm ET

Lance Briggs Profile

Perhaps for the very first time since he took the job as head coach in 2004, players in the locker room have been forced to answer questions about Lovie Smith's status for the long term in Chicago.

The Monsters of the Midway were supposed to make it back to the playoffs after a two-year layoff, with newly-acquired quarterback Jay Cutler prepared to take the offense to new heights and Pro Bowlers like linebacker Lance Briggs in the prime of their careers on defense.

But Cutler has thrown a league-high 17 interceptions, Briggs isn't getting much help around him and all of a sudden a vocal minority of Bears fans – it doesn't feel like a majority yet, but it might – is calling for Smith's ouster after a 4-5 start.

"It's what's going to happen," Briggs said Thursday before practice at Halas Hall. "In this game, everyone is trying to figure everything out. You going to have to point fingers somewhere, and fingers always go to the head coach and the quarterback."

Briggs went on to say that coaches can't do anything about players not making plays and failing to execute the gameplan properly, although firing the man sitting in the big chair is more realistic than cutting the entire 53-man roster in today's NFL.

"This is a team sport," said Briggs, "and it falls on us all. No one is not to blame and, as far as I'm concerned, everyone is to blame when we have success and when we lose."

The biggest concern for Smith right now in terms of job security is his decision to take play-calling duties away from defensive coordinator Bob Babich and do it himself, which hasn't made much of a difference – on the stat sheet or in the win column.



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Lance Briggs
Ht: 6-0 Wt: 242
Position: LB
Date of Birth: 11/12/1980
Experience: 7
High School: Elk Grove HS
(Elk Grove, CA)
College: Arizona


Biography:

PRO CAREER: Three-time Pro Bowl selection is tied for 3rd in team history with 3 career INTs returned for TDs, behind Mike Brown and Bennie McRae (4)… Earned 3rd straight Pro Bowl selection in 2007 after leading the Bears in TFLs (10) and ranking 2nd on the team with 140 tackles... Selected to Pro Bowl following 2006 season in which he finished 2nd on roster with a career-high 176 tackles, raising his tackle total from the previous season for the 3rd consecutive year… He and Brian Urlacher were the first Bears linebackers to be selected to consecutive Pro Bowls together (2005 and 2006) since Wilber Marshall and Mike Singletary in 1987 and 1988… Tabbed second-team All-Pro by the Associated Press following 2006 season after first-team selection a year earlier… Also named an All-Pro by The Sporting News and Sports Illustrated following 2006 season while adding Pro Football Weekly/Pro Football Writers Association's All-NFC honors as well… Over the last 5 seasons, has the most interceptions returned for touchdowns (3) of any linebacker in the NFL and only three players have more (D. Sharper, GB-MIN - 5, Chris McAlister, BALT - 4 and Ronde Barber, TB - 4)… According to STATS, Inc., leads all linebackers and ranks second overall in stuffs - a tackle of a rusher for negative yards - over the past 5 seasons... Became first linebacker in NFL history to return an interception for a score in each of his first 3 campaigns… Has 735 career tackles over last 5 seasons to rank 2nd on Bears (Urlacher, 772); 2nd on team in tackles in 2007, 2006 and 2005 after leading team in 2004… Paced Chicago in 2004 with 168 tackles while being named a second-alternate at OLB for the Pro Bowl after starting every contest at WLB… Started final 13 games of rookie season in 2003 at SLB and tallied team's only defensive TD of 2003 on his first career INT return TD… Has started 75-of-78 career games played… Has 41 tackles including 4 TFLs and 2 PBUs in 4 career postseason starts.

HOW ACQUIRED: Entered NFL as a third-round selection (68th overall) by Chicago in the 2003 NFL Draft.

PERSONAL NOTES: Three-year letterman at Elk Grove H.S. in Sacramento, CA, as a LB, RB, S, K, kickoff and punt returner… Named Sacramento Bee Player-of-the-Year as a senior with 100 tackles, including 5 sacks… Two-year track letterman in the 200-meters, 4x100 relay and shot put… Born Lance Marell Briggs to Raymond and Brenda Briggs… Sister, Tranae, played volleyball at Sacramento State, South Florida and Florida State… Cousin, Tamika Dennis, played volleyball at Arizona… Participated in ESPN: The Weekend at Disney's Wide World of Sports during the 2006 off-season.