The Chicago Bears took care of their most important off-season issue on Friday by securing the services of linebacker Lance Briggs for the 2007 season.  The Bears placed the “franchise” tag on the star linebacker, who made 134 tackles in 2006 and was an integral part of one of the league’s best defensive units.  The swift resolution of this situation indicates that the Bears realize just how important Lance Briggs is to the present and future of the Chicago Bears franchise.  This is the first time in team history that the Bears have used the franchise tag to keep a player in town. 

Under his new contract, Briggs will earn $7.2 million for the ’07 campaign… and then Bears fans might just have the pleasure of going through this process again after next season (though talk of a long term deal continues).  For the time being, the Bears are not only the defending kings of the NFC, but they are also set to bring back 11 starters on a ferocious defensive unit that is still hungry for a championship. 

Life is good at Halas Hall.