My Friends,
I can't explain why there hasn't been a run on Lance Briggs' "55" jersey in
years past. Like Briggs has said, if it had been hanging on the rack next to #8 and
#54 over the years, maybe the demand would have been there.
But I can tell you why you won't see it being pushed this year. It has to do
with all those cut-rate McNown and Enis jerseys you still see for sale on Ebay.
Briggs is threatening to leave after the season, and who wants to have his
jersey in inventory and have to sell it at a loss?
I think there's another reason, too. My guess is that the Bears have something
to say about which jersey numbers get printed in bulk and sent out to the
stores. And the Bears front office is a petty bunch. If you disagree, take a
look at the players who grace the individual tickets this year. You have
Tillman, Grossman, Mike Brown, Urlacher, Tommie Harris, Vasher, Ogunleye,
Muhammad, Alex Brown and Kreutz. Briggs is under contract, and he’s the only
Pro Bowler from last season missing. Why? Were they concerned he wouldn't make
the team? He had a full year left on his deal when the tickets went to press,
so the only thing left is Briggs’ Organized Team Activities absence and the
fact he wouldn't sign an extension.
So Bears.
LBF
9/7/2006