By now, everyone is aware that the 2007 Lamborghini Roadster belonging to Chicago Bears LB Lance Briggs was found wrecked and abandoned on an expressway on the north side of Chicago at 3:15am Monday morning. While there were no signs of injury, there was also no sign of the individual who owned the $350,000 vehicle.
Briggs later admitted that he was behind the wheel, and to Chicago Bears head coach Lovie Smith, this is all very simple. This was a one-car accident with no injuries and it’s nothing to get excited about. Lance Briggs didn’t break any rules, so there would no team discipline.
Smith is apparently okay with his Pro Bowl linebacker wrapping his sports car around a telephone pole at 3 in the morning and leaving the scene of the accident.
He might be the only one.
Briggs has been charged with leaving the scene of an accident (a misdemeanor charge) and has been cited for failure to give immediate notice of an accident and improper lane usage. He posted $100 bail and has a court date in October.
But still, one question lingered: Was alcohol involved?
Chicago-area reporters asked Smith if alcohol was involved in the crash, and he responded by saying “We have a one-car accident and now alcohol is involved? I think that's stretching a little bit to go that far.''
Is it really? If he weren’t somehow impaired:
Why else would Briggs not report the accident?
Why else would Briggs flee the scene and leave a brand-new sports car unattended on the side of an expressway in the nation's third largest city at 3am?
Why else would Briggs not avail himself to investigators for nearly 12 hours after the vehicle was discovered?
There were more questions raised than answered on Monday, and the bottom line is we may never know whether or not Briggs was impaired in that early Monday morning accident. Because there were no injuries and the accident involved only one car, Briggs is not required to submit a blood, breath, or urine sample to determine whether or not he was under the influence of alcohol.
Judging from Lovie Smith’s comments, it appears that Briggs was not only fortunate enough to walk away unharmed from the actual accident, he’ll suffer no team discipline for using such poor judgment.
This is, after all, the same regime (Lovie Smith/Jerry Angelo) that prefers to play the "good cop" role when it comes to disciplining their players, as they've previously deferred to the NFL to be the "bad cop" to discipline Tank Johnson and Ricky Manning after their brushes with authorities.
NFL Training Camp Notes
David Baugh of the Chicago Tribune thinks that of all the reasons for Briggs to be on the Chicago roads at 3am, few of them are good.
Falcons LB Keith Brooking left last night's game with a strained calf.
Atlanta's offense showed progress with QB Joey Harrington leading the way.
Bengals kicker Shayne Graham suffered a hip pointer last night.
Patriots CB Asante Samuel may have reported, but his 1-year tender remains unsigned as the two sides negotiate terms of the agreement, including a possible deal that would prevent the Patriots from using the franchise tag again in 2008.
Dallas Cowboys LB Greg Ellis has sought out famed surgeon Dr. James Andrews for another opinion on his surgically-repaired Achilles' tendon.
Detroit Lions free safety Daniel Bullocks tore his ACL on Saturday and will miss the 2007 season.
Buffalo Bills DE Ryan Denney broke the fifth metatarsal bone in his foot, but won't necessarily land on IR.
New York Giants WR and special teams ace David Tyree has a fractured wrist that'll keep him out until October.
Arizona Cardinals head coach Ken Whisenhunt named some of the likely starters for the season opener, and CB Antrel Rolle, LB Darryl Blackstock and S Aaron Francisco weren't among them.
Baltimore Ravens LT Jonathan Ogden isn't sure he'll be ready to start on September 9th.
The Pittsburgh Steelers lopped ten from their roster, including RB Kevan Barlow.
Jacksonville released 10 players, including TE Jermaine Wiggins and safety Nick Sorensen.
Miami trimmed 9 from their roster, most notably DT Kevin Vickerson.
The Browns have waived nine.
DL Kenard Lang was among eight Broncos released on Monday.
Oakland cut seven players on Monday, including WR Doug Gabriel.
Twelve Seahawks are expected to be released today.
Within this Vikings notebook in the Star Tribune, we learn that offensive coordinator Darrell Bevell will call the plays this year, DE Keneche Udeze will start, and QB Drew Henson was among 8 players cut.
Two brothers will battle in the trenches when Carolina and Pittsburgh meet on Thursday.
Chiefs QB Damon Huard says he earned KC's starting job.
Rams center Brett Romberg beat out veteran Andy McCollum in their camp battle.
The Houston Texans haven't settled on a center.
Rams WR Torry Holt hasn't completely recovered from off-season knee surgery.
Dolphins LB Joey Porter returned to practice on Monday.
Saints QB Drew Brees will be held out of Thursday's preseason finale.
The battle for starting QB of the Oakland Raiders is a two-man race.
Former Florida State WR Craphonso Thorpe is hoping he makes the final cut in Indianapolis.
49ers RB Frank Gore has been cleared to play, but he won't.
Redskins QB Jason Campbell might miss Thursday's game due to his sore knee.
Packers DT Johnny Jolly could be an opening day starter.
Jets rookie LB David Harris is a natural on the inside of their 3-4 defense.
Eagles head coach Andy Reid isn't impressed with the performance of KR Jeremy Bloom.
Rick Stroud of the St. Petersburg Times analyzes the Buccaneers roster as the ax looms.
Titans WR David Givens, their prized free agent a year ago, will open the season on the PUP list.
