Chicago, IL (AHN) - The Chicago Bears are trying to do their best job of keeping the team that went to the Super Bowl intact. Their most recent move to affect the future of the team came when they designated linebacker Lance Briggs as their franchise player.

The designation guarantees Briggs a one-year contract worth $7.2 million. It also gives the Bears the right to match any offer he gets or to receive two first-round draft picks in compensation if he departs.

Briggs, who became the first player to be given the franchise tag for the Bears franchise, would have become an unrestricted free agent Mar. 2 if he didn't reach a contract agreement with the Bears before then. The franchise tag means Chicago can keep Briggs by matching any offer sheet he might sign with another team.

If they choose not to match another offer, the Bears would get the other team's first-round draft picks in 2007 and 2008 as compensation.

This also means that the Bears must pay Briggs $7.2 million for 2007, the average of the top five salaries at his position.

Briggs figured to be difficult to re-sign without the franchise tag because of the high demand for an impact linebacker with the coverage skills of a defensive back.

Before the Super Bowl, Briggs had talked optimistically about getting a chance to enter the open market.

"You play four years as a third-round draft pick and you have your opportunity to get big pay for your work," Briggs said. "You definitely want to see what your worth is."

Briggs made the Pro Bowl both of the last two seasons. The 2003 third-round draft pick from Arizona led the Bears with 117 solo tackles last year as he recorded 24 more than six-time Pro Bowl linebacker Brian Urlacher.

"Lance is one of the cornerstones of our defense," coach Lovie Smith said. "Everything we have asked him to do, he has done and he has developed each year. A lot of the success we've had (on defense) has been based on how Lance has played."

The Bears still could have a tough time in free agency as they might lose Pro Bowl guard Ruben Brown and defensive tackle Ian Scott. Scott was a part-time starter last year after a season-ending hamstring injury to starter Tommie Harris.

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