Posted by Ryan Wilson

Agent Drew Rosenhaus has filed a formal trade request on behalf of his client, Bears linebacker Lance Briggs. This comes after the six-time Pro Bowler and nine-year veteran asked the team for a raise and was kindly rebuffed. The Chicago Tribune reports that Rosenhaus made the trade request via email. (Presumably he won't be sending out a "never mind, ignore that" follow-up.)

"The Bears made their decision, now I have to make mine," Briggs told the Tribune. "It's just how the business works. It's not going to take away from what I do on the field. I'm 100 percent a Bear, until I'm not a Bear anymore."

If this sounds familiar, well, it should. In 2007, Briggs announced that he would never play for the Bears again before he signed his one-year, $7.2 million franchise tender. A year later, the team inked him to a six-year contract. Doing the math, that means that he still has three years left on the deal he asked for three years ago.

Details on Briggs' current contract situation, via the Tribune: "He is scheduled to make $3.9 million this season (including bonuses), $4 million in 2012 and $6.5 million in 2013. He signed a six-year, $36 million deal in 2008 after first testing the free-agent market, and the maximum value of the first three years was $21.6 million."

The Tribune adds that Briggs wants to restructure his contract so that he makes more money this season, possibly by flip-flopping the $6.5 million he's set to make in '13 with the $3.9 million he'll pull down this season. Apparently, he decided to ask for more money after seeing younger linebackers like the Broncos' DJ Williams and the Jaguars' Daryl Smith cash in with new deals.

For now, head coach Lovie Smith isn't worried about Briggs or his contract.

"If a guy has something that he needs to do, then he can deal with it off the field," he said, via the Tribune. "As far as how I see him, I just see him coming to work every day, like he has done. Lance Briggs has to get ready for the football season, which he has done. "Who doesn't want a new contract?" Smith added rhetorically. "All of us would want a new contract. But still, you go to work every day and do your job, and that's what he's doing. I have no complaints about him."

In general, we support a player's right to ask for a raise because NFL contracts aren't guaranteed. But Briggs had no issue with the deal when he signed it three years ago. Just because other teams might overpay for their linebackers isn't reason enough for the Bears to do the same. Maybe that changes after the season, or perhaps Briggs will get his wish and be traded.

For now, he's 100 percent a Bear until he's not a Bear anymore. Which, given the immutable laws of physics, is typically how these things work.

For more NFL news, rumors and analysis, follow @EyeOnNFL on Twitter and subscribe to our RSS Feed.