One of the downside of any successful professional sports team is that once they start to win, it's a challenge to keep it together. Since the Packers haven't had much recent success, there aren't many players who need extensions. Chicago's had two winning seasons and they are looking ahead to some big contracts next season. They still haven't figured out what they are going to do with LB Lance Briggs. Next season, they've got three key players who will need new contracts after next season. With a flexible salary cap, it can be easily managed, but Chicago's already traded RB Thomas Jones and may lose Briggs, so it won't be the same team in 2007 or 2008 that ran over the NFC North in 2005 and 2006.
Filed under: