Briggs calls Packers' Finley 'an idiot'

December 13, 2012, 1:21 pm

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It isn’t quite Mike Ditka vs. Forrest Gregg or George Halas vs. Vince Lombardi yet, but the ill will between the Bears and Green Bay Packers stepped up a little more on Thursday when Bears linebacker Lance Briggs called Packers tight end Jermichael Finley “an idiot.”

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Finley incurred Briggs’ contempt by stating on Wednesday that the Bears might be better with Brian Urlacher no longer their middle linebacker:
 
"Urlacher is at the end of his career right now; he's playing a little slow out there," Finley told Fox Sports Wisconsin on Wednesday. "I don't think they're losing too much if he's out. Putting another guy in might help them a little."

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Briggs demurred:
 
“He’s an idiot. You know?” Briggs said. “Just suit up, play ball.”
 
Finley went to his Twitter account (@JermichaelF88) to clarify. Sort of.
 
“Urlacher is a hall of fame player and person. I meant no disrespect to him in previous comments. I was simply trying to explain that his replacement in the lineup is a good player as well.”
 
Saying a fellow player is “a little slow” and that his team isn’t losing too much with that player out of the lineup isn’t “disrespect?”
 
Glad that’s settled…

Tags: Chicago Bears, Green Bay Packers, Lance Briggs, Brian Urlacher, Nick Roach, Jermichael Finley