Not sure what to make of this one, but we're hearing rumblings linking the Bucs to Chicago free agent linebacker Lance Briggs.

Briggs was franchised by the Bears last season and publicly voiced his displeasure with the inability to come to terms on a long-term contract. Now, with his status as an unrestricted free agent, he is free to sign with any team with no compensation required.

The Chicago Sun-Times reported this morning that Briggs has been connected to the Bucs, 49ers and Browns, with the paper describing the Broncos as a "dark horse."

The bigger news might be the implication here: if the Bucs are sniffing around Briggs, what does that say for Derrick Brooks? The Bucs already signed a player last season in Cato June whose natural position is the same weak-side linebacker spot. Now, they perhaps are interested in another? If this were to come to pass, it would tell us all we need to know about where the Bucs stand on Brooks and his future.

Brooks already agreed to a drastic reduction in his contract two years ago and will make just more than $3-million this season. At this point, there's not a whole lot more to cut. It's more a matter of whether they want the veteran on the roster or not.