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LAKE FOREST, Ill. - Lance Briggs figures his time with the Chicago Bears is coming to an end. Hes not sure if his career is, too. A week shy of 34 and with his contract set to expire, Briggs acknowledged his 12-year run with the Bears will likely end this season. Its the last year of my deal, he said. Its not like Im going to magically show up after this year and theyre going to open the gates up for you. Ive talked to my buddy (former Bear) Alex Brown — those gates are closing — youre a free agent. I know the reality of it and Im proud of all the years Ive had here. Its been great. I couldnt have asked for a better situation. If hes not back with the Bears, will he play for another team? I dont know, he said — four times. Briggs realizes it might not be his choice. Somebodys got to want you first and then you go from there, he said. The seven-time Pro Bowl linebacker expects to return against Aaron Rodgers and the Green Bay Packers this week after missing the past three games with a rib injury. The Bears are 3-5 and trying to remain in playoff contention after dropping four of five before their bye. No matter what happens the rest of the way, changes could be in store. An offence that ranked among the best in club history in its first season under coach Marc Trestman last year is underachieving, even though all its starters returned. A rebuilt defence isnt performing, and a season that began with high hopes appears to be slipping away. The past two games have been particularly ugly, with receiver Brandon Marshall overheard yelling in the locker room after a loss at home to Miami, and Tom Brady then shredding Chicago in a rout at New England. But its not like the defence was performing the way the Bears envisioned before the Patriots game. Whether its poor execution or poor strategy, its been a struggle all season for Chicago. Poor health hasnt helped, either. The Bears lost defensive end Lamarr Houston to a season-ending knee injury sustained while celebrating a late sack against a backup quarterback in the closing minutes against New England. That was just the latest blow for a team that lost cornerback Charles Tillman to a torn right triceps in September and has been forced to get by at times without other key players. Rib and shoulder injuries have kept Briggs out of 10 games the past two seasons after he missed only four in his first 10 years. The time off hasnt been easy for him. Shoot, I dont know what to do with myself sometimes, he said. Sometimes, I sit in meetings while coaches are talking and sometimes the words kind of just faze out and Im staring at the screen. The only thing I can tell is the time, and Ill look up at the screen and be like, Dang, still got 55 minutes left. Its just been different man, just different. More coaching. But he intends to be in the lineup this week, trying to contain Rodgers. Thats something the Bears were unable to do in late September at Soldier Field. Green Bay scored on its first six possessions and intercepted Jay Cutler twice in the third quarter to pull away for a 38-17 victory. This time, Briggs could be making his final trip to Lambeau Field. I understand this is probably my last year as a Chicago Bear, and this could be the last time I play the Packers, Briggs said. But for me ... I really do enjoy my teammates, and its been unfortunate to watch from the sidelines because I want to see them find success, you know, and any Bear making a play is always a good thing. NOTE: WR Marquess Wilson practiced Wednesday for the first time since he broke his collarbone on Aug. 24, starting the clock on a 21-day window to add him to the active roster. Trestman would not say if Wilson will play this week. Were just going to go one day at a time on this and make sure that hes in the physical kind of condition he needs to be in, Trestman said. Sale Football Jerseys Throwback . - While he appreciates suggestions from Packers fans of remedies for his sore left calf, Aaron Rodgers is not necessarily going to listen to the advice. Football Jerseys Throwback Outlet .C. -- Clemson celebrated a senior class Saturday that brought the program back as a national contender. http://www.cheapfootballthrowback.com/ . Messis father, Jorge Horacio Messi, is apparently still under investigation for an alleged 4 million euros ($5.3 million) in unpaid taxes from Messis image rights from 2007-09. Messis public relations firm confirmed Spanish media reports that the state prosecutor has asked for Messi to be dropped from the investigation that began in June 2013. Clearance Football Jerseys Throwback . Second-seeded Sloane Stephens of the United States made lighter work of her day as she beat 2009 champion and Swiss wild card Timea Bacsinszky 6-3, 6-3. Two seeds fell: No. 4 Kirsten Flipkens of Belgium lost to Katarzyna Piter of Poland 6-4, 6-2, and No. Discount Football Jerseys Throwback . Martin Reway and David Griger both recorded four points with a goal and three assists each. Mario Lunter, Daniel Gachulinec and Stanislav Horansky also scored for Slovakia (1-0). Dominik Kahun had both goals for Germany (0-2), who lost its opening match to Canada 7-2 on Thursday.CHARLOTTE, N.C. - Brooklyn coach Lionel Hollins felt Joe Johnson had a size matchup he could exploit against Gerald Henderson.Johnson, nearly two inches taller and 30 pounds heavier than Henderson, took full advantage.The Nets went to the 13-year NBA veteran in the low post early and often, and Johnson responded with 14 of his 22 points in the first quarter as Brooklyn built a big lead and rolled to an easy 114-87 victory over the Charlotte Hornets on Saturday night.They didnt have a good matchup for Joe, Hollins said. ... They had to come help on him and Joe had it going early.Johnson was 9 of 16 from the field and 4 of 6 from 3-point range as the Nets shot 16 of 23 from beyond the arc as a team.I was trying to be more aggressive and make plays and I got into a little rhythm early, Johnson said. It just tried to ride that wave in the first quarter.The Nets would end up riding it all game, building their lead to 26 points at the end of the third quarter and as many as 34 in the fourth.Brooklyn moved the ball extremely well on offence, finishing with 29 assists while shooting a torrid 16 of 23 from 3-point range. The Nets had 25 assists the night before in an 88-70 win over Philadelphia.That shows that we moving the ball a little better from side-to-side, Hollins said.The Hornets 3-point defence has been sorely lacking of late, allowing opponents to make 62 of 132 attempts over the past six games.Coach Steve Clifford said his undersized team has focused on packing the lane in recent games to help with rebounding, which has contributed to their struggles defending the 3-point shot.It didnt help that the Hornets were coming off a double-overtime loss the night before in Memphis and didnt get back in to Charlotte until the early morning hours.dddddddddddd Clifford said Al Jefferson, in particular, looked tired after playing 45 minutes on Friday night.Deron Williams had 18 points and 10 assists, and Mason Plumlee outplayed Jefferson and finished with 11 points and 13 rebounds for the Nets (10-12), who eclipsed 100 points for the first time in 11 games.Alan Anderson was 4 of 5 from 3-point range and scored 17 points. Anderson and Bojan Bogdanovic combined to shoot 8 of 10 off the bench from 3-point range.Michael Kidd-Gilchrist had 15 points to lead the Hornets (6-17), who shot 36 per cent from the field in their second straight loss.The game was never close.The Nets took control from the onset, jumping out to a 30-12 lead behind Johnson.The Nets often isolated the 6-foot-7, 240-pound Johnson on Henderson in the low post and played through him on nearly every offensive possession. Johnson was 6 of 9 from the field early, twice stepping out beyond the 3-point line to knock down open jumpers.___TIP-INSNets: Kevin Garnett got a night to rest on the second night of a back-to-back. Rookie Cory Jefferson started, as the Nets started their sixth different starting lineup in the last six games.Hornets: The Hornets were the latest team to wear I Cant Breathe shirts during warmups. Charlotte joins a growing list of teams who have shown support for the family of Eric Garner. He died in July when an arresting New York police officer placed him in a chokehold.GOOD FIRST STARTCory Jefferson filled in nicely for Garnett, scoring a career-high 11 points on 5-of-5 shooting.UP NEXTNets: Host Miami on Tuesday night.Hornets: At Cleveland on Monday night. ' ' '