Lance Briggs has escalated his situation with the Chicago Bears at a difficult time for the franchise.

The six-time Pro Bowl linebacker has formally requested to be traded with nine days to go until the start of the regular season. Briggs is unhappy with his contract – a $36 million, six-year deal he is halfway through – and he wants out after a holding a meeting with general manager Jerry Angelo.

"The Bears made their decision, now I have to make mine," Briggs told Vaughn McClure of the Chicago 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."

Agent Drew Rosenhaus sent an email to contract negotiator Cliff Stein informing him of Briggs’ desire. He is scheduled to earn $3.65 million this season. His salary climbs to $3.75 million in 2012 and caps out at $6.25 million in 2013. The contract he has was frontloaded and now that the big money has been paid out, he’s scratching for more.

Briggs was going to wait until after the season to seek a trade until his meeting with Angelo. Something prompted him to speed things up. Now, like it or not, the Bears have a major distraction for their locker room.

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Brad Biggs covers the Bears for the Chicago Tribune