Kevin Mitchell, former NFL linebacker, died in his sleep at the age of 36.

The Washington Redskins and Chicago Bears have rekindled talks under which the Bears would trade Pro Bowl linebacker Lance Briggs to the Redskins, NFL sources said yesterday.

Georgia Tech wide receiver Calvin Johnson is considered by many teams to be the best player available in the draft, and the Redskins are very high on him as well, sources said, mulling over options to trade up to get him (the team has shopped cornerback Shawn Springs to Detroit, which has the second overall pick, again in recent weeks).

A proposed trade sending Chicago Bears linebacker Lance Briggs to the Redskins is on the ropes after the Bears turned down Washington's proposed swap of draft picks.

The Washington Redskins' proposed trade for Chicago linebacker Lance Briggs will reach a secondary stage on Monday when the Bears are expected to counter the Redskins' offer of the team's sixth overall pick in next month's draft in return for Chicago's 31st pick and Briggs.

The Bears weren't enamored with the Redskins' tactics last week, with Washington going public with its trade offer for disgruntled linebacker Lance Briggs before presenting the offer formally to Chicago.