Nam Y. Huh / AP

Chicago Bears linebacker Lance Briggs will become an unrestricted free agent at the end of this month.

The NFL is investigating the San Francisco 49ers on a tampering charge made by the Chicago Bears that centers around last season's trade talks for linebacker Lance Briggs, according to Yahoo.com.

Chicago and San Francisco discussed a trade in October that would have sent Briggs to the 49ers. The Bears’ grievance claims San Francisco held contract talks with Briggs' agent, Drew Rosenhaus, during the season, thus interfering with a player under contract.

The 49ers say they first talked with the Bears about a possible deal, then contacted Rosenhaus about signing Briggs to a new contract. Because Briggs was tabbed as a franchise player by Chicago before the 2007 season and didn’t reach a long-term deal before the league's July deadline, he was not eligible to sign a new contract, even if he was traded.

San Francisco ended its trade talks shortly thereafter.

Briggs is scheduled to become an unrestricted free agent at the end of this month.

If the 49ers are found to have tampered, they could be fined or lose a draft pick.

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