SANTA CLARA – Patrick Willis and Lance Briggs side by side in the 49ers' linebacking corps? That combination seemed so likely last year that Briggs and Willis sat down together at the 2008 Pro Bowl to talk about the possibilities.

"I thought it was a done deal," Briggs said Tuesday on a conference call. "I thought when the trade was offered, I didn't think I'd be back in a Chicago Bears uniform."

The 49ers' pursuit of Briggs, The Bee's 1998 prep football Player of the Year out of Elk Grove High School, ultimately led to tampering charges by the Bears and an investigation by the league.

In 2008, Commissioner Roger Goodell ruled that the 49ers illegally made contact with Briggs' agent, Drew Rosenhaus. The 49ers were docked a fifth-round draft pick that April and were forced to switch third-round picks with the Bears.

At the time, Briggs was unhappy with the Bears and vowed that he would never play another snap for Chicago.

The courtship by the 49ers began before the trade deadline in 2007. Briggs on Tuesday said the 49ers offered the Bears a first-round pick for Briggs. Even when the 49ers pulled out of the deal before the deadline, Briggs figured San Francisco would snap him up when the free-agency period opened in late February.

"That was what all the analysts said," Briggs said. "Plus my agent said, 'Hey, you're going to be a Niner.' "

The tampering charges, however, scared away the 49ers, while another suitor, the Saints, ended up signing another free-agent linebacker, Jonathan Vilma, instead. So Briggs ended up re-signing with the Bears. With Brian Urlacher out for the season with a wrist injury, Briggs has become the centerpiece of Chicago's defense.

"It would have been great," said Briggs of the prospect of joining the 49ers. "I mean, it would have been nice to play next to Patrick. We set up a talk with each other at the Pro Bowl, and we talked about that a little bit, that we were excited to get a chance to play with each other. But that's life. Life works in mysterious ways. I'm back here with all my boys, and we just have to move on."

Fighting words – The Bears might want to clear some space on their locker-room cork board. Asked about the Chicago defense Tuesday, 49ers team captain Vernon Davis said he wasn't impressed.

"I think we can destroy their front," Davis said. "I don't see anything spectacular about their front line. Their linebackers, I think we can handle them pretty well."

Later Davis conceded that he respected defensive lineman Adewale Ogunleye and linebacker Briggs.

Briggs returned the compliment.

"Eighty-five's having a great year," he said. "You know, he shows up on film a lot. A lot. He's in position to get the ball thrown to him in tough coverages, and he's still coming up with the ball, getting in the end zone."

Who wins the matchup when Briggs has to cover Davis? Briggs cited his four Pro Bowl appearances in answering the question.

"I've been in the league going on seven years," he said. "So at some point the savvy and the know-how start to take over."

Ankle issue – Offensive coordinator Jimmy Raye said wide receiver Jason Hill's playing time Thursday depends on how well veteran Isaac Bruce was recovering from an ankle injury.

Bruce originally sprained the ankle Oct. 4 and aggravated it in the second quarter Sunday. He also hurt his knee on the play. Bruce said the injuries were "not a real big deal."

Read Matthew Barrows' archives and blogs at www.sacbee.com/sf49ers.