NFL - Sports Rumors

Thu Apr 10, 2008 12:54 pm EDT

Talks between Harris, Bears break off

By Joe Zedalis

Tommie Harris, Stephen Peterman

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There were no fireworks when contract talks between Drew Rosenhaus and the Chicago Bears broke off Wednesday. Just because they didn't reach a new deal for defensive tackle Tommie Harris doesn't mean it's not a possibility, as well as a priority for the Bears. It just might take some time. Extensions for players under contract are always a delicate issue.

The Bears are believed to have offered Harris more than the record-setting seven-year, $50.5 million contract Tommy Kelly received from the Oakland Raiders earlier this offseason according to the Chicago Sun-Times. But how the money was structured in the offer is unknown, and Harris is justified in asking to be the highest-paid defensive tackle in the league. For now at least, he's expected to continue participating in the conditioning program that began Monday.

Harris said playing in Chicago is important to him, but after being selected to three Pro Bowls in four seasons, his goal is to be paid among the elite in the game.

Source: Chicago Sun-TimesNew Window

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49 Comments

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  1. Pokey
    1. Posted by Pokey Thu Sep 03, 2009 4:19 pm EDT

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    I am a die hard bears fan. and i am really getting fustrated with our front office. we really really need to sign tommie harris. over the pass 2 years our front office has dismantled the entire team. mush, berrian, t. jones, tank, defensive coordinator rivera, and the super bowl. but they keep rex gross-man and cedric ben-son. we almost lost briggs last season. now it's a possibility we lose harris. i'm already preparing for a 4 and 12 season......
  2. Stephen S
    2. Posted by Stephen S Thu Sep 03, 2009 3:44 pm EDT

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    Losing Jones hurt 'em more than those other guys Pokey, but the rest are currently overpaid role players somewhere else now. $42 million for Berrian is a joke. I know are recievers are terrible but payin that much for a guy who's never had a 1,000 yard season is totally unjusifiable. Harris and Urlacher need to be paid though. That sends the right message to the locker room.
  3. Johosiphat
    3. Posted by Johosiphat Thu Sep 03, 2009 4:39 pm EDT

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    He should get more than Kelly. I've been a Raiders fan all my life and I think that contract they gave Kelly was possibly the dumbest personnel move the Raiders have ever made...How can you give $50 million to a DT who is not even one of the top 10 DT's in the league, and is coming off a torn ACL????
  4. the shark
    4. Posted by the shark Thu Sep 03, 2009 8:10 pm EDT

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    Oh Tommie boy....hes injury proned,but I would take him here in Philly if he gets let loose....Philly has struggled to find solid d-linemen over the last bunch of years....come to Philly,silly!!
  5. Stephen S
    5. Posted by Stephen S Thu Sep 03, 2009 3:44 pm EDT

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    They overpaid Kelly bigtime considering he's comin back from a serious injury. I think Al Davis just wanted to spend some money and make some moves so he can justify firing Kiffin at the end of the year with little protest. Davis spent lots of money but not on anything worth the return for what he paid.
  6. Katie S
    6. Posted by Katie S Thu Sep 03, 2009 2:54 pm EDT

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    I completely agree with Pokey up there. If it weren't for the D we'd have a 4-12 season. PLEASE keep the defence in tact.
  7. KENNY
    7. Posted by KENNY Thu Sep 03, 2009 6:56 pm EDT

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    Come to the SAINTS!!!!!!!!!!!!
  8. Stephen S
    8. Posted by Stephen S Thu Sep 03, 2009 3:44 pm EDT

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    Because of injuries last year, statistically, we were bottom 5 in the league in total defense on paper..............we were still 7-9. The bears can and will win the north this year. They do need to resign Harris and Urlacher. However, if they don't add any more offensive lineman we could lose every game 3-0 unless Hester breaks one loose!!
  9. GC In Texas
    9. Posted by GC In Texas Thu Sep 03, 2009 10:25 pm EDT

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    Keep Tommie Harris happy. He and Urlacher need to get paid and brought into camp on time.
  10. Time to overhaul
    10. Posted by Time to overhaul Thu Sep 03, 2009 3:12 pm EDT

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    Tommie isn't going anywhere. Chicago sports radio has been discussing the necessity for re-signing Harris for over a year. Everyone knows what he means to the team and the deal will get done. Even Jerry Angelo said that he believed in taking care of our own first. Don't sweat it - Harris will remain a BEAR. Is there a reason the BEARS weren't all that active in free agency? The answer is Tommie Harris!
  11. Rick
    11. Posted by Rick Thu Sep 03, 2009 9:30 pm EDT

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    The guy is injury prone; his contract should be high, but tied to games played.
  12. irishfish
    12. Posted by irishfish Thu Sep 03, 2009 3:11 pm EDT

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    They need to get the Harris deal done, as for Urlacher he is signed through 2011 I believe, I think our needs other places should be a head of redoing Urlacher at this time. These players who sign these contracts need to honor them.
  13. Derek M
    13. Posted by Derek M Thu Sep 03, 2009 7:13 pm EDT

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    harris is a top 2 DT he is very important to those lb's if the bears wont pony up plz god let him be a cowboy
  14. maxjsl37
    14. Posted by maxjsl37 Thu Sep 03, 2009 7:12 pm EDT

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    3 PRO-BOWLS in 4 seasons and wants to be paid like other elite players in this league? Why ask why? Just do it! The BEARS front office shouldn't be asking themselves if it's the right thing to do.... They should be drafting up a new "ELITE PLAYERS" contract and having him sign it....PERIOD!!!!!!! Defense wins championships and if the BEARS feel that Tommie Harris is not part of that mix then let him go! Then we can all watch the BEARS fall to the dismal depths of the NFC central. Maybe there are some perks to being at the bottom of the NFC that we as fans don't know about. Maybe they spent to much on Rex Grooseman(not a type-o) and Brandon(I can't catch a pass to save my life) Llyod. If that is the case then the BEARS have seriously become the Detriot Lions in just 1 offseason!
  15. maxjsl37
    15. Posted by maxjsl37 Thu Sep 03, 2009 7:12 pm EDT

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    Don't even get me started on Brian Urlacher!
  16. Collins
    16. Posted by Collins Thu Sep 03, 2009 4:48 pm EDT

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    They're not going to let Harris go, just like they weren't going to let Briggs go. Briggs and Rosenhaus were the guys making the stink last year, and Angelo was cool as a cucumber.
    To complain about losing the overrated Muhsin Muhammad, the way-overpaid Bernard Berrian, trouble-maker Tank is hilarious. Watch the games. Berrian is the only one of those three that matter, but $42 mill is too much.
    Listen to Stephen S above. The Bears looked TERRIBLE for the bulk of last year, and STILL won seven games! Now they'll get a last-place schedule for finishing in the North's basement. The playoffs aren't out of reach.
  17. The Commish
    17. Posted by The Commish Thu Sep 03, 2009 4:06 pm EDT

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    Urlacher can wait ! He signed thru 2011 and now cries poor mouth ! Sign Harris and lets work on the O-line. Brian's neck surgery may be more of a problem than he is leading the team to believe ! 1 more year to make sure this isn't the case would be a smart move. They might as well start saving some money for Hester before that comes around !!
  18. Da Bear
    18. Posted by Da Bear Thu Sep 03, 2009 9:48 pm EDT

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    In matter of time it will be done and he will stay in Chicago just like with Briggs.
  19. The Unsilent Majority
    19. Posted by The Unsilent Majority Thu Sep 03, 2009 10:01 pm EDT

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    Caption:
    "Stop stepping on my feet, or we'll never get on Dancing With the Stars."
  20. 88ron
    20. Posted by 88ron Thu Sep 03, 2009 8:47 pm EDT

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    Bears throw nickels around like there man hole covers
  21. anthony m
    21. Posted by anthony m Thu Sep 03, 2009 3:00 pm EDT

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    Pokey #2 poster.....
    it is well known even a huge Bears fan Mike Wilbon of PTI says that the bears are historically the cheapest organization in all of sports...ALL OF SPORTS!!!
    until Virginia mckaskey kicks the bucket this team WILL be cheap. i believe the Son is set to take over and he has said that he will spend money that was previously never done. SO HOPEFULLY she dies soon!!!
  22. pretender8505
    22. Posted by pretender8505 Thu Sep 03, 2009 8:18 pm EDT

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    they better both be re-signed...between harris, urlacher, and briggs..they are the cornerstones of our defense..we got briggs locked in long term, lock these two guys in til 2015..period. not sure what the average lifespan is on linebackers..but urlacher is friggen good when the rest of the team lifts their weight
  23. PB
    23. Posted by PB Thu Sep 03, 2009 8:04 pm EDT

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    Tommie has played great for DA BEARS but we need to see how the injury will affect him. Let him play this year and if he's back to the ol Tommie then give him the money$$$
    As far as Mr. Urlacher...honor thy contract. I never heard MICHAEL JORDON want to renegotiate his contract and he was HUGHLY underpaid. And what about the 16 or so mil that BU got just for signing his contract. I'm tired of th gimme gimme of today's players...boo hoo mr urlacher boo hoo
  24. TKO
    24. Posted by TKO Thu Sep 03, 2009 10:16 pm EDT

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    If the Bears get 2 good O-linemen in the draft and maybe add one more WR, offensively the Bears will surprise some teams. A good O-line means more protection for Benson and Grossman. More protection for Grossman means more passing yards and more protection for Benson mean higher rushing YPC.

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