Thread: A Deadly Linebacker Duo-a breakdown bears LB

Originally Posted by Dagan81

I can't see them not resigning Chris Harris. The guy was a second team All-Pro this last season, and as such, deserves to remain with the Bears for as long as he is productive. I would see Conte replacing Manning before I would Harris.

The dilemna the Bears have with Chris Harris will be where to find a place for him as a starter. Despite his 2010 performance he'll be challenged by both Major Wright as a SS and Chris Conte as a FS. If these guy step up it will be tough to keep them on the bench given where they were drafted. Another factor is what happens with Danieal Manning. If Manning excepts the Bears offer and re-signs it may be even more difficult to retain Harris.

Don't get me wrong. I'd love to keep him for his leadership if nothing else. That defensive backfield hasn't come together like that since the days of Mike Brown. Harris is a smart ballplayer but a bit of an overachiever who relies more on his instincts than he does any imposing physical skills. If we were able to keep all four of these guys I think we'd have the best group of safeties we've had in many a moon. Unfortunately that may not be possible and if Manning returns on a three year deal we may not be able to afford Harris.

He may be intriguing as trade bait though coming of his performance last year. If we can't see him re-signing we'd be better off to pick up a draft pick for him than to let him go completely.

Originally Posted by soulman

The dilemna the Bears have with Chris Harris will be where to find a place for him as a starter. Despite his 2010 performance he'll be challenged by both Major Wright as a SS and Chris Conte as a FS. If these guy step up it will be tough to keep them on the bench given where they were drafted. Another factor is what happens with Danieal Manning. If Manning excepts the Bears offer and re-signs it may be even more difficult to retain Harris.

Don't get me wrong. I'd love to keep him for his leadership if nothing else. That defensive backfield hasn't come together like that since the days of Mike Brown. Harris is a smart ballplayer but a bit of an overachiever who relies more on his instincts than he does any imposing physical skills. If we were able to keep all four of these guys I think we'd have the best group of safeties we've had in many a moon. Unfortunately that may not be possible and if Manning returns on a three year deal we may not be able to afford Harris.

He may be intriguing as trade bait though coming of his performance last year. If we can't see him re-signing we'd be better off to pick up a draft pick for him than to let him go completely.

Call me crazy, but I'm a little partial to Chris Harris. I actually wrote him a message telling him thanks for all that he does for the Bears and for helping me get through a rough patch in my life. He took the time to write me back on Facebook to encourage me to keep working hard toward my goals and to wish me the best of luck. He is the kind of guy this team needs to keep, if not because he's an All-Pro, then because he's a very nice guy and a good role model to children.

Originally Posted by Dagan81

Call me crazy, but I'm a little partial to Chris Harris. I actually wrote him a message telling him thanks for all that he does for the Bears and for helping me get through a rough patch in my life. He took the time to write me back on Facebook to encourage me to keep working hard toward my goals and to wish me the best of luck. He is the kind of guy this team needs to keep, if not because he's an All-Pro, then because he's a very nice guy and a good role model to children.

Oh, I couldn't agree with you more Dags. I love Harris and what he brings to the team both with his play and his leadership. The defensive backfield took a quantum leap forward when he returned. All I was saying is that he may be the victim of a numbers game if Manning re-signs a 3 or 4 year deal with the Bears.

You have to figure that the Bears have Conte pegged as their FS of the future and if he measures up he'll play. I don't think they took a 3rd round shot at him unless they felt he had the qualities to become a starter. If that happens and you have Major Wright rotating in relief of both Manning and Conte where do you play Harris?

One of the problems is that given his experience and abilites Harris won't be cheap to retain after this year so can we afford what both he and Manning would cost to keep knowing that one or the other may well end up as a backup?

Originally Posted by soulman

Oh, I couldn't agree with you more Dags. I love Harris and what he brings to the team both with his play and his leadership. The defensive backfield took a quantum leap forward when he returned. All I was saying is that he may be the victim of a numbers game if Manning re-signs a 3 or 4 year deal with the Bears.

You have to figure that the Bears have Conte pegged as their FS of the future and if he measures up he'll play. I don't think they took a 3rd round shot at him unless they felt he had the qualities to become a starter. If that happens and you have Major Wright rotating in relief of both Manning and Conte where do you play Harris?

One of the problems is that given his experience and abilites Harris won't be cheap to retain after this year so can we afford what both he and Manning would cost to keep knowing that one or the other may well end up as a backup?

We would be foolish not to at least find a way to keep him. The man was a turnover-recovering machine last season. With Manning and Harris, we had one of the best S tandems in the NFL last year. The only weak link in the secondary was Tim Jennings. I wouldn't sign Harris to more than a three year deal simply because you want to develop Conte and Wright further and allow them time to further adjust to the pro game. We have probably the single best S tandem in the NFC for sure. If we can fill the hole where Tim Jennings hasn't adequately adapted to his role of WCB (I hope I'm not getting too directionally challenged here), we have the opportunity to give up few than 200 passing yards per game for the first time since 2006.

But you still have the issue of where he plays if both Conte and Wright become starters. Any Safety you draft in the third should have the skills to become one. Then you have an afordability issue if Manning comes back. You can't pay two guys vet starter bucks and let them sit or just backup and you can't keep young guys like Wright and Conte playing ST's forever either.

If Manning sets his course for a distant shore then Harris will be around. If not it's iffy.

Originally Posted by soulman

But you still have the issue of where he plays if both Conte and Wright become starters. Any Safety you draft in the third should have the skills to become one. Then you have an afordability issue if Manning comes back. You can't pay two guys vet starter bucks and let them sit or just backup and you can't keep young guys like Wright and Conte playing ST's forever either.

If Manning sets his course for a distant shore then Harris will be around. If not it's iffy.

I would rather have Harris over Manning any day.

Originally Posted by dabears54

harris is getting older, i'd def not give him a 3 yr deal..and as Soul said, you need to fidn room for Wright/conte.. uless harris doesn't mind not being a starter- hard to see him coming back after 2011

You would have Harris on the bench even if he put up another All-Pro season in 2011? I'm not saying he will, but if does, it's going to be awfully hard to get him out of the lineup. The last time we traded him because of frugality and for the purpose of developing another S, we languished for three years around .500 because we were completely inept at the point in the secondary. Who is to say that Major Wright and Chris Conte are going to be as good as Harris?