Chris Harris Looks for an Extension..........

July 20, 2011
Harris hopes to sign long-term extension with Bears


By: Larry Mayer | Last Updated: 7/20/2011 12:48 PM



Chris Harris wants to spend the rest of his career with the Bears.

http://www.chicagobears.com/userfile...ris_inside.jpg
All five of Chris Harris' interceptions last year came during the last nine weeks of the regular season.In the latest entry on his online blog at www.hitmanharris.com, the veteran safety writes: “I have one year left on my contract, and I hope there are many more to come in Chicago.
“I want to finish my career here; but, unfortunately, I can’t be promised that will happen at this stage of the game, because my fate lies in the hands of the Bears organization.

“But, I can promise you this: I’m going to keep doing what I’ve been doing throughout the previous six years, which is play my butt off in hopes that we can do what we did back in ’85 all over again.
“How sweet would that be? Maybe if we can get this season up and running we’ll be able to tackle that goal sooner rather than later.”

Harris has played three of his six NFL seasons with the Bears. He spent his first two years in Chicago in 2006-07 before being traded to the Carolina Panthers. Harris was then reacquired on April 27, 2010 and helped solidify the secondary last season, tying for the team lead with five interceptions while also recording 96 tackles and two fumble recoveries

I really hope that we can keep Chris Harris around but with the Bears drafting Wright and Conte you really have to wonder if he figures in their long term plans. Having him back there last year made a huge difference in our pass coverage. We haven't had that kind of play and leadership in the defensive backfield since the days of Mike Brown.

Do someting smart Jerry and sign him to a long contract.

Letting Harris leave the first time was a mistake. I hope we don't make this mistake again.

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Originally Posted by irishways

Letting Harris leave the first time was a mistake. I hope we don't make this mistake again.

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Letting him leave the first time was a mistake, true, but this time may not be such a mistake if he is going to demand big bucks. Conte might just make his contract smaller, then again, we might have to pony up if Conte doesn't meet the hype.

I think Harris can be had at a good price, I don't think it will be an issue. he just want's an extentsion and he doesn't seem like the guy to go wallet raping....

I'm pretty confident we'll get our guys taken care of and grab a top FA, be it a linemen or reciever but I wouldn't hold my breath for both.

Harris can play and we need him. We can't wait for a rookie or injured second year player to step up and fill his shoes.

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Originally Posted by GrizzlyBear91

I think Harris can be had at a good price, I don't think it will be an issue. he just want's an extentsion and he doesn't seem like the guy to go wallet raping....

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I think you're right on with this Grizz. He's saying the same thing that Olin is. Don't play me cheap! Just be fair and you've got me for the duration. I think Harris is really glad to be back in Chicago and with a contender and even if it means taking a little less, a hometown discount of sorts, he'll do it to stay put.

Even if Wright and Conte both turn out to be all that and a bag of chips we can still use Harris. The very fact that we had enough talent at Safety last year for change allowed us to rotate guys to keep them fresh throughout the game and it made a big difference IMO. Harris' experience and leadership would be hard to replace and he's always been good at getting the picks just like Mike Brown was. That alone ought to earn him big points with Lovie.

Its probably all posturing. Since when have the Bears played "cheap" the past few years? They have done 1 of 3 things:

-Spent big bucks getting talent (Cutler, Peppers)
-Taken care of their own (Urlacher extension, first to sign draft picks every year)
-or simply passed altogether (way too many "Bears should get this FA!!" only to see that player bust with his new team)

I cant even recall the last time a Bears player has accused the Front Office of being cheap with them or their contract.

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Originally Posted by Jimmors

Its probably all posturing. Since when have the Bears played "cheap" the past few years? They have done 1 of 3 things:

-Spent big bucks getting talent (Cutler, Peppers)
-Taken care of their own (Urlacher extension, first to sign draft picks every year)
-or simply passed altogether (way too many "Bears should get this FA!!" only to see that player bust with his new team)

I cant even recall the last time a Bears player has accused the Front Office of being cheap with them or their contract.

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Just a figure of speech Jimmors. I don't mean litterally that as a team they're cheap. What I'm getting at is that the Bears offered Manning a 3 year deal for around $6 mil, or about $2 mil per year. The franchise salary for a Safety is about $6.5 mil so by that comparison what the Bears offered Manning may be a bit under market for someone with his experience and combined skills. I think he'll have no trouble getting more elsewhere.

Now comes Chris Harris who had a career year last year and was a second team All-Pro. Do you offer him a similar amount knowing full well that Manning, who was not as highly rated, turned that figure down? If Chris Harris has another year this year like he had last I think the Bears will have a tough time keeping him around for as little as that. The question is do they see Harris as an important cog in our pass defense and are they willing to cut him a deal that will allow him to spend the rest of his career in Chicago?

If so that will probably cost them more than an average of $2 mil per year. I'm not saying he gets a $30 mil deal but $6 mil over 3 years probably won't get it done. Personally I think it'll have to be twice that at least.