Yardbarker: Tommie Harris

Commissioner Roger Goodell to Be First American Sports League Exec to Visit Iraq

Tue, 08 Jul 2008 09:13:37 -0500

The NFL announced Monday that Commissioner Roger Goodell, joined by New Orleans Saints quarterback Drew Brees and New York Giants defensive end Osi Mumenyiora, will soon leave on a seven-day, three-country summer USO tour led by the Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, Admiral Mike Mullen. It will be the first time that the commissioner of a sports league visits U.S. troops overseas as part of a USO tour, according to the USO. At the request of Commissioner Goodell, Brees and Umenyiora will join the tour along with other participants invited by Admiral Mullen, including two members of the Dallas Cowboys Cheerleaders. "It is a great honor to have been asked to join Admiral Mullen on this USO tour," said Commissioner Goodell. "I anticipate that it will be a very humbling and memorable experience. I am inspired by the many NFL representatives that, over the decades, have volunteered to visit our troops overseas and have talked about it being a life-changing experience. I want to do my part and emphasize that the entire NFL appreciates and supports the work that our military does to protect our country." The NFL has partnered with the USO for more than 40 years. According to the NFL the league "was the first sports organization to send players to visit troops in Vietnam when future Pro Football Hall of Famers Wille Davis, Frank Gifford, Sam Huff and Johnny Unitas went there and to other parts of the Far East in 1966. Earlier this year, three NFL players – defensive linemen Luis Castillo of San Diego , Tommie Harris of Chicago and Mike Rucker of Carolina – took a week-long NFL-USO tour to Kyrgyzstan and Afghanistan to support the soldiers." For the two NFL players accompanying Commissioner Goodell, this will be their second time overseas this offseason on goodwill trips. Brees, the co-winner of the 2006 Walter Payton NFL Man of the Year Award who has produced the first two 4,000-yard passing seasons in Saints history, visited Okinawa on a USO tour this spring. While on those Pacific beaches, Brees talked by phone to his grandfather, who had landed as a U.S. Marine on those same beaches more than 60 years ago and participated in some of the heaviest fighting in World War II. Umenyiora, who led the Giants in sacks (13.0) last season while helping the club to its Super Bowl XLII title, joined four other NFL players – Ahman Green (Houston), Isreal Idondie (Chicago), Adewale Ogunleye (Chicago) and Amobi Okoye (Houston) -- this spring on a humanitarian mission to Nigeria to help set up college scholarships at 10 universities, distribute HIV testing kits to clinics, dig water wells in villages, and outfit a youth soccer team. Source: National Football LeagueOTHER NEWS ACROSS THE BUSINESS OF SPORTS NETWORK Linkin Park, MLB Properties Hook-up For 3rd Year - The Biz of Baseball Wrigley Field It Is: NHL Outdoor Classic in Chicago Jan. 1 - The Biz of Baseball Passing Gas? Rays, Hess to Give Away $5 Cards on July 18 - The Biz of Baseball All-Star Game Starters, Reserves, and Pitchers Announced - The Biz of Baseball 214.7 Million Votes Cast Online for All-Star Game - The Biz of Baseball Is the Ed Wade/Shawn Chacon Altercation a First? - The Biz of BaseballYou Really Like Me! Rays See Highest TV Ratings Ever - The Biz of Baseball Cellphone to Throw Away at the All-Star Game - The Biz of Baseball Six GMs on the Hot Seat - The Biz of Baseball Chicago's Wrigley Field to Host Next Outdoor Classic on New Years Day - The Biz of Hockey Jaromir Jagr First Major NHL Player to Crossover to Continental Hockey League - The Biz of Hockey Free Agent Signings - July 1, 2008 - The Biz of Hockey NHL Free Agent Listing As of July 1, 2008 - The Biz of Hockey Ducks owner Henry Samueli Suspended by NHL - The Biz of Hockey NHL 2K9, First Officially Licensed Game by NHL and NHLPA for Wii, Coming this Fall - The Biz of Hockey Dion Phaneuf Selected for Cover of EA Sports "NHL 09" - The Biz of Hockey Bryan Perez Named Senior VP and General Manager of NBA Digital - The Biz of Basketball Narcissist Alert: Former NBAer Doug Christie and Wife Jackie Announce They'll Get Married for 13th Time - The Biz of Basketball A Drop in the Bucket: Why the Settlement between the Sonics and Seattle will See Bennett Making $$$ - The Biz of Basketball NBA Opening Stores in China Next Month. Using Olympics to Boost Interest - The Biz of Basketball TNT Lands Full Slate of Sponsors For "Wide Open Coverage" Telecasts - Maury Brown's Biz of Sports Maury Brown is the Founder and President of the Business of Sports Network, which includes The Biz of Baseball, The Biz of Football, The Biz of Basketball and The Biz of Hockey. He is contributor to Baseball Prospectus, and is available as a freelance writer.Brown's full bio is here. He looks forward to your comments via email and can be contacted through the Business of Sports Network.

Bears Sign Three More Draft Picks

Wed, 02 Jul 2008 00:13:17 -0500

The Chicago Bears have come to terms with three more draft picks, third-round defensive tackle Marcus Harrison, third-round receiver Earl Bennett, and fifth-round cornerback Zackary Bowman. I don't have any confirmation for dollar amounts, but they have all agreed to four year deals. So far the Bears have been able to sign every draft choice except the two major picks, first-round tackle Chris Williams and second-rounder Matt Forte. There is no word on negotiations and thus far the Bears have handled things very quietly. It appears the organization would rather handle the veteran issues of Tommie Harris, Brian Urlacher, and Devin Hester before locking up their their top two rookies. Neither Williams or Forte has given any indication of troubles and both have been participating in off-season workouts. As training camp approaches the spotlight might begin to focus on the need to secure both players to a solid deal that will reward them and keep them in town. While they are not top draft picks, both players have to know that they are expected to be starters immediately and I'm sure they will want to be compensated. Given the Bears need at tackle and running back, I don't think they will have much trouble giving each a substantial contract.

Read It And Weep, Prisco

Tue, 01 Jul 2008 22:49:48 -0500

I loved Prisco's top 50, but there were definite faults in it. Even though he did a great job tackling the Brady v. Manning topic, some of his picks were, how do you say, questionable. Here is my attempt at naming the top 50 players in the NFL. With 1696 players on the active roster, cutting it down to 50 is tough, but here I go. 1. Tom Brady/QB/New England Patriots (Prisco Ranking-1): Ugh. I hate this. I hate putting Brady at number one. 50 touchdown passes does qualify him for this spot though. This doesn't feel right. Do I have to put Patriots players on my list? 2. Peyton Manning/QB/Indianapolis Colts (Prisco-2): Ah, this feels better. Manning in his downyear through for more than 4,000 yards and 30 touchdowns, got his team a first-round bye while missing his top wide receiver for most of the year. Scary to think of what he can do with the whole team in his "great" years. 3. Randy Moss/WR/New England Patriots (Prisco-4): When he's not bumping traffic cops, he's pushing off of cornerbacks and safeties to break the receiving touchdowns in a season record (although that title is complete bogus). He should do well again this year, but not 20+ touchdowns. 4. LaDanian Tomlinson/RB/San Diego Chargers (Prisco-3): LDT is a Hall of Fame running back, but there are other backs in the league that are catching up to him. Tomlinson can do it all: run, catch, and even pass. He's the definition of an all-around back. 5. Bob Sanders/S/Indianapolis Colts (Prisco-7): Sanders is definitely the best defender in the league. No other defensive player changes a game in the way that Sanders does. We've all seen what the Colts did on defense in 2007 as opposed to the Sanders-less 2006. 6. Jared Allen/DE/Minnesota Vikings (Prisco-12): Legal matters aside, Allen has moved into the category of a healthy Julius Peppers and Dwight Freeney as the game's premier pass rushers. He got 15.5 sacks in 14 games last year. It is crazy to put him out of the top 10. 7. Antonio Cromartie/CB/San Diego Chargers (Prisco-NR): I have no idea how Antonio Cromartie was not ranked by Prisco. Cromartie led the league in interceptions, returned a missed field goal for a touchdown, and he recovered 2 fumbles. He was definitely the best corner in the league last year. 8. Adrian Peterson/RB/Minnesota Vikings (Prisco-15): Peterson exploded onto the scene last season, running for over 1300 yards, leading the league in rushing yards per game, and taking home the Offensive Rookie of the Year award. 9. DeMarcus Ware/OLB/Dallas Cowboys (Prisco-9): Last season, Ware had the best season of his career. He had career-highs in sacks and tackles, and he is only going to improve. 10. Walter Jones/OT/Seattle Seahawks (Prisco-16): Even though the Seahawks have no offensive weapons, the Seahawks have a top 10 offense. How is it possible? This man is the reason why. 11. Nnamdi Asomugha/CB/Oakland Raiders (Prisco-29) 12. Brian Westbrook/RB/Philadelphia Eagles (Prisco-20) 13. Reggie Wayne/WR/Indianapolis Colts (Prisco-22) 14. Steve Hutchinson/OG/Minnesota Vikings (Prisco-19) 15. Albert Haynesworth/DT/Tennessee Titans (Prisco-14) 16. Terrell Owens/WR/Dallas Cowboys (Prisco-13) 17. Jeff Saturday/C/Indianapolis Colts (Prisco-NR) 18. Champ Bailey/CB/Denver Broncos (Prisco-5) 19. Shawne Merriman/OLB/San Diego Chargers (Prisco-11) 20. Kevin Williams/DT/Minnesota Vikings (Prisco-10) 21. Dwight Freeney/DE/Indianapolis Colts (Prisco-25) 22. Ed Reed/S/Baltimore Ravens (Prisco-23) 23. Jason Peters/OT/Buffalo Bills (Prisco-27) 24. Richard Seymour/DE/New England Patriots (Prisco-30) 25. Braylon Edwards/WR/Cleveland Browns (Prisco-34) 26. Devin Hester/RS/Chicago Bears (Prisco-50) 27. Andre Johnson/WR/Houston Texans (Prisco-26) 28. Chad Johnson/WR/Cincinnati Bengals (Prisco-28) 29. Asante Samuel/CB/Philadelphia Eagles (Prisco-37) 30. Patrick Willis/MLB/San Francisco 49ers (Prisco-43) 31. Antonio Gates/TE/San Diego Chargers (Prisco-24) 32. Osi Umenyiora/DE/New York Giants (Prisco-42) 33. Tony Romo/QB/Dallas Cowboys (Prisco-NR) 34. Tony Gonzalez/TE/Kansas City Chiefs (Prisco-46) 35. Steven Jackson/RB/St. Louis Rams (Prisco-33) 36. Patrick Kerney/DE/Seattle Seahawks (Prisco-NR) 37. Mario Williams/DE/Houston Texans (Prisco-6) 38. Ernie Sims/OLB/Detroit Lions (Prisco-39) 39. Larry Fitzgerald/WR/Arizona Cardinals (Prisco-31) 40. Ben Roethlisberger/QB/Pittsburgh Steelers (Prisco-17) 41. Lofa Tatupa/MLB/Seattle Seahawks (Prisco-40) 42. Adrian Wilson/S/Arizona Cardinals (Prisco-NR) 43. Shawn Andrews/OG/Philadelphia Eagles (Prisco-38) 44. Tommie Harris/DT/Chicago Bears (Prisco-36) 45. Pat Williams/DT/Minnesota Vikings (Prisco-NR) 46. Aaron Kampman/DE/Green Bay Packers (Prisco-45) 47. Drew Brees/QB/New Orleans Saints (Prisco-35) 48. Brian Urlacher/MLB/Chicago Bears (Prisco-32) 49. Larry Johnson/RB/Kansas City Chiefs (Prisco-NR) 50. Plaxico Burress/WR/New York Giants (Prisco-NR) Unranked Players On My List That Are On Prisco's List: Carson Palmer (8) Charles Woodson (18) Steve Smith (21) Vince Wilfork (41) Kellen Winslow (44) Marcus Trufant (47) Wes Welker (48) Fred Taylor (49)

Can The Bears Reach The Super Bowl?

Mon, 23 Jun 2008 17:00:26 -0500

I bet that headline caught your attention. Despite the consistent success of a few franchises, the NFL has become a very unpredictable place. The rollar coaster ride has become particularly bumpy in the NFC with an ever changing fight for dominance. The era of the mid-90's when Dallas and San Francisco made the NFC Championship a better game than the Super Bowl is over. A new team will likely be crowned NFC Champion this year. This is my explanation for how the Bears can get there. Establish The Running Game Believe it or not, the Bears may have done themselves a favor getting rid of Cedric Benson. He was never able to translate his success in college to success in the NFL. The Bears kept giving him second chances because they wasted a high first round draft pick on him and were hoping to get a little production for their wasted money. With Benson out of the way it paves the way for rookie Matt Forte and veteran Adrian Peterson. Between the two they pose a better chance for the Bears to establish a running game than wasting more time hoping Benson would produce. Coach Lovie Smith recently said that he likes the Bears running back depth chart and they don't see a need to pursue a free agent running back. Quarterback Rex Grossman looks like he's running sand when he's scrambling in the pocket, but he throws a beautiful deep ball off play action. If the Bears have a running game, they can produce some big plays. D-FENCE Last year the offense got most of the attention as the reason the Bears lots. Let's get something straight right now, the Bears never have and never will pretend to be an offensive team. They preach defense and then more defense. Last year the entire defense got banged up, losing both starting cornerbacks, safety Mike Brown, and Tommie Harris played with a bad knee the entire season. The return of a healthy defense could quickly return the Bears to dominance quicker than critics believe. The Bears defense got them to the Super Bowl two years ago when all they had on offense was Thomas Jones and a chance-taking Rex Grossman. This defensive unit can create turnovers, score touchdowns, and win games all by itself. If the injury bug can stay off their backs this season, the results may look much different than last year. The X-Factor: Devin Hester Last season, the Bears offense was so pathetic that opposing teams were willing to kickoff out-of-bounds and give the Bears the ball on the 40-yard line rather than kick to Devin Hester. I can tell you from sitting in the stands and watching him on the field, he is the fastest, most ellusive man I have ever seen. The Bears have talked about letting Hester sit out some kickoffs so he can focus more of his energy on playing wide receiver. Everyone is holding their breath to see how this experiment works out for the offense. Last season Hester looked confused after leaving the huddle and frequently had to be reminded his assignment by a fellow receiver, usually Muhsin Muhammed. Hester has had a full season to study the playbook and if he can make an impact on offense he will offer an immediate spark to ignite scoring. The quarterback just has to get the ball in Hester's hands and he can carve up the defense on his own. If the offense can produce, they will either be able to take advantage of the great field position, or teams will have to kick to Hester. Either option works in the Bears favor. A Deep Pass To……Who? The Bears decided the offense needed to go in a new direction this season. Last year they got a very talented tight end in Greg Olsen who can run and block and this year they picked up a top tackle in Chris Williams to solidify the line. Everyone already knows about the running back situation, but the wide receiver corps is a complete unknown. The top 2 receivers from last season, Muhsin Muhammed and Bernard Berrian, are gone and in are Marty Booker, Brandon Lloyd, rookie Earl Bennett, rookie Marcus Monk, Mark Bradley, Rashied Davis, and Mike Hass. That's a lot of names isn't it? That's because the Bears have no idea who will be the starting wide receivers and have brought in a whole new crop to choose from. Marty Booker had a lot of success the first time he played with the Bears and is happy to be home. He will be the veteran presence but it is unclear how much talent he has left. Brandon Lloyd has be praised as the best looking receiver in OTA's and appears to be the most promising prospect of the bunch. Surprising little has been said about rookie draft picks Bennett and Monk, which isn't good and means they need to step it up in training camp. Davis and Bradley have been with the team a few years and are good, but far from being great. Mike Hass just missed making the team last year but made some absolutely amazing catches in the preseason last year and eyes will be on him this year. I will say one thing, the Bears have made many mistakes in the draft but they have rarely made mistakes with wide receiver. Booker and Lloyd will be the front runners, but Bennett and Monk may become big producers down the line. NFC NORTH Last year the Bears had a tough time with their own division, getting beat up by the Vikings, Packers, and the Lions. Hopefully this year the Bears will solve the riddle of how a terrible Lions team managed to give them hell and keep the Vikings' Adrian Peterson from running all over the field. Brett Favre was always a Bears killer and with him gone the defense should be able to exhale a little bit. The problem is the NFL North appears to have replaced Favre with the new division star in Peterson. It will be hard to match up against a good Vikings team, but I will be interested to see how they treat Berrian in the first game. If the Bears are going to have any success, they have to find a way to at least split the games with their three rivals. Season Schedule Coach Lovie Smith likes to break the season into quarters so I'll do the same. First quarter: open against the Colts in their new stadium, at Panthers, Bucs, and Eagles. I would LOVE to see the Bears take out the Colts in their new stadium but I doubt the Bears will have everything ready. This team will take time to feel each other with so many new faces. The Bears need to rebound quickly with a win against the Panthers. The Bears have always enjoyed success against the Bucs and they have bigger problems than the Bears with their roster. The Eagles are always tough in the beginning of the season with a healthy McNabb. They'll likely open 2-2. Second quarter: at Lions, at Falcons, Vikings, Lions. The Bears played the Lions close together last season and it spelled disaster as they confused Bears coaches both times. This year I doubt they will let the same thing happen. The Falcons are a few years away from being competitive in the NFL and should offer some relief. The first match up against the Vikings will be charged up for the Bears to test themselves against the new NFL darling as NFC favorite. Second quarter record: 3-1. Third quarter: Titans, at Packers, at Rams, at Vikings. You never know what to expect from the Titans and Vince Young. However, Brian Urlacher has always matched up well against scrambling quarterbacks by chasing down all over the field. He did it to Michael Vick and he should be able to do it against Young. The Bears then have a tough three game stretch of away games but thankfully they are all in the midwest and will save players from travel fatigue. The Bears will try to take advantage of a Favre-less Packers, shut down the Ram offense, and try to escape Minnesota with a victory. They will be successful in 2 out of 3 trips. Third quarter record: 3-1. Fourth quarter: Jaguars, Saints, Packers, at Texans. This will be the toughest stretch of the season for the Bears and will test their ability. By this time they will be in contention for a playoff spot but will have to fight hard to keep it. The Bears play the Jaguars on Sunday and then must prepare for the Saints on Thursday night. The Jaguars are a physical team and may present a problem for players to be ready by Thursday for a talented Saints team. I fear at best they will split these games and could possibly drop them both. The Bears will have no problem getting focused for the Packers game at Soldier Field on December 22nd for Monday Night Football. The house will be rocking and the Bears will be looking to put on a good show. The Texans offer a nice trip to warm Texas and hopefully wrap up a playoff spot. Fourth quarter record: 2-2. That leaves the Bears with a record of 10-6 and in the NFC that will always get you to the playoffs. Playoff Match Ups The good news about a good Minnesota team is that if the Bears meet them in the playoffs, they will be very familiar with each other. The more experience you have with a team, regardless of talent, the better chance you have to find a way to beat them. Teams like the Saints and Cowboys are unpredictable but talented and may face challenges for the Bears. However, no NFC team has really established itself as a top team beyond ranking speculation. As we have seen, a key injury to the Cowboys or Saints lineup can leave them vulnerable. A lot of things can happen in a football season. As the saying goes, any given sunday. The opportunities are there for the Bears if they can seize it.

Bears Re-Sign Harris

Mon, 23 Jun 2008 15:04:30 -0500

Tommie Harris says the talks that led to his four-year, $40 million contract with the Chicago Bears were businesslike and "classy." Speaking at a morning news conference at Halas Hall, the defensive tackle said he and Bears management kept negotiations private in reaching a deal that will keep him with Chicago through 2012. That differs from what has happened between the team and linebackers Brian Urlacher and Lance Briggs. They've both gone public with complaints and either hinted or threatened holdouts. "We didn't try to go out there and talk about one another or dispute different things, and I feel like we did it all in-house," Harris said. "I would never go out and talk about the Bears in front of the media or disrespect my team," added Harris, whose deal was the richest ever for the Bears in terms of dollars per year.
Harris started 56 of his 60 career NFL games and recorded 208 tackles during his four seasons with the Bears. The three-time Pro Bowler had 13 total sacks over the last two seasons—ranking him second among defensive tackles.

Inside the Enemy: June 22, 2008

Mon, 23 Jun 2008 14:37:45 -0500

A look at the Packers foes in the NFC North… Chicago Bears - Ryan Grant's life just got tougher for the next four years. - Chris Simms could join the meat party for Aaron Kampman, Cullen Jenkins, and Kabeer Gbaja-Biamila. - Brian Urlacher is shutting his yap. Detroit Lions Minnesota Vikings - The Vikings want an adjustment from Tarvaris Jackson. - They're also pretty glad they didn't gamble on Jevon Kearse… That's all for this week folks.

Did Harris' method of negotiation help his contract?

Fri, 20 Jun 2008 17:14:46 -0500

At a news conference this morning in Halas Hall, newly-signed Tommie Harris called his contract negotiations with the Bears businesslike and "classy." In fact, Harris seemed to make the distinction between himself and fellow teammates Brian Urlacher and Lance Briggs. "I would never go out and talk about the Bears in front of the media or disrespect my team," said Harris...

Bears Sign Tommie Harris 4-Year Deal

Fri, 20 Jun 2008 11:57:56 -0500

The Chicago Bears accounced this morning that they have given defensive tackle Tommie Harris a 4-year extension. Although the organization declined to comment on the amount of the contract, the deal is speculated to be worth about $40 million with $18 million guaranteed. The deal would make Harris the highest paid defensive tackle in franchise history and in league history. Harris is considered one of the most dominant young defensive tackles in the game and in the last year of his rookie contract. If allowed on the free agent market, he would have landed a huge deal in a new city. With that type of leverage the Bears didn't have much of a choice other than to award him with their biggest contract ever. The Bears will probably have to do the same in the coming weeks as they try to sign an extension with already legendary returner Devin Hester. The deal also allows Harris to still test the free agent market when he will have a high demand. When this extension runs out he will still be 29 years old and may command a contract even more lucrative than the one he just signed. Harris has already been to 3 straight Pro Bowls in his 4 years in the league and has established himself as a force in the middle of the field. Offensive lines usually have to devote a double team to Harris, leaving linebackers free to roam the field, a key to success for Brian Urlacher. Harris has also had some issues with injuries but always bounces back at full strength or is willing to play injured to help his team. In the week 3 matchup last year against the Cowboys, Harris injured his knee and opted to play out the remainder of the season on a bad knee rather than take time off. The move also ensures the Bears have a strong core on their defense that will be around for at least the next few years. Tommie Harris joins Brian Urlacher, Lance Briggs, Charles Tillman, Nathan Vasher, and Alex Brown in the list of long-term players. For more NFL news please visit: FanSided

You'll be a rich man again, Tommie Harris

Thu, 19 Jun 2008 21:15:17 -0500

Per ProFootballTalk.com, the Bears have signed defensive tackle Tommie Harris to a four-year extension worth $40 million.

Urlacher continues to dispute contract with Bears

Fri, 30 May 2008 18:28:27 -0500

As ridiculous as it sounds, Urlacher is not happy with the nine-year, $57 million deal that he signed in 2003. That's right folks, a professional athlete is complaining that his mega multi-million dollar deal is not big enough. Go figure.

Starting to start to think about starters (and depth) Part Deuce

Sun, 11 May 2008 17:40:27 -0500

Remember way back when? The Bears were in the Super Bowl and their elite defense carried them there. It seems almost as long ago as the Cubs' last World Series win. Fortunately for us, it wasn't 1908 — it was 2006. Safety Chris Harris and any defensive tackle that bothered to line up next to Tommie Harris (Boonie, Ian Scott, Tank) are the most notable defensive absentees from our Super Bowl run. Sure, you could throw Todd Johnson and Cameron Worrell in for giggles, but the last three drafts and free agent signings have produced enough quality special teams players to keep that unit among the league's best for years to come. Barring injury, the Bears will have the best defense in the National Football League in 2008. Notice, I didn't say, "among the best" or "top 10". I'm talking about the absolute, hands-down, top defense in the entire mother-effin' NFL. On a side note, I apologize if the point was, in any way, diluted by use of the word "effin'." Left End Dan Bazuin has fully-recovered from the knee injury that kept him out of play in 2007. He is the type of high-motor, try-hard player that the Bears like. Draft pick Ervin Baldwin has drawn comparisons to Mark Anderson for his pass-rushing ability. Wale Ogunleye starts. Back-ups: Dan Bazuin, Ervin Baldwin. Right End Last year, Mark Anderson was given the starting job but a sprained knee put him on injured reserve as the regular season came to an end. Alex Brown was impressive in all the opportunities he received in the Bears' regular-rotation scheme. The Bears rewarded him with a new contract through 2011. Regardless of who starts, both men will see plenty of playing time. Brown starts. Back-up: Anderson. Tackle Tommie Harris is about to be uber-rich, son. The perennial Pro Bowler will be a mainstay in Chicago and if he can walk, he will start. Dusty Dvoracek has played in one of the 32 games since he's been a Chicago Bear. Now, my math ain't too good but dat must be somethin' like 3 %. The good news is he's healthy now. Izzy Idonije has made the permanent switch to tackle and third-rounder Marcus Harrison could make an immediate impact. Anthony Adams and Matt "Catch a tiger by its" Toeaina played relatively well last season. Harris and Harrison start. Back-ups: Dusty, Toeaina, Izzy and Adams. Weak-side Linebacker The biggest surprise of the offseason had to be the re-signing of Lance Briggs. I had emotionally detached myself from him in preparation for his departure. Had he gone, I might have crashed my 1997 Geo Prizm into a pole and left the scene. Luckily, no other team was biting and now Briggs is all ours once again. Jamar Williams played admirably in Briggs' absence last year. Briggs starts. Back-up: Williams and Okwo. Middle Linebacker Is he or isn't he hurt? This will be the big question about Urlacher's health going into the season. He underwent "minor" neck surgery and battled an arthritic back but says he's fine. I believe him, I think. Either way, he's the man. Urlacher starts. Back-up: I don't even know. Strong-side Linebacker Hunter Hillenmeyer has been solid, if not somewhat spectacular, over the course of the last few years. He's often lost in the shuffle with Briggs and Urlacher receiving the glory, but Hillenmeyer does a great job in doing what he's asked; taking on blocks, shedding blocks and redirecting the play to his more celebrated counterparts. Hillenmeyer starts. Back-ups: Williams and Okwo. Cornerback Ricky Manning, Jr. has less of a chance than the poor chap he pummeled in the Denny's parking lot of making it to the regular season. If his sub-par performance last year wasn't enough, the emergence of Trumaine McBride and drafting of Zack Bowman should be reason enough to say "don't let the door hit you in your ass on the way out." Corey Graham impressed enough as a special-teamer last year to stick. Peanut Tillman and Nate Vasher start. Back-up: McBride, Bowman and Graham. Free Safety If Mike Brown stays healthy he will (fill in the blank). Reasonable options that cross my mind include: have a Pro Bowl season, be all over the field, decimate receivers coming through the middle and my personal favorite; carry the Bears to the Super Bowl. Mike Brown starts. Back-up: Danieal Manning. Strong Safety I love Craig Steltz and we will be a much better team because of him. Will he start right away? He could. But he'll have to beat out Kevin Payne first. Payne played well in limited time and can contribute as a special-teamer, too. It's a coin toss but I gotta go with my gut. Steltz starts. Back-ups: Payne and Brandon McGowan. Gosh, did you really just sit through all of this bull? You deserve some kind of prize. Really, you do. Tell you what: I'm going to promise that "Blog Down, Chicago Bears" will continue to offer you the mother-effin' (second reference) best in Chicago Bears rumors, news, analysis and opinion as long as you leave a comment or two. Special Teams up next. Nah, fuck it: Gould, Maynard and Hester start.

Free-agent class of 2009 appears mighty impressive

Thu, 08 May 2008 13:08:42 -0500

Here is a look at arguably the top 10 players poised for free agency this winter. 1. Julius Peppers, Panthers defensive end –- Coming off a down year, but teams pay premium for pass rushers. 2. Steven Jackson, Rams running back –- Hard to imagine St. Louis parting ways with its most popular player. 3. Tommie Harris, Bears defensive tackle -– Talks on a long-term contract hit a standstill last month. 4. Marion Barber, Cowboys running back –- Last season, one NFC coach said Barber is an elite back in the same class as LaDainian Tomlinson or Adrian Peterson. Now he wants to be paid that way. 5. Chris Snee, Giants guard –- At a time when interior offensive linemen are cashing in, the son-in-law of Giants coach Tom Coughlin is going to cash in. 6. Nnamdi Asomugha, Raiders cornerback –- Oakland plans to franchise him again if he remains unsigned, which is a distinct possibility. 7. Albert Haynesworth, Titans defensive tackle –- Tennessee wouldn't let Haynesworth leave this offseason, and its stance is unlikely to change. 8. Terrell Owens, Cowboys wide receiver -– At the age of 34, T.O. is performing like he were 24. 9. Will Smith, Saints defensive end -– New Orleans defensive end Charles Grant got his money and Smith intends to do the same. 10. T.J. Houshmandzadeh, Bengals wide receiver –- Still waiting for his first big-money deal. Of course, the list hardly stops there. It goes on and on, like the money that could be spent on some of these players. The free-agent class of 2009 also is scheduled to include Lions wide receiver Roy Williams, Bills wide receiver Lee Evans, Giants running back Brandon Jacobs, Cowboys cornerback Terence Newman, Cowboys safety Ken Hamlin, Falcons linebacker Keith Brooking, Texans cornerback Dunta Robinson, Cardinals linebacker Karlos Dansby, Buccaneers quarterback Jeff Garcia and Giants wide receiver Amani Toomer.

Giving Back To Community Suits Former OU Football Players To A Tee

Sun, 04 May 2008 15:19:50 -0500

Teddy Lehman walked onto the first tee box and aligned the driver perfectly with the ball. He smoothly motioned the club back and then forward, whacking the ball all of about 2 inches. The second annual Tommie Harris Celebrity Classic didn't exactly woo Tiger Woods to Belmar Golf Club on Saturday. Still, the weekend's charity event featuring several ex-Sooners now in the NFL reeled in roughly $270,000 for both the Boys & Girls Club of America and the Tommie Harris Foundation, which raises funds to help prevent child abuse.

Grading the Draft

Wed, 30 Apr 2008 13:28:48 -0500

Good read on the Bears draft and the stupidity of grading a class before any of the rooks hit the field.

Next Up: Bears vs. Giants

Fri, 30 Nov 2007 05:31:55 -0500

The Chicago Bears face the New York Giants in week 13. Here's how the Bears matchup against the Giants: