Tommie Harris said talks that led to his four-year, $40 million contract extension with the Chicago Bears were business-like and “classy.”
The Bears and Harris announced the deal at a morning news conference at Halas Hall. It includes $18 million in guaranteed bonuses that will make Harris one of the highest-paid defensive tackles in NFL history and keep him with the team through 2012. The deal, reached after quiet negotiations, stood in contrast with the war of words so common in professional sports⎯including in Chicago, where Bears linebackers Lance Briggs and Brian Urlacher have complained, and either threatened or hinted at 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," said Harris. "I would never go out and talk about the Bears in front of the media or disrespect my team," said Harris, whose deal was the richest ever for the Bears in terms of dollars per year. Harris has 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. And he recorded eight of those sacks last year despite knee and groin injuries that limited his effectiveness. Now the Bears must turn their attention to the pending negotiations of Urlacher and Devin Hester. Both are under contract beyond 2008, and general manager Jerry Angelo would like to reach deals on contract extensions before training camp begins next month. "The timetable is when we’re in the off season. This is the time to talk business and do these things," said Angelo, who reached deals for contract extensions with defensive end Alex Brown and kicker Robbie Gould during the off season. (AP) ______ Copyright 2008 Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
