Chris Harris says he is headed to Bears (1 Viewer)

[Jeff Tefertiller]

Here is a beat writer's take:

http://www.chicagobreakingsports.com/2010/...join-bears.html

The Bears have a new safety to pair with rookie Major Wright.

Actually, it's an old safety.

Chris Harris announced on his Twitter account that he expects to rejoin the team that drafted him in the sixth round in 2005 in a trade that could involve one of the team's veteran linebackers or a safety. The Bears and Carolina Panther have yet to announce a transaction.

"It hasn't been official," Harris told the Tribune. "But I will be with the Bears soon. It's about to happen and I am excited, man. This is great."

The Bears likely will plug Harris in at strong safety and play Wright at free safety. It certainly erases a lot of doubt about the position, where there has been nothing but a revolving door since coach Lovie Smith arrived in 2004.

The Bears thought they had solidified the position in 2006 when they drafted Kevin Payne and traded for Adam Archuleta. Harris was traded to the Panthers at the start of training camp in 2007 and flourished there, forcing 12 fumbles in the last three seasons, including one against Bears tight end Greg Olsen.

"I'm excited because I have always had a place in my heart for the Bears," said Harris, who has maintained a residence in Gurnee. "It's the team I started with. I think it's awesome.

"I don't think I need a playbook. I know the defense. I'm ready to go."

 

[mlball77]

So I'm assuming Harris is the starting SS now... does this mean that Major Wright will be fighting for the starting FS gig?

And is he seen as the favorite over the rest of the gang (Alfalava, Steltz etc.)?

 

[John 14:6]

Will this help or hurt Harris? He's a borderline keeper for me...

 

[Grimace59]

I just picked him, he put up great stats when he was with the Bears. I remember being pissed when they traded him, he made some bone head coverage mistakes when he was a young players but was a tackle machine. Better than any other SS on our roster, I like this move as a Bears Fan and an FF IDP fan.

 

[kurtrudder]

It would be interesting to here the Guru's take on this, Jene has Major Wright as the 9th overall rookie IDP at present. You'd have to think that ranking might go down with this news of Harris coming back to Chicago.

I am a long time Harris owner in a dynasty league but with that said, I certainly think this is an up tick to his value, esp considering the revolving door the Bears had at Safety last season.

 

[Multiple Scores]

Where does Manning fit in this mess?

 

[BearsFan]

...Implicit admission by the Bears of not being able to judge their talent.

Jene, where would you place Harris in your dynasty DB rankings now?

I'm trying to decide between picking up Harris and re-signing Mikell.

 

[bucsbaby]

Where does Manning fit in this mess?

I would bet on Harris at SS, Manning at FS, and the rookie getting situational playing time and cutting his teeth on special teams to start. Harris and Manning are proven and talented imo.

 

[Jene Bramel]

I think the Bears ultimately align SS Harris/FS Wright. If Wright shows anything in OTAs, I think Manning goes back to his slot corner/returner role in short order. The Panthers drafted a bunch of guys late, but Jordan Pugh was the only guy who had the look of a safety. I agree that it's likely to be SS Godfrey/FS Martin.

I think Harris gets a full tier upgrade here. I think it's much more likely that the stiff competition for tackles (Beason/Davis/Marshall) hurt him in recent seasons rather than a clear decline in play (all his peripherals -- FF, INT and PD -- were stable despite the drop in solos). Wright will drop in my rookie rankings behind some of the stronger run supporting FS options due to the change in his competition.

I wouldn't want much to do with either Carolina safety. Harris was a much stronger run supporter than either Godfrey or Martin will be and the team has trended strongly toward Cover-2/Tampa-2 on base downs. I don't see either putting up much more than 60 solos and I wouldn't trust either to run up the coverage stats to make up the difference.

 

[buck56]

I think the Bears ultimately align SS Harris/FS Wright. If Wright shows anything in OTAs, I think Manning goes back to his slot corner/returner role in short order. The Panthers drafted a bunch of guys late, but Jordan Pugh was the only guy who had the look of a safety. I agree that it's likely to be SS Godfrey/FS Martin.I think Harris gets a full tier upgrade here. I think it's much more likely that the stiff competition for tackles (Beason/Davis/Marshall) hurt him in recent seasons rather than a clear decline in play (all his peripherals -- FF, INT and PD -- were stable despite the drop in solos). Wright will drop in my rookie rankings behind some of the stronger run supporting FS options due to the change in his competition.I wouldn't want much to do with either Carolina safety. Harris was a much stronger run supporter than either Godfrey or Martin will be and the team has trended strongly toward Cover-2/Tampa-2 on base downs. I don't see either putting up much more than 60 solos and I wouldn't trust either to run up the coverage stats to make up the difference.

Where would you rank him Jene?SS for the Bears has put pretty good numbers in fantasy.Top 15, top 25, or lower?

 

[Jene Bramel]

I think the Bears ultimately align SS Harris/FS Wright. If Wright shows anything in OTAs, I think Manning goes back to his slot corner/returner role in short order. The Panthers drafted a bunch of guys late, but Jordan Pugh was the only guy who had the look of a safety. I agree that it's likely to be SS Godfrey/FS Martin.I think Harris gets a full tier upgrade here. I think it's much more likely that the stiff competition for tackles (Beason/Davis/Marshall) hurt him in recent seasons rather than a clear decline in play (all his peripherals -- FF, INT and PD -- were stable despite the drop in solos). Wright will drop in my rookie rankings behind some of the stronger run supporting FS options due to the change in his competition.I wouldn't want much to do with either Carolina safety. Harris was a much stronger run supporter than either Godfrey or Martin will be and the team has trended strongly toward Cover-2/Tampa-2 on base downs. I don't see either putting up much more than 60 solos and I wouldn't trust either to run up the coverage stats to make up the difference.

Where would you rank him Jene?SS for the Bears has put pretty good numbers in fantasy.Top 15, top 25, or lower?

I haven't updated and cross-checked my DB projections yet, but I'd guess he'll be between 20 and 40.

 

[buck56]

I think the Bears ultimately align SS Harris/FS Wright. If Wright shows anything in OTAs, I think Manning goes back to his slot corner/returner role in short order. The Panthers drafted a bunch of guys late, but Jordan Pugh was the only guy who had the look of a safety. I agree that it's likely to be SS Godfrey/FS Martin.I think Harris gets a full tier upgrade here. I think it's much more likely that the stiff competition for tackles (Beason/Davis/Marshall) hurt him in recent seasons rather than a clear decline in play (all his peripherals -- FF, INT and PD -- were stable despite the drop in solos). Wright will drop in my rookie rankings behind some of the stronger run supporting FS options due to the change in his competition.I wouldn't want much to do with either Carolina safety. Harris was a much stronger run supporter than either Godfrey or Martin will be and the team has trended strongly toward Cover-2/Tampa-2 on base downs. I don't see either putting up much more than 60 solos and I wouldn't trust either to run up the coverage stats to make up the difference.

Where would you rank him Jene?SS for the Bears has put pretty good numbers in fantasy.Top 15, top 25, or lower?

I haven't updated and cross-checked my DB projections yet, but I'd guess he'll be between 20 and 40.

Thanks.

 

[treat88]

And they now have him playing FS with Manning running at SS. Could change, but that's what OTA's are shaping up like.

I really have no clue what the Bears organization is doing at the S position. I'm not convinced they do either.

For me, it's analogous to the Denver RB's of the past. You know someone is going to produce, but picking who that is will be a complete crap shoot.

http://www.chicagotribune.com/sports/footb...0,6870709.story

 

[Weiner Dog]

And they now have him playing FS with Manning running at SS. Could change, but that's what OTA's are shaping up like.

I really have no clue what the Bears organization is doing at the S position. I'm not convinced they do either.

For me, it's analogous to the Denver RB's of the past. You know someone is going to produce, but picking who that is will be a complete crap shoot.

http://www.chicagotribune.com/sports/footb...0,6870709.story

Ouch. Manning must have been GOD-awful at FS last year for the Bears to use Harris there.

 

[Jene Bramel]

And they now have him playing FS with Manning running at SS. Could change, but that's what OTA's are shaping up like.

I really have no clue what the Bears organization is doing at the S position. I'm not convinced they do either.

For me, it's analogous to the Denver RB's of the past. You know someone is going to produce, but picking who that is will be a complete crap shoot.

http://www.chicagotribune.com/sports/footb...0,6870709.story

I don't understand that at all. In fact, I wouldn't believe it except that Biggs is usually on point.Major Wright isn't a free safety either and I've no idea why they'd target him for their first selection (third round), then put him behind a post-draft pickup.

 

[Uncle Buck]

you got to figure if manning stays starting at SS and kick returns he could be one of the best DBs to have in leagues that reward return yards.

 

[John 14:6]

you got to figure if manning stays starting at SS and kick returns he could be one of the best DBs to have in leagues that reward return yards.

This is making me reconsider not keeping him...

 

[Daniel Shirley]

Any word on what the Safety situation in CHI is shaping up to look like now?

Is Chris Harris locked in at SS, or is it still a fluid situation?

 

[DbqSitz40]

Last I heard, Manning was still taking 1st team reps at strong safety and Harris was starting at free safety. I doubt that situation holds throughout the entire season, however.

 

[Aaron Rudnicki]

The Bears have a lot of injuries at safety right now. Chris Harris is playing free safety and Danieal Manning is playing strong safety and I think it's been that way since camp opened. I think the Bears like Harris calling plays in the secondary and he should be locked into a starting spot regardless. Manning is the more athletic and less physical player so it seems like he should be playing deeper, but in the Tampa 2 they will both likely be playing pretty deep most of the time anyway.

Major Wright is a player to watch as he looked good in the first preseason game before getting injured. He seems like the guy who could potentially push Manning out of the starting lineup and back into more of a nickel role. The Bears obviously didn't mind playing a rookie last year in Al Afalava who seems to have dropped way down the depth chart this year.

 

[Badm]

I know its one PRESEASON game but Chris Harris looks worse than Afalava, Payne and ....gulp..Archuleta out there......

 

[JOBOOZOSO]

At least he apologized

http://twitter.com/ChrisHarrisNFL

 

[stevec2]

I was listening to Wscr 670am this morning and Hub Arkush (publisher/editor) of Pro Football Weekly compared Chris Harris to Adam Archuleta when he was with the Bears. When Archuleta was with the Bears he had lost speed and the coachs were not happy with his performance at safety. This is the link for the podcast of the Mulley and Hanley show 670 The Score podcasts