Tommie Harris walks off the field after being ejected. (Chris Sweda/Tribune)
Bears defensive tackle Tommie Harris said, "Yes, I felt like I hurt my team" and said he was embarrassed for punching Cardinals guard Deuce Lutui in Sunday's loss to the Cardinals.
"I just want to apologize to my fans, first off (and) the little kids out there that saw that action, that I behaved in that manner. I apologize to my teammates. ... I'll make up for it.
Harris said he apologized to Cardinals receiver Larry Fitzgerald, one of his friends, and to Lutui.
"I was embarrassed, especially for my actions," Harris said.
Harris said he didn't expect to get ejected from the game. He anticipated just a penalty and the fine.
Harris accused Lutui of dirty play, but wouldn't elaborate. After Sunday's game, teammate Israel Idonije said Harris' frustration might have carried over from the previous play.
"The play before that, (Lutui) was getting at him," Idonije said. "On (the punch), the guy is pulling him, got on top of him and kneed him and wouldn't let Tommie get up. The refs have to see all that."
Update: Lovie Smith says the Bears will wait and see what the NFL does.
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It is amazing how many of you spit out such garbage about an individual who you only see on the field form the stands or television. You are critical and judgmental, given the opportunity to go toe to toe with this man doing what he does, he would leave you crying and wishing to God that you never heard of Tommie Harris. How often do you apologize for your wrong actions? Get a life and pay closer attention to how you don't cross every "T" and dot every "I".
granted pauching a player on the feild was a dumb move
he hurt the team ,but to be rejected from the game was a bit over disapline from the officals , a 15 yard plenty
hurts the team and player just as much !
if the ref's want to act holier than thou, then plentlise both players at the same time ! it takes two to tango! there is pokeing. jabing . all sorts of stupid
thing going on behind the playes that the ref's do not see or care about ! let them play and stop baby sitting the teams !
Apologies mean nothing.
I don't blame Harris, at all. The guy was cheap-shotting Tommie every play, trying to take out his knees. When you have your livelihood in jeopardy you react however you need to.
How many times has Tommy had to apologize for being an idiot in the last 3 years?
bhawks61-
You beat me to it. Well said...
Give me a break, Scary. If your 8 y.o. old nephew truly turned and said he 'can't wait to do that', he already has bigger problems. You mean to say, out of all the action he saw watching the game, there is one aberrant act, for which a player was IMMEDIATELY flagged and ejected from the game, and your little nephew said "I can't wait to do that." I think what is more important is what you and the kid's father replied to him after he said it.
Put a sock in it Scary. Parents should communicate with their kids about right and wrong. Players are NOT role models. Tommie should be arrested? Please. Take up knitting.
Say what you will about Tommie Harris but the results for the games he plays in are much better than the ones he misses. The Bears have been competitive in all the games he has played in this season and the 2 he missed? Cinci and AZ were both teams scored the first 6-7 times they scored touched the ball. D tackle is a thankless position and he must be damn good to make that kind of a difference on this team. When he is on the field the Defense is average-above average when he is missing the Def is horrible.
My 8yr old nephew watched that play on the TV and immediately turned to me and his father and said he can't wait to do that to another kid when he plays.
Tommie Harris needs to find another occupation or someone needs to make a new hole in his head. The players complain about how they get robbed and always have to worry about their safety. Tommie Harris should go buy a bulletproof vest and wear it whenever he leaves his house.
If they act like thugs they should be treated like thugs. That's how kids from the ghetto learn to hit each other in the head with 2X4's here in Chicago. Their role models respond to trying circumstances and adversity with unmitigated violence. Tommie Harris should be charged with felony assault and put in prison. If not the fan base needs to start a boycott. Duece was on his back laying face down. I'm really surprised it didn't start a bench clearing brawl. When I played semi-pro football something like that would've cleared the bench
Lovie calls himself a christian, which is fine, but he can't call himself a good christian when he holds company with such heathens.
Think of all the high school kids that watched that game yesterday and now think it is somewhat acceptable for them to entertain the idea of responding in a similar fashion when they come across another player who is a better athlete than them.
Despite that stupid and ridiculous action he did on the field, you got to give Tommie Harris credit for apologizing for his actions.
I applaud him for that because in the NFL where athletes are extremely arrogant and pig-headed, Harris had enough courage to realize he was wrong. He had enough courage to face the music like a man and I admire him for that.
Now Harris must make sure that he does not do that again. When the Bears have a TERRIBLE OFFENSE with a TERRIBLE offensive coordinator such as Ron Turner, the Bears defense need a Tommie Harris to keep the Bears competitive.
No need to apologize, Tommie. Anyone who has played football understands that tempers flare up during a game and it sometimes makes someone respond in an unfortunate way. Your critics are people who have obviously never been on a field before. We never asked Butkus to apologize when he was ejected for fighting.
We need you back on the field and look forward to seeing you redeem yourself on Thursday. Your teammates are behind you and so are Bear fans.
Tommy apologized to the kids for his actions. That's the first time I have ever heard a pro anything apologize to the kids these days. I applaud Tommy for him recognizing that he made a huge mistake and not backing down from the press. I think he is truely sorry and I hope he can come back ahd help the Bears heal their wounds.
Just play well, dammit. Back up your words on the field.
He says he was embarrassed and apologized, but (at least this story) does not indicate why he did it.
"he anticipated".... as in he purposely took a penalty for the team. Great Guy. Sad part is we stink even more without him.
Tommy, you get even by kicking the guy around the rest of the game, and not by a "cheap" shot that cost your team 15 more yards.
Let's be honest Tommy, nobody want to be in a fox hole with you.
Thanks for apologizing...now go find another team.
Every time I hear Harris talk, it reminds me of another member of the Bears. Is Tommy Lovie's son? Both are from Texas, aren't they? Maybe this is why Lovie still lets Harris play on the team. Maybe the one-game suspensions and benchings are Lovie's way of grounding his son.
"My fans.."? Someone better tell Tommie Harris that he doesn't have any anymore. He hasn't played well for 2 years now and injuries are only part of that. Every time he is interviewed he says he has been playing great like his first year. Now we know he is totally out of touch with reality.