Tommie Harris (right) talks with defensive coordinator Rod Marinelli during minicamp. (Nam Y. Huh/AP)
By Vaughn McClure
The Bears report to camp Thursday with Lovie Smith scheduled to meet the media at 2 p.m.
Smith most likely will speak highly of defensive tackle Tommie Harris, as he did at the end of the organized team activities.
"Tommie made every workout this offseason,'' Smith said. "Tommie is healthy now for the first time. He finished strong. He's in the best physical condition that he's been in for a long time. We've seen the old Tommie."
Sounds like the same talked we've heard the last two seasons, ever since Harris partially tore the medial cruciate ligament in his left knee during the 2007 campaign. He has been held out of practice on a regular basis since the injury and even was limited to one session per day during this year's minicamp.
Although Harris appears to be fully healthy, he could see some veteran days off during training camp.
"No, I'll never do a full practice schedule again," Harris told Laurence Holmes of WSCR-AM 670. "I'm a vet, so I'll take all the days they tell me I need to take off. No need to beat up my body in training camp.
"I'm looking forward to going through all the proper practices, but whenever Lovie says I need to sit, I will sit."
Harris emphasized to Holmes that it is never his decision to watch from the sideline.
"I always go off by what the doctor says, or what a coach says," he said.
Linebacker Brian Urlacher expects to see the Tommie Harris of old, which -- coupled with the arrival of dominant defensive end Julius Peppers -- should give the Bears the type of pressure up front they had during their Super Bowl run.
Smith agreed.
"It means quite a bit to have Tommie back like this," Smith said. "He's a great player, when he's healthy. And he's healthy."
Asked if Harris needed to mature after several distracting incidents, including last year's punch of Cardinals offensive lineman Deuce Lutui and Harris decision to skip knee treatments in previous years, Smith shook his head and smiled.
"I live in the present," Smith said. "Tommie has been outstanding this offseason. Outstanding."
Harris emphasized to Holmes that it is never his decision to watch from the sideline.
"I always go off by what the doctor says, or what a coach says," he said.
Linebacker Brian Urlacher expects to see the Tommie Harris of old, which -- coupled with the arrival of dominant defensive end Julius Peppers -- should give the Bears the type of pressure up front they had during their Super Bowl run.
Smith agreed.
"It means quite a bit to have Tommie back like this," Smith said. "He's a great player, when he's healthy. And he's healthy."
Asked if Harris needed to mature after several distracting incidents, including last year's punch of Cardinals offensive lineman Deuce Lutui and Harris decision to skip knee treatments in previous years, Smith shook his head and smiled.
"I live in the present," Smith said. "Tommie has been outstanding this offseason. Outstanding."
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A healthy Tommie Harris for an entire season...I'll believe it when I see it. There's a reason that we got Peppers. It's because Ogunleye and Brown were immediately less productive once Tommie Harris stopped being effective. They were both exposed for what they are which is very average. IF (and it's the biggest of many 'ifs' with this team) Peppers and Harris both played near their capabilities, our D-line can give us a one-way ticket to the Superbowl. They can decaputate opposing offenses together. They can even make Mark Anderson look good (but he still won't be able to stop the run)! I believe in Peppers. I absolutely do not believe in Harris until proven otherwise.
You have Peppers on the line and they choose to want to make Harris the anchor? Well Anchos like to slow and weigh things down, so yes Harris be a big a anchor. Just not the way Lovie hoping.
Oh and Joe I read that interview too, is me or did Tom Tom come off a little more crazy than usual?
Healthy Tommy Harris is an oxymoron.
Lovie never likes to look in the past because it would mean that we would have to look at the mistakes he's made. Lovie doesn't want to acknowledge the mistakes and correct on them so he doesn't mind it when the same mistakes are repeated because "i just look forward". That mind set has gotten us where we are today. And we will continue to worsen because our coach doesn't believe in look back and trying to correct the errors of his ways. God help us.
Joe, I'm surprised at the amount of negativity you have towards Tommie Harris. And what is it based on? Nothing, other than history. Every day Tommie gets away from that injury is a day healthier. This is finally his first offseason without surgery, so we have to at least give him a chance to show that he still has some explosiveness. I'm not saying he can be the best DT in the league again, like he was for that short span, but let's see what he does this year.
By the way, I agree that "I'll never do a full practice schedule again" was probably not the best choice of words.
"No, I'll never do a full practice schedule again," Harris told Laurence Holmes of WSCR-AM 670. "I'm a vet, so I'll take all the days they tell me I need to take off. No need to beat up my body in training camp.
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Showing up is not the same as participating in the workout. Banking on Tommie Harris is going to be a big mistake. He can't do it for a full season any more, and apparently can't hack it in shorts and shells for 10 offseason workout days.
Tommie is not healthy...He is just not injured currently. His body is not going to hold up for him over the season, and we will be hoping that one of the young players on the DL steps up and provides some sort of pressure up the middle.
The offense is going to score more points, but they are going to be asked to do more than they are capable of to make up for the lack of an interior presence on the line. Peppers can get his sacks, but the QB will be able to step up all day long with Harris shoved 4 yards off the ball like he was on most plays last year.
Banking on a healthy Tommie Harris is like betting on a horse with a damaged leg to win the Kentucky Derby...There might be a moment or two during the race where the horse looks great, but it can't maintain it.