Harris in free-agent market already
Bears' star DT a Rosenhaus guy -- for now, anyway
July 31, 2007
BY MIKE MULLIGAN mmulligan@suntimes.com
BOURBONNAIS, Ill. -- Bears defensive tackle Tommie Harris laughs and shakes his head at the very idea that he's the man behind the man who got Lance Briggs into training camp. Harris, who most expect to sign a bar-setting contract for defensive tackles within the next year or so, admits he talked to Drew Rosenhaus, the agent for both players, about Briggs' situation, but he denies he put any pressure on Rosenhaus to get a deal done.
''No, it's not that,'' Harris said. ''I just kept telling Drew: 'Man you have to get Briggs [in].' Briggs is like my brother. It's great to have him out there. I feel much more comfortable when he's here. He brings so much charisma to the team. He's fun. He'll change the whole camp just having him here.''
Several league sources, people who might be interested in hurting Rosenhaus, have said the agent couldn't play hardball with Briggs for fear of alienating the Bears, who he has to deal with on the Harris deal or turning off the player, who represents a future lottery winner pay day. Of course, there is also the fact that Briggs had never made big money and the franchise offer meant $7.2 million with the Bears giving a $1 million bonus up front to sweeten the deal.
Still, word around the league is that Harris is ''in play'' in terms of looking for a new agent.
Harris denies it, but admits he talks to a lot of NFL agents and is always willing to hear what they have to say.
''He's one of those guys who loves to be recruited,'' one source said.
Harris has been known to jump ship before. Rosenhaus is his third agent after he came into the league with Chicago-based Kennard McGuire. But he dumped McGuire after the draft and with him the six-year contract that included a voidable year that McGuire had worked out with the Bears. Harris then went with Eugene Parker, who negotiated his five-year, $9.8 million rookie deal that earned him $6.9 million in the first two years.
Not planning a change
He finally went with Rosenhaus, the man expected to broker an extension with Bears that will obliterate the $49 million deal that included $20 million in guaranteed money that Cory Redding signed with the Detroit Lions. Harris said he signed with Rosenhaus because his cousins, Jerome and Stockar McDougle, recommended him.
Harris said he likes the fact that Rosenhaus is wealthy and therefore won't pressure him to get a contract done early to get a cut of the deal. He said he told the agent he wanted to keep a low profile on his situation -- he has two years left on his rookie deal. Harris said he's happy with Rosenhaus and doesn't plan on making a change.
''Oh yeah, that is a businessman,'' Harris said. ''He comes in and does professional business.''
Nonetheless, Harris says he enjoys talking with other agents and is always willing to listen, even though he knows he's being actively recruited.
''They definitely are [recruiting],'' he said. ''I believe I am approachable. I am not like most guys. I want to hear everybody out. It's a business. I want to hear everybody out so I can say I like this or that.''
For the record, Harris says he wants to remain a Bear for life and hopes he never sees the open market. Certainly, the Bears would love to get him signed to a long-term deal. Defensive end Adewale Ogunleye said Harris is the most crucial player on defense.
''We go as Tommie goes,'' Ogunleye said. ''He makes the defensive line go, and the defensive line makes the defense go. Teams are going to want to scheme Tommie Harris. When they double-team him, that makes it easier for all of us.
''He is the real deal.''
Harris likes that tag. He told reporters 'Real Deal' is an old nickname that he wants to revive. Picking up where he left off before being injured last year might pull off the trick. Harris was on his way to achieving his goal as Defensive Player of the Year in the first quarter of the season, but tailed off a bit before finally going down with a blown hamstring.
''I understand the history of this defense, it runs off a dominant three-technique,'' Harris said. ''Hopefully, it is my time now. I can pan out or take care of my business, and we can get back to the Super Bowl.''
You can bet that plenty of agents want to talk about that plan.
Bears' star DT a Rosenhaus guy -- for now, anyway
July 31, 2007
BY MIKE MULLIGAN mmulligan@suntimes.com
BOURBONNAIS, Ill. -- Bears defensive tackle Tommie Harris laughs and shakes his head at the very idea that he's the man behind the man who got Lance Briggs into training camp. Harris, who most expect to sign a bar-setting contract for defensive tackles within the next year or so, admits he talked to Drew Rosenhaus, the agent for both players, about Briggs' situation, but he denies he put any pressure on Rosenhaus to get a deal done.
''No, it's not that,'' Harris said. ''I just kept telling Drew: 'Man you have to get Briggs [in].' Briggs is like my brother. It's great to have him out there. I feel much more comfortable when he's here. He brings so much charisma to the team. He's fun. He'll change the whole camp just having him here.''
Several league sources, people who might be interested in hurting Rosenhaus, have said the agent couldn't play hardball with Briggs for fear of alienating the Bears, who he has to deal with on the Harris deal or turning off the player, who represents a future lottery winner pay day. Of course, there is also the fact that Briggs had never made big money and the franchise offer meant $7.2 million with the Bears giving a $1 million bonus up front to sweeten the deal.
Still, word around the league is that Harris is ''in play'' in terms of looking for a new agent.
Harris denies it, but admits he talks to a lot of NFL agents and is always willing to hear what they have to say.
''He's one of those guys who loves to be recruited,'' one source said.
Harris has been known to jump ship before. Rosenhaus is his third agent after he came into the league with Chicago-based Kennard McGuire. But he dumped McGuire after the draft and with him the six-year contract that included a voidable year that McGuire had worked out with the Bears. Harris then went with Eugene Parker, who negotiated his five-year, $9.8 million rookie deal that earned him $6.9 million in the first two years.
Not planning a change
He finally went with Rosenhaus, the man expected to broker an extension with Bears that will obliterate the $49 million deal that included $20 million in guaranteed money that Cory Redding signed with the Detroit Lions. Harris said he signed with Rosenhaus because his cousins, Jerome and Stockar McDougle, recommended him.
Harris said he likes the fact that Rosenhaus is wealthy and therefore won't pressure him to get a contract done early to get a cut of the deal. He said he told the agent he wanted to keep a low profile on his situation -- he has two years left on his rookie deal. Harris said he's happy with Rosenhaus and doesn't plan on making a change.
''Oh yeah, that is a businessman,'' Harris said. ''He comes in and does professional business.''
Nonetheless, Harris says he enjoys talking with other agents and is always willing to listen, even though he knows he's being actively recruited.
''They definitely are [recruiting],'' he said. ''I believe I am approachable. I am not like most guys. I want to hear everybody out. It's a business. I want to hear everybody out so I can say I like this or that.''
For the record, Harris says he wants to remain a Bear for life and hopes he never sees the open market. Certainly, the Bears would love to get him signed to a long-term deal. Defensive end Adewale Ogunleye said Harris is the most crucial player on defense.
''We go as Tommie goes,'' Ogunleye said. ''He makes the defensive line go, and the defensive line makes the defense go. Teams are going to want to scheme Tommie Harris. When they double-team him, that makes it easier for all of us.
''He is the real deal.''
Harris likes that tag. He told reporters 'Real Deal' is an old nickname that he wants to revive. Picking up where he left off before being injured last year might pull off the trick. Harris was on his way to achieving his goal as Defensive Player of the Year in the first quarter of the season, but tailed off a bit before finally going down with a blown hamstring.
''I understand the history of this defense, it runs off a dominant three-technique,'' Harris said. ''Hopefully, it is my time now. I can pan out or take care of my business, and we can get back to the Super Bowl.''
You can bet that plenty of agents want to talk about that plan.
