Inside the Bears

Tommie Harris is set to do some good in his hometown this weekend.

The Bears defensive tackle will be honored at a dinner Friday in Killeen, Texas, where Sara White, the widow of Hall of Fame defensive end Reggie White, will speak.

There will be a ribbon cutting ceremony on Saturday at the Tommie Harris Fitness Center at the city’s family recreation center. Harris will conduct a free youth football clinic.

So, there you have it, some non-police blotter Bears news that comes from off the gridiron.

Harris is one of a handful of players angling for a new contract this offseason. He’s entering the final year of his rookie contract. Adam Schefter at the NFL Network took an early look at the free agency class of 2009 and put Harris right near the top at No. 3. Of course, those things can change when players work out extensions and others are slapped with the franchise tag at the beginning of next offseason. But Schefter came to the conclusion that it’s a talented bunch, much deeper than this year’s class.

Continue reading "Harris not waiting for new deal to perform good deeds" »

Posted by Brad Biggs at 12:22 PM | Permalink | Comments (23) | TrackBacks (0)

Tied with the Kansas City Chiefs at 12 for having the most picks in the NFL draft, it’s no surprise the Bears have the fifth-highest rookie pool at $5,791,190, according to figures obtained by ESPN.com. The Chiefs have the highest figure at $8,221,790, followed by Atlanta, Miami, St. Louis and then the Bears. The difference is the Bears are the only one of the bunch not to own a pick in the top five, or top 13 for that matter. Their top pick, offensive tackle Chris Williams, went No. 14.

Kansas City tops the board as the Chiefs had two first-round picks—DT Glenn Dorsey (6th) and OL Branden Albert (15th). They have an extra third-round pick to sign as well. The Falcons had four picks in the top 68 and also had two players in the first round—QB Matt Ryan (3rd) and OT Sam Baker (21st). Miami owned the No. 1 pick and already signed OT Jake Long to a $57.75 million deal. The Rams had the No. 2 pick and used it on DE Chris Long.

Continue reading "Report: Bears' rookie pool 5th highest in league" »

Posted by Brad Biggs at 08:43 PM | Permalink | Comments (8) | TrackBacks (0)

Lovie Smith has always said he’ll happily help an assistant on his staff in efforts to climb the coaching ladder, and three Bears assistants are off getting some enrichment on their own at a symposium in Fort Lauderdale, Fla., this week.

Defensive coordinator Bob Babich, special teams coordinator Dave Toub and quarterbacks coach Pep Hamilton are attending the convention. It’s a good place to press the flesh and meet people. General managers, owners and other decision makers are on hand. Seeds have been planted for advancement at these career-building meetings for years. It’s where Ravens owner Steve Bisciotti was first introduced to his first-year head coach John Harbaugh.

Continue reading "Three Bears coaches attend career symposium in Florida" »

Posted by Brad Biggs at 07:30 PM | Permalink | Comments (5) | TrackBacks (0)

The Bears got good news today in regards to rookie linebacker Joey LaRocque.

The seventh-round pick from Oregon State will not be held up by the rule that prevents players from reporting to teams until after graduation has been held at their schools.

Oregon State is on the quarter system and does not hold graduation until June 15. By then only a few days will remain in the Bears’ offseason program. It’s a rule designed to show the NFL isn’t trying to take players away from schools early even though many players stop attending classes in the spring in order to prepare for the draft. So, even if a guy has put the books away, he has to wait until his school issues caps and gowns.

Continue reading "With degree in hand, rookie LaRocque won't miss action" »

Posted by Brad Biggs at 05:10 PM | Permalink | Comments (5) | TrackBacks (0)

The Bears released two local players Wednesday, getting rid of defensive tackle Babatunde Oshinowo and guard Mike Jones.

Oshinowo, the Neuqua Valley graduate, was signed to the practice squad early last season and was promoted to the 53-man roster for the final three games of 2007. He appeared in one game.

Continue reading "Bears release two local players" »

Posted by Brad Biggs at 03:21 PM | Permalink | Comments (3) | TrackBacks (0)

One Bear angling for a new contract has made his way back to Halas Hall.

No, the star middle linebacker isn’t back in the building.

Kicker Robbie Gould has been participating in the voluntary offseason workout program this week after taking the first month off. Gould is entering the final season of his four-year contract that has been a bargain for the club. He was signed off the street in Week 5 of 2005 when Doug Brien’s back acted up. There was no signing bonus, no fancy language in the deal. And he was ecstatic to trade a construction helmet for a football helmet.

Continue reading "One Bear seeking new contract comes out of hibernation" »

Posted by Brad Biggs at 11:45 PM | Permalink | Comments (19) | TrackBacks (0)

Four more tryout players from the rookie minicamp weekend have been signed to deals.

The Bears have added Boston College guard Ryan Poles, who projected as a mid-round draft pick before he tore an Achilles tendon against Notre Dame in the middle of last season. The team had told him he’d be inked to a deal provided his injury checked out OK and he performed well.

Continue reading "Bears add four more from rookie minicamp tryout bunch" »

Posted by Brad Biggs at 05:33 PM | Permalink | Comments (8) | TrackBacks (0)

The reclamation plan with Adam Archuleta is over.

ESPN’s John Clayton reported that the Bears will release the veteran safety and the team is in the process of putting together a fax to announce the move.

Archuleta was acquired a year ago from the Washington Redskins for a sixth-round draft pick. He started 10 of the first 11 games last season, missing one with a broken hand, before losing his job. Archuleta was a star with the St. Louis Rams, flourishing in coach Lovie Smith’s cover two scheme. He earned the largest contract ever for a safety when he went to the Redskins in one of Daniel Snyder’s spending sprees. The Bears had been bidding for Archuleta’s services in the spring of 2006 also.

Continue reading "Bears bid Archuleta farewell" »

Posted by Brad Biggs at 05:13 PM | Permalink | Comments (18) | TrackBacks (0)

The TV crews camped out at Halas Hall awaiting the return of Cedric Benson, but the Bears’ running back did not meet his stated goal of rejoining the club’s offseason program today.

Benson was absent for the voluntary workout program, a teammate said, missing for a second day after his arrest Saturday night on Lake Travis near Austin, Texas. Benson told the Sun-Times Sunday night that he expected to return to work Tuesday after tending to matters Monday in Texas.

Continue reading "UPDATED 3:23: Benson absent from voluntary workout program Tuesday" »

Posted by Brad Biggs at 02:55 PM | Permalink | Comments (29) | TrackBacks (0)

Did it have something to do with the weekend trouble Cedric Benson got himself in?

The Bears wouldn’t say if it did.

But the club added a running back Monday, signing Matt Lawrence, the undrafted free agent from UMass who participated in the rookie minicamp this weekend on a tryout basis.

Continue reading "Bears sign RB Lawrence to roster" »

Posted by Brad Biggs at 04:26 PM | Permalink | Comments (28) | TrackBacks (0)

Surely, the Bears are still in an information-gathering mode when it comes to Cedric Benson.

Two days after his arrest on Lake Travis near Austin, Texas, there are vastly different stories being told by the running back and the Lower Colorado River Authority. The NFL, no doubt, is also looking into the matter. While Benson is not in danger of being zapped like Tank Johnson was with an eight-game suspension last year, commissioner Roger Goodell can hand out one-game suspensions like others give out Halloween candy. They’re not tough to get.

Cutting bait with Benson is not going to create any kind of savings for the Bears in terms of the salary cap. None at all.

Continue reading "Cutting Benson would create no savings for Bears" »

Posted by Brad Biggs at 12:27 PM | Permalink | Comments (28) | TrackBacks (0)

Just got off the horn with Cedric Benson about 45 minutes ago.

He was emphatic that he was not drunk and did not resist arrest after officers from the Lower Colorado River Authority stopped his boat for a routine safety check just after 9 p.m. Saturday on Lake Travis, near Austin, Texas.

``I was not intoxicated,’’ Benson said. ``There was alcohol on the boat and others were enjoying themselves but I wasn’t drunk. It’s not like my boat was over the passenger limit or anything, either. It’s a 37-foot boat. Every time I go out there I get pulled over.’’

Continue reading "Benson proclaims innocence, vows to "rise to the occasion"" »

Posted by Brad Biggs at 10:57 PM | Permalink | Comments (39) | TrackBacks (0)