[CBFF] Bear Trade Chris Harris

[Dwayne]

Archie must have impressed Lovie, or this does not happen.
D



> Damn.
>
> On 8/2/07, Tom Shannon <tshanno at gmail.com> wrote:
> > http://www.chicagobears.com/news/NewsStory.asp?STORY_ID=3652
> >
> > BOURBONNAIS, Ill. - With six talented safeties in training camp and only
> > five job openings, the Bears knew that they would ultimately be faced
with a
> > difficult decision.
> >
> > So rather than cutting someone they felt could play in the NFL, the
Bears
> > solved the dilemma and received something in return Thursday when they
> > traded Chris Harris to the Carolina Panthers in exchange for an
undisclosed
> > 2008 draft pick.
> >
> >
> > Bears coach Lovie Smith said that safety Chris Harris took the news of
> > Thursday's trade "like a pro."
> > "You can only keep so many safeties," said coach Lovie Smith. "We felt
like
> > on our roster, we had six that we felt real good about. You can't keep
six
> > safeties; it's as simple as that."
> >
> > The Bears' top five safeties are starters Mike Brown and Adam Archuleta,
top
> > reserve Danieal Manning, third-year pro Brandon McGowan and rookie
> > fifth-round pick Kevin Payne.
> >
> > While Harris' departure likely will benefit Manning most in terms of
playing
> > time, McGowan and Payne will also receive more opportunities to get on
the
> > field.
> >
> > "We wanted to get Brandon more reps," Smith said. "I think he's a good
> > football player. We want to get more reps for Kevin Payne also, and this
> > should allow them to get a few more.
> >
> > "McGowan has played for us, and when he's played he's played well. We
like
> > Kevin Payne quite a bit."
> >
> > Harris departs after playing in 25 games with 20 starts in two seasons
with
> > the Bears, registering 124 tackles, five interceptions, one sack and one
> > forced fumble. The 2005 sixth-round draft pick became a surprise starter
as
> > a rookie, replacing veteran Mike Green after a Week 1 loss in
Washington.
> >
> > "Chris has meant a lot to us while he's been around here," Smith said.
"He's
> > played good football for us. We have quite a bit of depth at the safety
> > position, though, so it's a great opportunity for him. I know Carolina
has
> > liked him for a while, and at the same time we feel good about our
safety
> > situation with the numbers that we have.
> >
> > "It's a part of the business, but when you're a good football player,
> > there's always a place for you to play, so we're happy for Chris."
> >
> > Harris was informed of the trade while practicing with the Bears
Thursday.
> > He left the field with senior director of pro personnel Bobby DePaul
after
> > an embrace and brief chat with Smith.
> >
> > "The gist of it is I thanked him for everything he's done for us and we
> > talked about the next move for him," Smith said, "how exciting that
could be
> > for him to have an opportunity to play.
> >
> > "[He took it] like a pro. Chris is a pro. He knows that there's a
business
> > side of it. Guys want an opportunity to play where they have their best
> > chance to play, and I think this will be a good move for him."
> >
> > Bears veteran safety Mike Brown said that it was difficult to see Harris
go.
> >
> >
> > "I'm kind of bummed out about it," Brown said. "He was a big part of the
> > secondary, not only the way that he played but his personality. He was
fun
> > to be around; one of the guys who kept the room loose, so he's going to
be
> > missed."
> >
> >
> >
> >
> >
> >
> >
> > _______________________________________________
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> >
>
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