Veteran defensive tackle Tommie Harris had some good years and some underwhelming years with the Chicago Bears, and injuries have limited his production in the past few seasons, but that doesn't mean the Bears aren't open to signing Harris to be a part of their DT rotation in 2012. At least that's what Dan Pompei of the Chicago Tribune posited in his column on Wednesday. According to Pompei, the Bears have talked about signing Harris now that the top free agent DTs are gone and both Amobi Okoye and Anthony Adams are no longer with the team.
With only three DTs currently on the roster -- Henry Melton, Stephen Paea and Matt Toeaina -- and despite Israel Idonije's ability to slide inside at a three-technique at times, Pompei believes the Bears would do well to bring Harris back (he was cut by the team in February of 2011). The former University of Oklahoma star is nothing near the player he used to be during his rookie contract with Chicago, but Pompei cites a personnel directior that thinks Harris "could be productive in stretches" and might fit well as a situational player for the Bears. If he could be had on a low-risk, incentive-laden deal, it would certainly be worth a shot to bring him back to play in Lovie Smith's Cover-2 defense that puts a seriously premium on pass rush from the front-four.
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