Bears want to seal new deals with Harris, Urlacher
By Bob LeGere | Daily Herald StaffContact writer
Published: 4/9/2008
Bears president and CEO Ted Phillips says he would like to complete negotiations soon on new contracts for Tommie Harris and Brian Urlacher for several reasons.
"Obviously, the sooner the better, so I don't have to keep answering these questions for the next three months," Phillips said with a smile Tuesday afternoon at Maryville Academy in Des Plaines.
Phillips was there to honor Harris as the Bears' Ed Block Courage Award winner for his dedication to the game and contributions to the community.
The Bears are preparing to contribute a good chunk of their salary cap toward a contract extension for Harris before the 2008 season. It's the last year of his original contract, which was for $9.8 million over five years, including $6.9 million in guaranteed money.
Urlacher is boycotting the team's voluntary off-season workouts that began Monday and hoping the Bears will sweeten the nine-year, $56.65 million deal he signed before the 2003 season. He has four years remaining on that contract.
"They're important to us," Phillips said of Harris and Urlacher, arguably the two best players on a team looking to rebound from a 7-9 season. "We want to get those two guys done; that's our philosophy. We believe in rewarding our own, and that's what we intend to do."
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