01-10-2007, 09:08 AM
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#1 (permalink)
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FBF Coach
Join Date: Oct 2006
Posts: 3,551
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Injured Harris providing support for teammates
Quote:
By Larry Mayer
LAKE FOREST, Ill. – A hamstring injury that required season-ending surgery has turned Tommie Harris into a 300-pound cheerleader. But the Bears' Pro Bowl defensive tackle has accepted his fate.
“I’m over it now, but at first it was extremely difficult,” said Harris, who had not missed a game in three NFL seasons before sustaining the injury. “All I can do now is be here and support my teammates, and that’s what I’m doing.”
Tommie Harris pressures Seahawks quarterback Matt Hasselbeck Oct. 1 in the Bears' 37-6 victory.
The 2004 first-round draft pick tore his left hamstring tendon away from the lower portion of his pelvis while making a tackle Dec. 3 against the Minnesota Vikings.
One month after surgery, Harris is making steady progress in his rehabilitation. The Bears are cautiously optimistic that he will return for the organized team activity practices in the spring.
While he continues to watch film, attend meetings and joke with teammates at Halas Hall, Harris conceded that he feels differently now that he’s no longer able to play.
“(It’s not like you’re) an outsider, but when you’re on IR it’s not the same,” he said. “You don’t want it to be the same. That’s kind of why you work so hard to get back, so I can fit in with the guys.
“The loyalty is there from myself to my teammates, but it’s not the same when you’re not healthy, trying to come in here and hang out with everybody. I’m like a wounded lion right now; I’m weak. So I don’t need to slow these guys down. The pack goes on, and I’ll be behind them waving and stuff, but we’ll move on, and I’ll be back soon.”
Harris, who registered two of the Bears’ five sacks in a 37-6 win over the Seahawks Oct. 1 at Soldier Field, intends to provide teammates with helpful tips in advance of Sunday’s rematch against Seattle in the NFC divisional playoffs.
“I’m just going to tell the guys what I see,” Harris told reporters who had gathered around his locker. “I really can’t tell it to you guys because Seattle might watch this and then it’s going to be over. So right now it’s top secret security that I’m keeping. Hopefully my guys can go out there and have a great time.”
Legal news: Bears defensive tackle Tank Johnson pleaded not guilty to misdemeanor gun charges Tuesday in a Lake County courtroom. The 25-year-old was arrested Dec. 14 and charged with six counts of possession of a firearm without a Firearm Owner’s Identification card after Gurnee police executed a search warrant at his home.
Judge Theodore Potkonjak scheduled a status hearing for Feb. 16.
Costly mistake: Watching the Cowboys’ Tony Romo muff a perfect snap on a potential game-winning 19-yard field goal in Saturday night’s loss in Seattle struck a nerve with Bears holder Brad Maynard.
“I felt for Tony,” Maynard said. “I know the situation he is in. Holding looks easy and is easy if you are 100 percent focused. Those things happen for some reason. It put a reminder in the back of my head that you can’t take it for granted and I need to focus extra hard this week.”
Another weapon: Running back Shaun Alexander isn’t the only key member of the Seahawks offense who will play Sunday after missing the regular-season meeting with the Bears.
Tight end Jerramy Stevens, a 6-7, 265-pounder who sat out the first five games with a knee injury, scored Seattle’s only TDs against Dallas on receptions of 15 and 37 yards.
“It’s definitely a challenge,” said strong safety Todd Johnson. “It’s a tough match-up. He’s a guy who will go up and get the ball. He’s a tall guy, a big guy and a fast guy.”
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I sure wish Harris was going to be out there this weekend, hopefully there isn't any lingering affects from this injury next year.
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Injured Harris providing support for teammates
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