Chicago Bears: Bears Make Tommie Harris the Highest Paid DT in the NFL

With free agency allowing teams to upgrade positions with average veterans and paying them obnoxious amounts of money, it seems only fitting that a great player can actually be rewarded—by his own team.

Thursday night, the Chicago Bears and Tommie Harris agreed to a four year, $40 million contract extension that will run through the 2012 season. Harris will receive $18 million in guaranteed money and $27 million is the first three years of his new contract.

Normally a stingy and tight-wallet organization, the Bears have been trying hard to negotiate with some of their core players this offseason. Robbie Gould, Alex Brown, Lance Briggs, and Kyle Orton all have received new deals from the team.

Also, Brian Urlacher wants a new deal, and Devin Hester is apparently asking for a payday after his outstanding first two seasons.

This is a significant move for Chicago because of their defense. In the Tampa-2, the defensive line is required to get a good pass rush. Tommie Harris is the best pass-rushing DT in the game and arguably the best three-technique since Warren Sapp.

His combination of quickness, explosion, and strength make him very tough to block—when he's healthy. If he can return to his normal speed, which he says is 110 percent, it will be a display of the best defensive tackle in the game.

Great job to the Bears' organization on this signing.

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