Harris hopes to turn around Bears turnover trend

BOURBONNAIS - Last year Bears safeties had a total of 1 interception, a drought that Chris Harris hopes to do something about.

"I hope I can help a lot," said Harris, who was acquired from the Panthers in a trade for linebacker Jamar Williams on April 27. "That's one thing we need to do in order for this defense to be dominant.

"That what this defense is based off, turnovers. If you don't get turnovers, you're not going to be good, so we've got to get interceptions and force fumbles. I don't want to throw a number out there, but hopefully we can get quite a few this year."

Harris was drafted in the sixth round by the Bears and spent 2005 and '06 in Chicago before he was traded to the Panthers for a fifth-round pick. He had 5 interceptions with the Bears and 5 with the Panthers, including 3 last season. He also forced 12 fumbles in Carolina, including 8 in 2007.

Job security: While players have expressed a desire to save Lovie Smith's job, which likely hinges on a trip to the postseason this year, the coach isn't the only one who would be adversely affected by another non-playoff season.

"We have to save our own jobs, not just worry about the coaches," wide receiver Devin Hester said. "We have to go out and make plays. If we go out and do the things that need to be done, then we don't have to worry about the coaches. They're going to be here forever."

They brought their toys: Some of the most intense competition of training camp is expected to be at wide receiver, where Devin Hester, Johnny Knox, Earl Bennett, Devin Aromashodu and Juaquin Iglesias will be battling for playing time and Jay Cutler passes. But that group will be battling off the field as well - at the game board.

When Bennett was asked how he planned to amuse himself during the infrequent down time during the three weeks at Olivet Nazarene University, his unexpected reply was: "I think somebody brought a Monopoly game."

That's it?

"You don't understand," he said. "Me, 'Hes,' Juaquin and Johnny, we go at it."

The Newlywed Game: Wide receiver Earl Bennett was married June 19, and there's nothing like a trip to Bourbonnais to mark the end of the honeymoon period.

"I've been loving it," Bennett said of married life. "It's good."

But what about the three-week separation?

"Uh, yeah," he laughed. "I'm good being away. I don't know about her, but I'm all right with it."

Missing in action: Johnny Knox was so eager to arrive at his second training camp he made a rookie mistake and forgot to pack a key component.

"I was so excited to get down here," he said, "I forgot my Xbox."