Bears’ Harris not letting demotion get him down
If change is good, the Bears should be really good at safety.
But they’re not. As a result, Sunday night is expected to showcase the Bears’ fifth different safety combination in six weeks.
Last week’s starters — strong safety Chris Harris and free safety Brandon Meriweather — did not take first-team reps at practice Thursday, when Major Wright replaced Harris and rookie Chris Conte took over for Meriweather.
“(Stuff) happens,” Harris said. “It is what it is. Nothing that happens here surprises me. That’s the way it goes. Whoever’s taking the first-team reps normally are the guys that are starting. That’s the way it went today.”
The musical chairs game at safety is nothing new during the Lovie Smith era. Wright and Conte would bring the total number of changes at the safety spots to 50 since Smith took over in 2004.
Wright started the first two games, missed the third with a head injury, started in Week 4 but played as a backup last week. Conte, a third-round pick from Cal, has yet to start an NFL game, and he played safety for just one year in college after moving there from cornerback.
On Monday night, Harris and Meriweather were partly to blame for the Lions’ 73-yard TD pass to Calvin Johnson along with 88- and 43-yard runs by Jahvid Best. But they were far from the only culprits in a weak all-around effort by the defense.
“I’ll take the brunt of it,” Harris said. “I’m a professional. This is the third time this has happened to me since I’ve been here, so I’m not really shocked by anything. You move on. They’re paying me to do a job, so I’m going to come here to work every day with a smile on my face and do my job.”
Coach Lovie Smith, as is his custom, does not discuss lineup changes prior to game day. When asked if he was dissatisfied with Harris’ play, Smith said: “All of us haven’t done as good a job as we need to. Chris is a part of that.”
Harris could be back in the starting lineup soon.
“I’ll just keep coming out here, working and keeping a good attitude,” he said. “Adversity reveals character; I think I’ve got plenty of it, and they’ll see that. So, whenever my number’s called again, I’m going to be ready.”
Harris said the hamstring injury he suffered in the season opener that kept him sidelined for the next three games was not a factor in his performance last week.
Frustration shows:ESPN showed an animated sideline discussion between Lance Briggs and Brian Urlacher during Monday night#146;s loss to the Lions, and it gave people the wrong impression, according to Urlacher.#147;Everybody asked me what happened,#148; he said. #147;I wasn#146;t yelling at Lance on the sideline. He didn#146;t do anything wrong. My daughter was like, #145;Did you fight with Lance on the sideline?#146; I said, #145;No, why?#146; She said, #145;It looked like you were really mad when you were talking to him.#146;#147;We were both mad because we#146;re not used to this. As long as he and I have been here, we haven#146;t played like this. We#146;ve had spurts where we#146;ve been bad, but not five games in a row, where you get hit on big plays. It#146;s frustrating.#148;Injury update:Defensive end Julius Peppers (knee), defensive tackle Matt Toeaina (knee), cornerback Charles Tillman (hip) and offensive tackle Gabe Carimi (knee) did not practice Thursday, but Peppers and Tillman are both expected to play Sunday night.Wide receiver Earl Bennett (chest) returned to practice for the first time since Week 1 and was limited. He will not play Sunday. Defensive end Corey Wootton (hand) was a full participant for the second straight day and is expected to play.For the Vikings, cornerback Antoine Winfield (neck) and wide receiver Percy Harvin (ribs) did not practice. Linebackers E.J. Henderson (knee) and Kenny Onatola (hamstring) were limited. Ÿ Follow Bob#146;s Bears reports via Twitter @Bob LeGere and check out our Bear Essentials blog at dailyherald.com.FBN30012001Detroit Lions wide receiver Calvin Johnson (81) pulls away from Chicago Bears free safety Brandon Meriweather (31) on a 73-yard touchdown reception during the second quarter of an NFL football game in Detroit, Monday, Oct. 10, 2011. Associated PressFBN