A message (or not) to Bears tackle Harris

Bears defensive tackle Tommie Harris, suspended last week for habitual tardiness, was back with the team Monday.

Coach Lovie Smith said he wasn't sending a message specifically to the three-time Pro Bowler, who missed the previous week with a knee injury.

"I've heard a lot about the message," Smith said. "No message has been sent from me. The message is the same message for everyone: There are rules, and everyone has to go by the rules, and (with) Tommie or anyone else, it's left up to them. "If they want to be a part of the team, you're going to go by these rules. It's as simple as that.

"We're going to go back to work. I assume everyone that's here wants to do that. They know what happens if you don't."

Sounds kind of like a message.

Bear paws: Marty Booker's one-handed grab Sunday was made while he was being interfered with by Lions cornerback Travis Fisher, who stuck Booker in the midsection before the ball arrived.

Booker fell to the ground with the ball cradled in his right arm, but officials ruled the pass incomplete, although they did flag Fisher. The Bears challenged, and officials ruled it a catch after replays proved it.

Booker was asked where the 30-yard reception ranked on his personal list of highlight grabs.

"I guess No. 1," he said with a shrug. "I guess you get lucky sometimes. I reached down and tried to give myself a chance to make a play, and it ended up sticking in there. It kind of surprised me."

The catch didn't shock Bears coach Lovie Smith.

"Look at his hands," Smith said of Booker's meat hooks. "Look at those gloves of hands he has. You can see why he can make catches like that."

Second chance: Cedric Benson's disappointing Bears career came to and end June 9 with his release after two alcohol-related arrests, which he was later clear of.

But Bears GM Jerry Angelo, who selected Benson with the fourth overall choice in 2005, says he hopes Benson does well with the Bengals, who signed him last week.

"We wish him well, and it's good that he's getting another chance," Angelo said. "Hopefully, as we all do, we learn by our mistakes."

Benson carried 10 times for 30 yards Sunday in the Bengals' 31-22 loss to the Cowboys.

By the numbers: Rashied Davis had career bests against the Lions with 6 catches and 97 receiving yards. He has 15 receptions for the season, just 7 less than his career best in 2006. ... Rookie running back Matt Forte had a season-low 36 rushing yards on a season-low 15 carries Sunday. His rushing yardage has gone down each week. He opened the season with 123, followed by 92, 89 and 43 in subsequent weeks.