Buried in an article about how desperate the Bears are for defensive talent was an interesting thought by Neil Hayes of the Chicago Sun-Times.
Could Julius Peppers push Tommie Harris off the Bears roster?
Hayes credits two sources that say Harris is at serious risk of being released before a $5 million bonus is due in June. Signing a big-ticket defensive lineman like Peppers could make the team less likely to blow more money on Harris, who has struggled in recent years.
Ultimately, we’re not sure the issues are truly related. The Bears are willing to spend big money this year, and the team’s decision makers are mostly “desperate” to save their jobs.
Even if that means overpaying for a free agent and someone already on the roster.