Bears defensive tackle Tommie Harris is listed as questionable with a knee injury on the official injury report, but he says he’ll play on Sunday, and he’s getting annoyed with reporters asking him about it. After reporters told Harris that Bears coach Lovie Smith said he hadn’t practiced all week, Harris replied, “Did he tell you I wanted to practice? I’ll see you on the field Sunday.”
When a reporter followed that up by asking him if he expected to play, Harris said, “Didn’t I just say, ‘See you on the field Sunday?’ What does that mean? I’ll see you on the field Sunday.”
Harris then shifted into the third person when asked if he re-injured the knee (which was operated on during the off-season) against Tampa Bay Sunday.
“No,” Harris said. “Tommie was just on vacation. He went on vacation, and I think he just got back this week. We’ll see how he goes. ... He has to show up though, no question. They gave him all that money. I guess since he plays for the money he better do something now since they paid him all that money. That’s what they say, right? ‘He got a new deal, he shut it down.’ I’ve always played for the money? Get out of here. See you guys Sunday.”
Harris seems to have been in a bad mood lately; he also criticized the team this week for releasing wide receiver Mark Bradley, a friend and college teammate at Oklahoma.
If Harris doesn’t play Sunday, Marcus Harrison or Israel Idonije would start in his place.