LITTLE ROCK — BEARS Harris released
LAKE FOREST, Ill. - The Chicago Bears released veteran safety Chris Harris on Thursday after he asked for a trade, ending his second run with the team.
Coach Lovie Smith said the move had been building over several weeks of sub par play.
“We don’t all of a sudden wake up one morning and just say, ‘Hey, we’re going to go this direction,’ ” Smith said. “It’s a pattern and I feel good about the decision that we had to make.”
Harris (Little Rock Fair) got beat for a touchdown pass and dropped an interception Sunday against Tampa Bay. He had asked for a trade two weeks ago and was inactive against the Minnesota Vikings on Oct. 16, but then started Sunday in London against the Buccaneers.
“We have young guys that we have in our starting lineup that we like,” Smith said. “We’ll see how they play. We feel pretty confident that they’ll play good football.”
Rookie Chris Conte started Sunday at free safety against Tampa Bay and made his first career interception while second-year player Major Wright is the starter at strong safety. Harris has played both spots.
Smith has maintained that Harris couldn’t help the team on special teams, so he was less valuable than some other safeties if he wasn’t starting.
“Chris doesn’t play special teams, can’t really play special teams,” Smith said. “We have better options there. We’re trying to win a championship. The guys we’re keeping here I feel like give us our best chance to do it.”
Wright (hip injury) is expected back for the Bears’ next game, Nov. 7 at Philadelphia. The other safeties on Chicago’s roster are Brandon Meriweather, Craig Steltz and Anthony Walters.
Harris was in his second stint with the Bears after being traded back from Carolina last year for linebacker Jamar Williams. After tying for the team lead in interceptions with five last season, he started the opener against Atlanta but missed the next three games due to a pulled hamstring.
BROWNS
Hillis doesn’t practice
BEREA, Ohio - Peyton Hillis’ bumpy season has hit another pothole.
Hillis (Conway, Arkansas Razorbacks) did not practice Thursday, one day after he returned from a strained left hamstring that kept him out of last Sunday’s game. On Wednesday, Hillis practiced for the first time since getting hurt in the Cleveland Browns’ Oct. 16 game at Oakland.
Browns Coach Pat Shurmur described Hillis as being a “little sore” and said the team will “back him down” as it prepares for Sunday’s game at San Francisco. Shurmur said he’s hopeful Hillis, whose messy contract situation and injuries have sabotaged his second season with Cleveland, will be able to play against the 49ers.
Hillis had hoped to put the distractions behind him and Wednesday said he was confident there was still time for him to have a big season. He rushed for nearly 1,200 yards and 11 touchdowns last season, endearing him to Cleveland’s fans and earning him the cover of the “Madden 12” video game.
Shurmur believes Hillis, who vowed not to talk about his contract status again this season, is staying positive despite the setbacks.
“I think he’s hanging in there, taking this thing day to day, trying to get healthy. I don’t sense frustration,” Shurmur said.
Hillis was not available for interviews after Thursday’s indoor practice. He came into the Browns’ locker room briefly before leaving.
TITANS
Hasselbeck practices
NASHVILLE, Tenn. - Matt Hasselbeck said his right thumb feels just fine, and he’s played with much worse in the past. The Tennessee Titans veteran quarterback didn’t want to miss any practice.
Coach Mike Munchak said Thursday that’s why team officials make decisions about injuries, not the players.
“I think we did the right thing by telling him he couldn’t do it even though he’s a guy that’s never going to come over to you and say, ‘Hey, can I rest my thumb?,’ ” Munchak said. “I would never expect him to do that. Even if it’s hanging off his hand, I know he’d want to practice so it was up us to do that, and I think we did the right thing. He’s better today, threw well today, and I’m sure the next couple days will be good. He’s in great shape.”
Hasselbeck practiced fully Thursday after being limited Wednesday. He said his thumb wasn’t that bad Wednesday, but that they didn’t want a bunch of snaps banging against his hand. The benefit was extra work for rookie Jake Locker, the eighth pick overall, and Rusty Smith.
“And when you’re as old as I am, when you’re 36, they start giving you days off if you sneeze too much,” Hasselbeck joked.
He said he bruised the thumb in last week’s 41-7 loss to Houston when he hit his throwing hand on the arm or elbow of a defensive lineman.
LIONS Stafford ‘improved’
ALLEN PARK, Mich. - Detroit quarterback Matthew Stafford worked with the first team at practice Thursday, a sign of progress after he hurt his ankle last weekend.
“He has improved,” Coach Jim Schwartz said. “I think that he’s on a pretty good track right now.”
Stafford was limited Wednesday, but he looked comfortable a day later in the portion of practice open to reporters. He hurt his right ankle late in Sunday’s 23-16 loss to Atlanta, hobbling off the field after a fourth-down incompletion, but it was hard to tell how serious the injury was because the Lions never got the ball back after Stafford came off.
Detroit plays at Denver this Sunday. Stafford has completed 60 percent of his passes this season, for 1,912 yards with 16 touchdowns and 4 interceptions.
CHARGERS
Dielman to miss game
SAN DIEGO - San Diego Chargers Pro Bowl left guard Kris Dielman suffered a grand mal seizure on the flight home Sunday after sustaining a concussion in a loss to the New York Jets, a person with knowledge of the situation said Thursday.
The person, who spoke to The Associated Press on condition of anonymity because the team doesn’t release specific injury details, said an ambulance met the team plane and Dielman was hospitalized overnight. The person said the seizure occurred during the plane’s descent into San Diego.
The 320-pound Dielman was staggered by the injury early in the fourth quarter but continued to play. The Chargers were out of offensive linemen due to other injuries.
Dielman, a four-time Pro Bowler known for his hard-nosed demeanor, declined to comment on the seizure. He did say he won’t play in Monday night’s game at Kansas City, “pretty much off of what I feel.” He said he has lingering headaches.
“It’s just one of those plays. I banged my head a little bit, and now I’ve got to deal with it,” Dielman said.
REDSKINS Sellers hospitalized
ASHBURN, Va. - Washington Redskins fullback Mike Sellers is hospitalized after hurting his back on a rowing machine in the team’s weight room.
Coach Mike Shanahan said Thursday that Sellers would stay in the hospital overnight.
The injury is one of many for the Redskins. Cornerback DeAngelo Hall did not practice due to a hip injury, and left tackle Trent Williams is sidelined with a sprained right ankle.
Linebacker London Fletcher, who has played in 214 consecutive games, was limited with a sore hamstring. Shanahan said it’s “hard to even think about a guy like that being out - he’d have to be out there on one leg.”
Sports, Pages 23 on 10/28/2011