Bears' Tommie Harris Ejected for Punch

Bears defensive tackle Tommie Harris was ejected from Sunday's Chicago-Arizona game after throwing a punch to the face of Cardinals guard Deuce Lutui.

The incident occurred just four plays into the contest. Lutui, who was blocking Harris on a running play, was lying face down on the Soldier Field turf when Harris grabbed him, lifted him slightly and landed an uppercut to Lutui's facemask.

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The punch occurred right in front of referee Ed Hochuli, who immediately threw a flag. Harris was given a 15-yard unsportsmanlike conduct penalty and tossed.

After the game, free safety Danieal Manning said Harris apologized to the team.

"We understood," Manning said. "I've been ejected before; it was high school. You've just got to try to get away from the guy when you can, but we understand where Tommie was coming from. I think the guy was shoving him, but I really don't know."

Harris, who had been suffering from a knee injury, was unexpectedly inactive two weeks ago for Chicago's loss in Cincinnati. Bears general manager Jerry Angelo declared Harris healthy a couple of days prior to that game, then called Harris out after he sat.

Harris later said that his knee wasn't why he missed the game, leading to some speculation that head coach Lovie Smith had benched his starting defensive tackle in hopes of motivating him. Harris has just nine tackles and no sacks this season, despite starting seven games, counting Sunday's brief cameo.

"I know the result," Smith said. "There's nothing Tommie can really tell me."

The NFL will no doubt take a second look at Harris' haymaker on Lutui, and a suspension seems probable. Chicago plays again Thursday at San Francisco.

Reader Comments (Page 1 of 4)

11-08-2009 @ 2:08PM

Brian said...

punching someone in the face mask seems like a pretty good way to break your own hand and do nothing to the other person. what an idiot.

11-09-2009 @ 12:34AM

rharrigfeld124 said...

Brian, according to the article, he pulled the facemask up and punched underneath it. Difficult to see on the video, but either way, there is no excuse for it. He's a dirty player and should be suspended for at least 6 games, but the NFL will probably only suspend him for a game or 2 max.

11-09-2009 @ 9:31AM

pxamerican3 said...

rhharrfeld, I would agree with the NFL if they are going to suspend him one game or two. It was a punch and nobody got hurt but himself. Try to forgive and forget. Oh, oh, what's about the hockey players? They punch a lot, didn't they? ... that's why I go for a game or two suspension.

11-09-2009 @ 1:27PM

Sieben said...

Please help me to understand why NFL players are penalized & treated so differently than the true THUGS in Hockey

11-08-2009 @ 3:07PM

jj said...

Gee, where are all those pre-season Bears fans who couldn't talk enough about Cutler's "big arm" and how it would take Chicago to the Super Bowl? I guess they all got new screen names.
The funniest was the guy who said Devin Hester was the big WR and with the "big arm" now at QB, the Bears would dominate.
Don't worry, though.
Cutler will put up HUGE numbers now that the game is out of reach (31-7). This is where he makes all his yards.
Of course, it isn't his fault.
It's everybody else's fault.
Jay was 17-21 at Denver.
Wasn['t his fault there, either.
It was everybody else's.
Just hysterical.
This will be the theme for the next 4 years.
No playoffs for the Bears.
Excuses from the OL to the WRs to the D.
Just so it ain't Jay's fault.
That's all that matters.
Just absolutely hysterical.
The Bears having a whiney, immature brat at QB but it ain't his fault. Ever !!!

11-08-2009 @ 3:26PM

jason said...

Dude, I am not really sure why you are so eager to rip down Jay Cutler. Nothing about his immaturity has caused the Bears to lose this year and if you watched the Bears play you would know that. Has he played to a Pro Bowl level this year, no but he has played well above average and the majority of Bears fans know the Bears would have the same record if not worse with Kyle Orton under center.

Now I am one of the people that believed the Bears would be improved this year and would find themselves in the playoffs. Obviously at this point, that is VERY unlikely. However, on the lists of reasons as to why, Jay Cutler is down on the list. The Bears have had terrible play by their defense. They have given up huge numbers to the Bengals and Cardinals today, along with decent numbers to below average teams in the Seahawks and Lions. The Bears OL has been really bad whether in run blocking or pass protection. They are mostly old and at this point mostly bad. Teams get a TON of pressure rushing 4 and if that happens, its difficult for any QB. The Bears have also been hit hard with Injuries making things difficult. Finally, they have had poor coaching all around. Bad play calls, people unmotivated and being over all unprepared as a team. All these things are MUCH more responsible for the Bears 4-4 record than Jay Cutler.

Just give up on the Jay bashing. It is unnecessary and just over all the wrong thing to blame.

11-08-2009 @ 3:38PM

Mark said...

Yeah man. I am watching Cutler throw against a base Cardinals' defense and naturally he is racking up the yardage and the TDs. Couldn't agree with you more. All those clowns who come up with all the stats to defend Cutler must be cousins of the people in Denver who did the same thing. It's what allows Cutler to prevail. The people who say it isn't him have the Bears' blinders on. Doesn't matter. The Ws and Ls say it all. Even Cutler's worshippers can't defend that.

11-08-2009 @ 3:54PM

Really? The Ws and Ls say it all huh? Please explain to me how the Bears getting totally destroyed 45-10 is on Jay Cutler. Explain to me how the Cardinal game today is on Jay Cutler when the defense can not get off the field and has given up 34+ points?

As stated above, i know Jay Cutler has not played up to a Pro Bowl level but saying the Ws and Ls say it all is asinine.

11-08-2009 @ 3:55PM

Well, Jason, your boy Jay has 345 yards and 3 TDs against the Cardinals fourth quarter prevent. That should look good on his resume, right?
I think you'll be nmking excuse for this guy until 2010, when a new group of O-linemen and WRs still don't get Chicago to the playoffs.
But fear not.
You can then blame Lovey and the DBs.
Remember, there are always people to blame.
Just so long as it isn't Jay.
He's going to get 400 yards today.
What a QB you have there in Chicago.
8,000 passing yards and a 7-9 record.
The quality QBs throw quickly, set up efficiently and read in seconds.
Cutler does none of those things.
The former QBs make a below average OLlook decent.
Cutler makes a below average OL get the blame.

11-08-2009 @ 4:02PM

Pointing out other deficiencies is not making excuses, it is pointing out that in a team game, it is not always about one player. As i pointed out, I know Jay Cutler has not played to a Pro Bowl level but he has played above average. Putting the Ws and Ls strictly on Cutler is just wrong. I will ask you the same thing I asked Mark. How is Cutler to blame for today's game? or the Bengals game?

Also, your last OL argument does not hold up when the Bears started 3 new OL this year.

11-08-2009 @ 4:05PM

Paul said...

Cutler sets up slowly and takes an extra second to go through his rotations. A mediocre OL can make someone like this look bad.
Some QBs have quick releases, throw on timing and set up fast. They sense the rush well. I saw Cutler actually run into his own lineman today and get sacked because he was confused by where the rush was coming from.
People like this jason are Bears fans who don't want to see these things. Cutler is g-o-d to these types. Don't argue with them. They even throw out the won-loss record. It means nothing. All that matters is that Cutler gets his 400+ yards and no blame for the record.
The wins are Cutlers and the losses are not.That's how these fans see it.
Nothing you can do. The Big Arm needs to be exposed more before the fanatics see its true colors.

11-09-2009 @ 8:56AM

TheMcEntyres said...

Dude,you are an idiot who knows nothing about the game of football.Cutler was 13-1 when scoring 20 or more point with the Broncos and Broncos defense was as bad as this year Bears defense is.Don't talk sh*t about something you know nothing about.Go back to your home-school and get educated.Cutler is a great QB playing again on bad defenseive teams.Grow up,dude !!!!!

11-08-2009 @ 3:34PM

pbgough said...

I'm still fairly confident that they will beat the Rams in December and the Lions in January! Thats only a few weeks away to watch them win their next game...Go Da Bears!

11-08-2009 @ 4:11PM

I will say this again. I AM NOT SAYING CUTLER IS GOD. I know he has has struggled at times. I know he has not played at a Pro Bowl level. I am just saying that putting everything on him is wrong. Every QB in this league needs the pieces around him to be successful. Peyton Manning won nothing til his Defense improved. Matt Cassel was huge last year with great pieces around him and has been mediocre this year. IT IS A TEAM GAME. That has been my whole point.

I did not bring up the W-L record. I just asked the question as to how some games are put on him. I don't like to put the record on anyone but the coaching staff and GM.

11-08-2009 @ 4:16PM

Let's call it a day, Jason.
I'm not picking on you and I think the rest of the guys here don't seem to be either.
You like Cutler.
I don't.
2010 and 2011 can easily resolve our dispute.
See you then. jj

11-08-2009 @ 5:02PM

Sirpaul10 said...

Don't use the names Jake Cutler and Payton Manning in the same message. They're not even close. Jake can't tie his shoes. Payton is the man.

http://www.pro-football-reference.com/players/M/MannPe00.htm

11-08-2009 @ 6:14PM

Wasn't comparing them, just saying that it takes more than one player good or bad to win.

11-08-2009 @ 4:13PM

You ask how today's blowout can be attributed to Cutler.
Since his days at Denver, Cutler has been a home run thrower, taking 7-step drops and winding up for the deep ball.
When your defense is struggling, clock is how to win. Remember Eli Manning's opening drive of the '07 Super Bowl? almost 10 minutes of clock ...
Cutler is not disciplined enough to dink and dunk his way down the field. He throws one for 4 yards, gets 3 yards from Forte and then looks for the deep ball down the middle.
Cutler lacks discipline. That's my answer. Discipline would help his defense. Cutler is a home run thrower. He makes few at-the-line adjustments because he doesn't excel at pre-snap reads.
So you got two from me. I doubt you'll accept either one. A quarterback's play overall can affect every aspect of a team. Cutler is not a quality QB. He just has a strong arm... and a light head. I'm sure you've heard the Jeff George-Ryan Leaf refefences already. I see Cutler in the general group.

11-08-2009 @ 4:19PM

Alright. Lets say for the sake of arguement, I do accept your points. If that is the case, then Kyle Orton is the perfect QB for this offense correct? a disciplined guy who will dink and dunk down the field, yes? Then why weren't the Bears in the playoffs last year? it resulted in 9-7 on the outside looking in. explain that to me.