After signing a five-year, $42.5MM extension with the Broncos, Chris Harris took to Twitter to express his gratitude and excitement. “Blessed to be in Denver five more years. Thanks to all my teammates, coaches, and fans for all the love and support.” Here’s more reaction to Harris’ new deal…
- Harris will receive half of his $10MM signing bonus now, and the rest in March, tweets Jeff Legwold of ESPN.com. From a salary cap perspective, the timing of the payout is inconsequential, as the bonus will be prorated on Denver’s cap over the next five seasons. Legwold also notes that the deal means that Harris, Aqib Talib, Bradley Roby, and T.J. Ward, the key members of the Broncos’ secondary, are signed through at least 2017.
- In a separate piece, Legwold passes along some presecient comments by ex-Bronco Champ Bailey, who was a fan of Harris. “Chris is playing the best of any player at his position in the league,” Bailey said in November when announced his retirement. “I hope [the Broncos] pay him like it. I think they will. Knowing John Elway, how he goes about it, I think they will.”
- Speaking to Alex Marvez of SiriusXM NFL Radio (Twitter links), Harris said that negotiations ramped roughly a month ago, and confirmed that Elway was central to the deal getting finalized. Harris allowed that playing this season without long-term security had been strenuous, and that the extension is a “huge relief.”
- Jason Fitzgerald of Over the Cap lauds Elway & Co. for continuing to sign players to below-market deals, and wonders if the allure of playing with Peyton Manning convinces Denver signees to accept less than they’re worth. Fitzgerald also examines the state of the cornerback position, noting the large separation between the “name-brand” CBs (Patrick Peterson, Richard Sherman, Joe Haden) and the next tier of players.
- 49ers cornerbacks Perrish Cox and Chris Culliver are both free agents at the end of the season, but Cam Inman of the Mercury News (Twitter link) doesn’t think San Francisco will attempt to match Harris’ contract when negotiating extensions for its CB duo.