The day passed and Marques Harris had not returned a phone message. As friendly and polite as they come, it just wasn’t like Harris.
At the end of a day off, when he did call, Harris was full of apologies, and an explanation. Of course, it had to be the kids.
Harris, 26, had just ended a long day in the San Diego community, giving some abused children a day of Christmas shopping.
“Sorry it took so long, but I just did ‘Shop with a Jock.’ It was awesome,” the Grand Junction native and former CU standout said. “The kids were loving it.”
Kids always love life around Harris. He created an after-school program at an elementary school in Boulder while in school and remains affiliated with it.
“I’ll always work with kids,” said Harris, who is married and has two children. “That’s what I love doing.”
Harris, of course, also loves playing football, and he is especially pleased these days for the opportunity to start. With San Diego star outside linebacker Shawne Merriman injured, Harris got the start in the Chargers’ AFC West Division clinching win over Detroit this past Sunday. He may get another shot to start for Merriman on Monday night against the Broncos. Harris admits spelling a star is extra motivation.
“Everyone is watching and expecting a dropoff when a guy like Shawne is out,” Harris said. “But it’s my opportunity to get in and show that I can make plays, and we will still be fine with me in the lineup.”
Harris also gets a chance to make a play for a new contract. After coming into the league in 2005 as an undrafted free agent, Harris will be a restricted free agent this offseason. Should the Chargers not tender him, he’d become an unrestricted free agent. The Parker resident might be intriguing for the Broncos, who could use some help at linebacker.
“I love being with the Chargers,” Harris said. “But everyone’s future is to be seen.”
Getting ready for the draft. The
Broncos are likely heading for a draft
pick in the Nos. 10 to 15 range. It
should place themin position to possibly
move up and take the defensive
stallion they desperately need. But
Denver does like to wheel and deal
when it comes to the draft, and it has
extra picks in the fourth, fifth and seventh
rounds, though it doesn’t have
picks in the third and sixth rounds.
Among the players Denver will
look at are USC defensive tackle
Sedrick Ellis, Miami defensive end
Calais Campbell, Miami safety Kenny
Phillips, Penn State linebacker
Dan Connor, Ohio State linebacker
James Laurinaitis, North Carolina defensive
tackle Kentwan Balmer and
USC linebacker Keith Rivers. It’s
clear the top areas they’ll look at early
in the draft include defensive tackle,
linebacker and safety.
Coaching climate changes. Some
NFL owners were skittish about the
prospect of hiring a college coach after
Nick Saban bolted Miami to go
back to the college ranks last year.
Now, after the fiasco of Bobby Petrino
bailing on the Falcons, the word
around the league is that most teams
will be hard-pressed to consider a
college coach.
Many in the NFL believe college
coaches are lured to the league by
money and the lack of restrictions you
need to deal with as a college coach.
But when the coaches get to the pros,
they are stunned by the culture shock.
Quarterback changes in San
Francisco? It’s interesting that
49ers coach Mike Nolan publicly acknowledged
the team is talking contract
with quarterback Shaun Hill, a
free agent-to-be. He led them to a
win over Cincinnati last week. Could
Nolan be thinking that the journeyman
is the answer at quarterback?
The 49ers may be ready to make a
switch from former No. 1 overall pick
Alex Smith, but is Hill really a possibility?
That would be a stunning turn
of events. Hill would best be viewed
as a solid No. 2 option.
Monday night snoozer. Monday
night’s meaningless game between
San Diego and Denver – on Christmas
Eve no less-could be the lowest-
rated Monday night game in
years. It continues a season of poor
matchups on Mondays. Of the 40 appearances
on Monday night games
this season, Cincinnati, Denver, Baltimore
and Atlanta represent 14 of
them. The Broncos, who will end up
with three regular-season and one
preseason appearance on Monday
night, have the best record of the
group at 6-8.
Around the league. It is time to
give Philadelphia defensive coordinator
Jim Johnson his due. He confused
New England’s machine-like
offense last month and then he made
Dallas quarterback Tony Romo look
average last week. Johnson is a special
coach. …
Got to give credit to that Minnesota
offensive line. Rookie running
back Adrian Peterson is a bona fide
star, but the line anchored by center
Matt Birk and left guard Steve Hutchinson
is special. Of course, Minnesota’s
defensive front is not too bad, either,
with Kevin Williams and Pat
Williams the NFC Pro Bowl starting
tackles. Tackle may be the most pivotal
position on defense, and for the
Vikings to have two Pro Bowl starters
is something special. …
Some in the know say Joe Gibbs
will think long and hard about retiring
after this trying season in Washington. …
Don’t be shocked if Houston listens
to offers for quarterback Sage
Rosenfels in the offseason. In starter
Matt Schaub’s absence due to injury,
Rosenfels has looked good. …
Isn’t it amazing that Detroit defensive
tackle Shaun Rogers is being labeled
a major reason why the Lions
have lost six consecutive games?
Rogers was dominant against Denver
on Nov. 3, which was the Lions’
last win. …
There is some talk
around the league that
Atlanta interim coach
Emmitt Thomas will
get some consideration
for the permanent gig,
but the name to look out for is San
Francisco assistant Mike Singletary. …
Houston defensive end Mario Williams
deserves his recent kudos. After
an average rookie season, he is becoming
a major star. After hearing
what a bust he was and that Houston
blew it by taking him over Reggie
Bush or Vince Young, it is nice to see
Williams enjoy the spotlight. In Year
Two, Williams has clearly been better
than Bush and Young. …
Watch for Cleveland running back
Jamal Lewis to get some serious consideration
for NFL comeback player
of the year. He has been a big part of
the Browns’ offensive renaissance. …
How ’bout this stat? The Colts
have won at least 12 games for five
consecutive seasons. …
Colts rookie receiver Anthony
Gonzalez, the No. 32 pick in the draft,
is coming on strong and should be a
factor for the Colts in the playoffs. …
Speaking of rookies,Tampa Bay defensive
end Gaines Adams is playing
well after a slow start. Adams was
the No. 4 overall pick.
Marques Harris
What does he do? Starting linebacker for the San Diego Chargers
Why is he playing? Pro Bowl linebacker Shawne Merriman is hurt.
How do we know him? He is from Grand Junction and started his college career at Colorado before transferring to Southern Utah State.
Numbers: He has 53 tackles and 5.5 sacks in his three-season NFL career. Harris has 19 tackles and 1 1/2 sacks this season.
FYI: He has continued a program for underprivileged students in Boulder that he started in college.
Bill Williamson
