Bears Tailgate Insider – Jay Cutler, Brian Urlacher, Tommie Harris

New Bears QB Jay Cutler and LB Brian Urlacher shot down reports of a rift, saying they’re simply not true.

“There’s nothing between us,” Cutler said Thursday, when he reported to training camp. “I just want to put that to rest. There never has been anything between us.” Urlacher added: “I never said what I was quoted as saying and that’s it. I have a lot of respect for Jay. I think Jay knows that.”

Vikings receiver Bobby Wade started the controversy Wednesday when he told a Twin Cities radio station that Urlacher used a derogatory word to describe Cutler.

“Jay Cutler is a good player,” Wade said during an appearance on Paul Allen’s show on KFAN Radio. “Obviously, it’s a much different environment going from Denver to play in Chicago. Chicago is a tough club to play for. What is so funny, I actually saw Brian Urlacher this past weekend in Las Vegas and we had a long conversation. I don’t want to get him in trouble, but it wasn’t what (the Bears) expected. Pretty much (Urlacher) said Jay Cutler was a (deleted) for the most part.”

Urlacher denied making the comments in an interview with the Chicago Tribune.

“Oh, please. I don’t think I would ever say that about one of my teammates,” Urlacher said. “Look, Bobby Wade’s a friend of mine. He’s trying to get things going before training camp. That’s just Bobby being Bobby.”

Tommie Harris will be back on the field Friday when the Bears conduct their first training camp practice at 3 p.m.

“Tommie wasn’t 100 percent during some of the offseason work,” said coach Lovie Smith. “He is now, so our plan is for Tommie to get right into the mix just like the rest of our players.”

The Bears will monitor Harris, but they feel confident that he’s capable of reverting to the dominant form he displayed in 2005-07 when he was voted to three consecutive Pro Bowls. He has already benefited from working with new defensive line coach Rod Marinelli.

“Some of our players who have had injuries in the past, we’ve watched them closely and we’ll do that with Tommie, but he’s ready to go,” Smith said. “Tommie can be the best lineman in the game, and he’s healthy right now. He’s excited to play at that level. I know Rod is excited to get a chance to work with Tommie and the rest of our defensive line. Our lines dictate everything we do offensively and defensively, and they are ready to go.”