19 May 2023 , 20:41
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Former Super Bowl winner Chris Harris Jr is chasing another championship ring, but the former Denver Broncos and Los Angeles Chargers star is in no rush whatsoever to land a spot on an NFL roster.
The 34-year-old defensive back, a star of the Broncos' title-winning team in 2016, completed his 12th NFL season in 2022, joining the New Orleans Saints practice squad two months into the campaign before being elevated to the full roster, playing 10 games.
Statistically, it was Harris' poorest year of a fine career – which has included four Pro Bowl selections and one First-team All-Pro accolade – allowing a 78 per cent completion rate, according to Pro Football Focus.
Yet Harris believes he has plenty left in the tank and he wants to continue his NFL career, but he will not be putting in the hard yards with a team in training camp this summer. Instead, he wants to bide his time and see how the season develops in hope of "hopping on" with a contender.
"(Teams) pretty much know I'm not planning on doing any training camp or anything like that," Harris told The Denver Gazette. "I'll do the same thing I did last year. I'm not doing training camp and all that OTAs (organised team activities) and stuff like that anymore.
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"I want to wait and see what team has a great chance to win a Super Bowl and then try to hop on with them,"
"I feel ready to go. I don't have any issues. I feel great. I haven't even got a chance to play safety or anything like that. I've been playing corner for 12 years. I definitely still got a lot left."
Chris Harris Jr was a cornerstone of the Denver Broncos' excellent defense when they won the Super Bowl in 2016. (Eric Lutzens/The Denver Post)At his peak, Harris was one of the best defensive players in the NFL, far exceeding expectations after going undrafted in 2012, often locking down high-level receivers during a successful era for the Broncos.
Harris' numbers from his short stay with the Saints will pose some concern for coaches and front offices assessing the veteran cornerback, but he undoubtedly would offer a wealth of big-game experience to a team that is hit by injuries down the stretch, and his acumen amassed from more than 170 career starts would aid him if required to step in at short notice.
But for now, the 34-year-old is taking it easy. “Just taking it day-by-day,’’ he added. “Just enjoying this free time. I’m in no rush.”