General manager Jerry Angelo says the Bears are taking “the high road” with suspended defensive tackle Tommie Harris.

“We’re not going to treat it like a big deal because it isn’t a big deal,” Angelo said before Sunday’s game against the Lions.

Angelo said he didn’t think the one-game suspension without pay for insubordination and skipping medical treatments on his left knee will embitter Harris toward the Bears.

“There’s always that concern, but we’re taking the high road with him,” Angelo said. “He’s saying that he was sorry. He understands what he did. He is not making any excuses about anything, other than the fact he was going through some things.

“It’s something we felt we had to do. We did. It’s about the team, first and foremost, because if you don’t have a team, you can’t win. We’re never going to lose sight of that.”

Harris had a son born prematurely out of wedlock on Sept. 14. He also expressed displeasure about the Bears cutting his good fried Mark Bradley, a former second-round draft pick at receiver who later signed with Kansas City.

“He’s going through some things, not unlike a lot of people go through in their life,” Angelo said. “We helped Tommie in everything, like we do with every player in everything they do, both on and off the field, if we can.”

Harris hasn’t done much on the field this season. The three-time Pro Bowler has two tackles in three games and sat out last week’s upset of Philadelphia.

“He has not done the things we’re used to seeing him do,” Angelo said, “but when I look at him, there are certain pockets of his play where he looks just like Tommie. We just haven’t seen a consistent Tommie for 60 minutes.

“That’s what we’re looking for. That’s what I feel we’re going to see starting this week.

Harris’ slow start hasn’t made Angelo second-guess signing Harris to a four-year, $40-million contract extension in the offseason. He said Harris’ knee is no worse than Chicago expected.

“There were health issues that we talked about, but we were comfortable with them, “Angelo said. “This is not about that. He has plenty enough in the tank to be the special player that we paid him to be and we know that he can be.”

Assistant sports editor Matt Trowbridge can be reached at: (815) 987-1383 or mtrowbridge@rrstar.com <mailto:mtrowbridge@rrstar.com>