CHICAGO — Criticized for not pursuing a top running back or offensive lineman during free-agency, the Chicago Bears always maintained keeping their own players under contract rated as bigger priorities.

They continued to stay true to that philosophy tonight when defensive tackle Tommie Harris signed a four-year contract worth $40 million that a league source confirmed guarantees him $18 million overall and $27 million the first three years of a deal that will keep him a Bear through 2012.

The Bears have called a Friday news conference to celebrate a package that will make Harris the NFL's highest-paid defensive tackle.

Harris was at a gathering with family and friends Thursday night celebrating his new largesse and only paused briefly to send a text message that said, "I'm blessed."

The Bears feel just as fortunate to have locked up young, core defensive players Harris and linebacker Lance Briggs this off-season. Briggs was an unrestricted free-agent and Harris was headed there entering the final year of his rookie contract.

But negotiations with Harris' agent, Drew Rosenhaus, heated up in recent weeks until the Miami-based agent arrived in town today to finalize the deal. If they couldn't come to terms, the Bears were prepared to stick the franchise tag on Harris for 2009.

Harris, a Pro Bowl selection two of the past three years, has excelled despite leg injuries that have plagued him in recent seasons. The Bears' Cover-2 defense that requires dominating single gaps with quick, upfield bursts ideally suits Harris and should make him worth every penny of his contract.

Now the Bears will shift their focus to resuming negotiations on contract extensions for Devin Hester and Brian Urlacher, which have been ongoing. Hester has expressed frustration over the terms of his deal and Urlacher's contract demands have dominated talk around Halas Hall since February.

Extending Harris' contract represents the best Bears news in an off-season that hasn't included much.

By locking Harris up long-term, the Bears showed a willingness to respond to the marketplace no matter how out of whack it seems.

The Raiders set the bar outrageously high when they signed relatively unproven defensive tackle Tommy Kelly to a seven-year, $50.5 million deal that included $25.125 million in the first three years.

The Browns also restructured a deal for veteran Shaun Rogers that will pay him $42 million over six years, including $23 million in the first three. The Jets signed Kris Jenkins to a five-year, $30.25 million deal that put him in the same, rich neighborhood.

Harris, who has vowed to be the best tackle in the league, and his representatives always believed he had more value than any of them.

Clearly, the Bears agree.