Chicago Bears' Amukamara says just look at the film
Cornerback Prince Amukamara signed a one-year, $7 million, fully guaranteed contract with the Chicago Bears when he didn't receive the multiyear deal he was expecting in free agency.
The former 2011 first-round draft pick has started when healthy for the past five years, and he's considered a better-than-average cover corner. But he has had more than 1 interception just once, when he had 3 in 2014 with the New York Giants.
"Stats are great for players when it works in your favor," Amukamara said. "But I feel like when you watch film that's the ultimate eye test. On the stat sheet, I didn't look as sexy as everybody else, but I believe that I'm a lockdown corner and my strength is just playing man. Mano-a-mano, I'm going to line up on the best guy, and I'm trying to take him out of the game."
Learning from mistakes:
Cornerback Marcus Cooper was cut in 2013 as a seventh-round rookie by the San Francisco 49ers, whose defensive coordinator at the time was Vic Fangio, now the Bears' DC.
After three years with the Kansas City Chiefs (who grabbed him after he was cut) and one with the Arizona Cardinals, Cooper received a $16 million, three-year deal from the Bears that includes $8 million in guarantees.
"I've just been able to go through some things as a corner, get burned as a corner and had some success as a corner," Cooper said. "That's allowed me to grow mentally and competitively."
Notable quotes:
Tight end Zach Miller tweeted out his feelings for Jay Cutler after the quarterback was released: "You took every bullet for our football team and never once pointed a finger."
Former Bears safety Chris Conte, who re-signed with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers last week for $5 million over two years, tweeted this about new Bears quarterback Mike Glennon, his teammate the past two years: "Will work harder than anyone, very smart, throws the ball as well as anyone."
• Follow Bob's Bears reports on Twitter @BobLeGere.