Danieal Manning stays positive in backup role

Sometimes it's hard to find Danieal Manning, but more often than not, he's somewhere in the Bears' defensive alignment.

This year he's been a backup (in the season opener), a starter at free safety who switched to nickel back in passing situations (Games 2-11), and now, just the regular nickel back. He also shares the kickoff-return duties with rookie Johnny Knox.

Of course Manning would rather be a starter, even though he sees action on more than half the defensive plays. But he's trying to take the high road.

"I feel like the coaches are doing it to put the best players in the best position to be successful," Manning said. "That's the positive (way) I'm looking at. I can go off and say anything else (like) 'I wish they wouldn't have moved me here.' But then it's too much distraction worrying about the wrong thing.

"Then we'll continue to lose more games if you continue to be that way, so I just try to stay positive."

Despite his diminished role, Manning is fifth on the team with 71 tackles, and he and middle linebacker Hunter Hillenmeyer are the only Bears with at least 1 sack, interception, forced fumble and recovered fumble.

"I'm just trying to prove I'm a better player now that I'm in the position they want me to play, and I just focus in on that," said the four-year veteran from Abilene Christian. "As far as being a safety, moving around and all that, I didn't like it for the most part. But it did give me an opportunity to play all these positions and show the Bears that I can play all of them."

Manning started 40 games for the Bears, including 29 in his first two seasons, 27 at free safety and two at cornerback.

"If they need me to play here (at nickel), I'll do whatever," he said, "but then again, when you get to the last year of your contract, you feel that you want to make a stand, exactly where you want to be. But, instead of fight it, (I'll) be optimistic and just play."