Manning to make strong push for safety job
BOURBONNAIS - After the Bears wrapped up Wednesday's practice at sunny Olivet Nazarene, Danieal Manning ditched his shoulder pads and walked over to the fence to mingle with fans for more than 30 minutes.
The number of autographs he signed? The number of picture requests with which he happily complied?
Approximately equal to the number of roles he has tried to fill since joining the Bears in 2006.
Kick returner. Free safety. Cornerback. Special-teams cover guy. Nickel back.
This season, though, the Bears are trying Manning at strong safety.
He'll make his 2010 debut in Saturday's home exhibition opener against Oakland - he sat out at San Diego with a strained hamstring - and have a prime opportunity to stay there with rookie Major Wright (broken finger) and Craig Steltz (ankle) out for the immediate future.
Might Manning find a home in his fifth year as a pro?
"Once the regular season starts, you'll know where you fit," Manning said. "Always keeping in mind, if things don't work out for me there, the coaches might move me around again."
That thought prompted a grin.
"I don't look at it as a bad thing," Manning said. "They just want to find a great position for me, I guess. I'll try to make it happen.
"If it's not strong, it's free (safety). If it's not free, it's nickel. If it's not any of those, they'll probably just leave me on special teams."
Manning's ascent as strong safety coincides with Al Afalava's plummet on the depth chart.
For those who can remember all the way back to last year, Afalava started 13 games at strong safety as a rookie.
This time around, with starting free safety Chris Harris brought back to town via trade and Wright imported in the draft, Afalava has been reduced to battling for a roster spot.
Afalava came into camp a few pounds overweight, but the bigger issue has been the supersized roster at safety.
"We acquired some other players," said secondary coach Jon Hoke. "That's part of it. Al's still fighting his butt off. He's still in the mix."
"It's the NFL, man," Afalava said. "You've got new guys coming in every year. I was expecting it. All I can do is compete. Right now, my goal is to get a spot on the 53-man roster and go from there."
He went about it in an uneven manner Saturday at San Diego. Afalava picked off an overthrown pass in the red zone but counteracted that positive by earning a flag for pass interference in the end zone. He also didn't do his job as personal protector to Brad Maynard, which resulted in a blocked punt.
He stuck around after Wednesday's practice to do some extra special-teams work.
"It's a fight," Afalava said. "Wherever they need me, I'll help them. It can be on the scout team. It can be on special teams. I just want to try to help."