Chicago Bears sign tackle Leno to 4-year contract extension
Three years ago, offensive tackle Charles Leno was a lowly seventh-round draft pick (246th overall) from Boise State, sleeping on an inflatable mattress in a bedroom at teammate Kyle Long's house.
True story?
"Heck yeah, man," said Leno, who on Wednesday signed a four-year extension for $38 million, including $21.5 million guaranteed. "I was at Kyle Long's place as a rookie, not even knowing if I'm going to make the roster. Sleeping on an inflatable mattress that I bought from Wal-Mart, and now look where I'm at. Maybe I'll move (in) next to him or something like that. Who knows?"
Leno struggled as a rookie in 2014 and even the following year, when he moved into the starting lineup at left tackle in Game Four when Jermon Bushrod was injured. He hasn't missed a start since.
"I never was handed anything in life," Leno said. "I worked for everything I got and have now, and I'm going to continue to work. Never going to stop, just take things day-by-day, step-by-step and always continue to get better and good things will happen to you."
Leno could have opted to test the waters in free agency at the end of this season, when his rookie contract ($2.267 million over four years with $46,512 guaranteed) would have expired. But he's happy here.
"I feel like I want to be here for a long time - why not take it now?" he said. "I don't care if I take less. I don't care if I take more. It doesn't really matter. I just want to be here."
The Bears are happy as well.
"We feel good about him and we rewarded him," coach John Fox said. "He's a guy we felt good about."
Here all week:
Future Hall of Fame quarterback and entertaining TV pitchman Peyton Manning was at Bears practice Wednesday and spoke to the team.
Manning played for Bears coach John Fox for three years in Denver, including the 2013 team that lost in the Super Bowl.
"He does a lot of visits and a lot of talks," Fox said. "I think he did some car dealership stuff (Wednesday). I think he's enjoying retirement. He does a couple commercials here and there.
"He was in the area. We have a good relationship, a long relationship just because we've both been in the league for a long time. It'll be good to catch up."
Rookie quarterback Mitch Trubisky spoke with Manning one-on-one after practice.
"We talked about the offense a little bit, just how things are going," Trubisky said. "How this is a good offense because he used to play in a similar one. So he was just giving me some pointers, things I could do moving forward, how this is a great offense to be in, and how I've got some good coaches to help me out."
Down and out:
Running back Ka'Deem Carey had wrist surgery Monday and is expected to be out approximately six weeks.
That position was one of the deepest on the team, but Jeremy Langford has only recently returned to full practice after suffering a sprained ankle on the first day of training camp. Starter Jordan Howard missed the second preseason game with a scratched cornea but has returned to practice.
Rookie Tarik Cohen has supplied most of the rushing offense so far with 116 yards on 18 carries for a 6.4-yard average.
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