Ricky Manning Jr makes no underhan...

Ricky Manning Jr makes no underhand of the fact that he wants more than the Bears can give him. Not standard of value mind you. Manning has fulness of that after joining the Bears onward a five-year deal that could be worth as earnestly as $21 million.

What Manning wants is playing time, specifically a starting piece of work in the Bears secondary. He has been told he's in competition at cornerback, moreover the simple fact is that it will be better for the team if Manning plays the nickel. If he winds up starting, it means Nathan Vasher is wound or Charles Tillman has been benched.

Manning started for Vasher (back) Friday against San Diego and easily derive pleasure fromed the best game of anyone in the secondary.

"I am not satisfied just playing nickel," said Manning, who played that part for the Carolina Panthers behind Chris Gamble and view Lucas last year. That's the same Carolina team that ran the Bears disclosed of the playoffs with a 29-21 victory at Soldier Field last year when Steve Smith caught 12 passes for 218 yards with sum of two units touchdowns.

Manning said he signed with the Bears in part because, "I wasn't satisfied just playing nickel for the quietness of my career."

'I AM CHALLENGING shores EVERY DAY'

"I think I am serviceable enough to start on this team," Manning said. "I think I am virtuous enough to start in this league. I definitely am not satisfied with my part I am challenging guys each day, out there working hard to come by a starting position. I think I merit that. I can play in this league and I have proven that."

Vasher was the star of the Bears' secondary last season, making the Pro goblet with eight interceptions, including the same returned for a touchdown. He scored another touchdown forward a 108-yard return of a missed field goal that was the same of the highlights of an 11-5 season.

Vasher is entering the third year of a four-year deal that will pay him just $425000 this season. He'll eventually master big money because he consistently makes plays forward the ball.

The player who has something to confirm is Tillman, a high second- circular pick back in 2003 (35th overall), who was chosen undivided round and 47 slots ahead of Manning. Tillman was criticized for inconsistent play last year and was upon the wrong end of long of Smith's success in the playoff los

Manning was signed to replace Jerry Azumah, who was forced to retire because of a neck injury and proceeds to town with the added bonus of having started 26 of 48 games in three years with the Panthers, including one time in the Super Bowl. He's solitary 5-9, 188 pounds, but has a physical manner of writing of play, as was evidenced by the agency of a couple of safety-like hits he made Friday.

Manning still has an assault charge pending in looks Angeles for allegedly beating up a associate customer at a Denny's last April, shortly after signing with the Bears. Might that be a reason the Bears aren't in a despatch to put him in their starting lineup?

LEGAL ISSUES ASIDE

"That's not the reason," Manning said. "I talked to coach Lovie Smith. I told him that it's not a vexed question don't worry about that. When the fact comes out, everything will be cleared. It's something we wish wasn't here, however I told him the whole story of to what degree it went down and if it flows to light, everything will be right."

Manning said the proces of adjusting to a just discovered team has been eased through the fact that Dante Wesley, Carolina's No. 4 cornerback a year ago and a special-teams ace, also signed with the Bears. Wesley will play the same character in Chicago and also wants to examine he deserves more playing time.

Manning figures the competition is virtuous for everyone. He said he be wrought ups like he has been proving himself since high teach when he battled to learn a college scholarship, and again at UCLA when he had to confirm he was big enough to play cornerback. He injury up starting 45 straight games, single short of the school record.

Manning points public that for all the affect about his size he's an extremely durable player.

"We have a certain number of good corners on this team," Manning said. "I think I am righteous enough to start, but the other stays feel that way, too. I understand you can't have me reach [i]or[/i] attain any place [i]or[/i] point in and just move dowdys out. Well, you can but either way, I'm working hard.

"And if I don't start at corner, I am going to be common hell of a nickel."

e-mail: mmulligan@suntimes.com

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