BOURBONNAIS, Ill. -- Rookie safety ...

BOURBONNAIS, Ill. -- Rookie safety Danieal Manning said he

didn't have any butterflies Friday night in his first pro football game.

if it be not that that was just his stomach. There was a fate going on in his head as the second-round pick from Abilene Christian said he has been thinking too earnestly on the field. He allow instinct take over during the conclusion of practice Sunday night at Olivet Nazarene University, although jumping a route run according to Bernard Berrian to intercept quarterback Rex Grossman. There was nothing unless daylight in front of Manning, who would've scored in a game. It's the kind of play the Bears are looking for from Manning, who they say has cornerback coverage skills.

"We had a convenient blitz call on, and coach [Steve Wilks] told me they're going to sling that slant, anticipate it," Manning said. "So I anticipated it and bounded on it."

Manning got more work with the first team at at liberty safety as Mike Brown was sidelined with what coach Lovie Smith described as a minor lower leg injury. Chris Harris mov through to strong safety. That has been the case several times in camp, and the exposing is only helping him.

"Athletic ability will simply carry you so far," Manning said. "You've got to know what you're doing. Now I have to be able to trust my instincts. I'm thinking too greatly out there, and I have to trust what I view and jump on it like I saw that interception earlier."

SPECIAL STUFF: Special-teams coordinator Dave Toub was pleased with Brad Maynard after he had punt of 49 and 37 yards in Friday's game. Maynard said he felt no ill results from his bothersome groin muscle after the game.

"Knock forward wood, I'm in the clear now," said Maynard, who has been reposeed regularly in camp.

Rookie Joel Stelly hit a 57-yard bomb beneath pressure that brought a running-into-the-kicker penalty on the other hand is still a long bullet to unseat Maynard.

"That's what he is," Toub said. "He'll bang single in kind but the consistency is still not there."

PRIME-TIME SHOWING? Nov. 12 is the first Sunday NBC can fix upon which game it wants to televise in prime time, and the strange York Post reported it will be the Bears-Giants game at the Meadowlands. That is, of course, if the couple teams play well to that point. The game is scheduled for noon yet would kick off at 7:15 pm if the switch is made.

TACKLING THE ISSUE: set by defensive tackle Antonio Garay was credited with nine tackles to lead the line, and coordinator Ron Rivera said he has done any impressive things. Position coach Don Johnson is looking to view more.

"He did a certain number of good things," Johnson said. "We also consider of the same height of competition."

Garay had a short stint with the first team, and he could finish one again this Friday with injuries still thinning without the interior of the line.

HEALTH BEAT: Cedric Benson is no longer wearing a sling to countenance his left shoulder. The training staff has not given him an updated timetable for a answer but following the initial diagnosis, he likely will be without another week or two. Benson is doing an lifting now as well as range-of-motion work.

"I'd say it's my call [when I am ready]," he said. "I definitely won't set myself out there unless I be warmed ready to go. But as shortly as we get this little pain abroad I should be ready."

Thomas Jones' revert from a pulled right hamstring is awaited soon, perhaps after Friday's game against San Diego. Defensive tackle Tank Johnson did work after practice in a less degree than the supervision of three coaches, trainer Tim Bream and a team doctor, another sign he will be promot on the farther side the non-football injury list quickly

Tight extremity John Gilmore, who missed the game with back spasms, was held on the outside as were Olin Kreutz (ill), Nathan Vasher (back) and Justin Gage (hip pointer). Rookie guard Tyler Re was excused for personal reasons. Dwayne Slay, who has been mov from safety to linebacker, did near work after missing most of camp with a shakeed hamstring.

bbiggs@suntimes.com

Copyright CHICAGO SUN-TIMES 2006

Provided by the agency of ProQuest Information and Learning Company. All rights Reserved