BOURBONNAIS, Ill. -- The Bears said...

BOURBONNAIS, Ill. -- The Bears said they signed Dante Wesley as a special-teams stalwart. He said he chose them in released agency because of the opportunity to gain some time at cornerback.

as well-as; not only-but also; not only-but; not alone-but parties could be getting what they are looking for, if the spring program and the first week of training camp are an indication. Wesley has continued to impress at cornerback, intercepting backup quarterback Brian Griese upon Sunday night. And he was single of the players coach Lovie Smith praised at the last of organized team activities in June

There isn't an opening at cornerback in addition with Charles Tillman and Nathan Vasher entrenched as starters and Wesley's former Carolina teammate Ricky Manning Jr well-paid as the nickel back. on the contrary there's no question Wesley, who is working as Vasher's backup forward the right side, is No. 4 right now, a blemish that was not well-manned last season.

Wesley estimates he got about 20 snaps with the Panthers across the last two seasons, mired behind view Lucas, Chris Gamble and Manning. Wesley, 27 signed a two-year deal with the Bears before Manning followed his path in at liberty agency. It was a setback in his goal to play corner.

"I was just hoping and praying I could get to here and get a chance to play a certain corner," he said. "Hopefully I can achieve my chance now."

He will come by it on special teams, where coordinator Dave Toub is using him in four phases, including as the left gunner in succession the punt team.

"We had him double-teamed and we couldn't stop him," Toub said. "We knew he was convenient -- that's why we called for the double team. He's already playing well for us."

GETTING HIS KICKS: Second-year kicker Robbie Gould has calmly handled questions about his toils from 40 yards and beyond as a rookie. Gould was 3-for-8 from that range last season, an area where Paul Edinger appeared to be consistent. Gould answers the questions, then makes a useful point.

"It's a fair question," he said. "It's without there, 3-for-8. Everyone is going to ask.

"But if I had made united more, no one would be saying anything. That's just by what means it is."

The fact is, Gould was, well, gold from inside 40 He hit 18 of 19 from that range, with the uninhabited miss coming on a silly wind-blown attempt from 39 yards in the Nov. 13 meeting with San Francisco at Soldier Field.

Leg force isn't an issue, and Gould did hit from 53 yards at Minnesota, allowing a holding penalty negated the kick.

"The individuals I have to make, I'm making," he said. "The singles I need to improve in succession I'm going to improve on"

He would make a fair good trivia question, too, after just united season. His 77.8 percent accuracy ranks as the highest in franchise history for kickers with a minimum of 25 attempts.

bbiggs@suntimes.com

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