ALL FOR ONE & ONE FOR ALL
Vets aiding youngsters, even if it may cost them their jobs
Sherrick McManis has one of the most unsung jobs on the Bears.
Not only is he the veteran ace of the special- teams units, but he is ‘‘ coaching up’’ a group of young newcomers — many of whom have little experience on special teams and/ or have higher hopes of becoming regular position players — not just to do the job but to embrace it.
‘‘ My goal as a veteran is to show these guys to have some passion for this,’’ McManis said. ‘‘ Whether you’re the first- round draft pick or a late- round pick, special teams should be something you want to get your hands in. This could be their ticket. You want to excel. You want to succeed and thrive ve in this. It’s been doingng me good these last seven even years.’’
McManis’ team- first attitude comes with one hitch: If he gets enough of them to buy in and excel, succeed and thrive, it might cost him his job. And he knows it. Awkward? “When you’re younger, it could be really awkward,’’ McManis said. ‘‘ When n I was younger, thee mentality was, ‘ I’vee got to do what I’ve got to do for me to make the team.’ As an older player now, it’s like, ‘ I’m going to do what I can do to be the best I can be and help out the team the best I can.’ ‘‘ I care about myself making the team. But I’ve got to bring as many people with me because, if we’re going to make the playoffs and get this championship, we’re going to need everybody on that roster to contribute and play hard. So it’s easy now. That’s what you have to do to have a great team.’’ That selfless approach is more common than not in NFL training camps. And it seems to be extremely high at this Bears camp, a credit to coach John Fox, some players say. But one fact can’t be ignored: There are 90 players on the roster, and only 53 will make the active roster ( plus 10 0 practice-p squad players). And with the thirdthir preseason game game comingc up, it’s gettinggettin closer to nitty- nittygritty time, whenwhe a teammate’sma great playpl can be a death knell forfo your roster ter chances. AndAn coaching upu that undrafted rookie or lateroundr pick can mean there’s no room for you.
How can human nature not take over in that situation?
‘‘ I’ve seen guys before where you can tell that they’re not really pulling for you, just because of the competition part of it,’’ veteran safety Chris Prosinski said. ‘‘ But I haven’t seen that at all on this team, which I think is something special.
‘‘ It’s really not difficult. My approach is, I’m going to help rookies and whoever — whether it’s the playbook or anything. I would never try to short a guy just to win the spot or make them look bad. I’m going to help them as much as I can. If they win the job, it’s gonna happen. So I would never do that.’’
It almost defies human nature, but NFL players are conditioned to root for their teammates and not worry about the consequences.
‘‘ Guys do handle it differently,’’ receiver Marc Mariani said. ‘‘ But our room is really good. When we push each other, it’s only going to make us better. I truly believe the friendships we have are making us a better unit. Guys are just fighting every day, and I’m rooting for every one of them.
‘‘ We all know what’s coming up. But I learned long ago to control the things I can control: How can I be better and push myself every day? If you’ve got 90 guys pushing themselves every day to get better, you’re going to have a hell of a football team.’’