AMUKAMARA WANTS TO PICK UPPACE OF PICKS
After being blanked, Amukamara hungry for interceptions
‘‘ One of my goals coming into this campwas to get my hands on a lot of balls, and I feel I’ve done that and shown a different side to my game.’’
Cornerback Prince Amukamara knows all too well the NFL pays for picks. That’s one
reason why he’s here — on a one- year, $ 7 million deal with the Bears after getting shut out for the first time in his sixyear NFL career with the Jaguars last season. Meanwhile, Stephon Gilmore signed a five- year, $ 65 million contract with $ 40 million guaranteed with the Patriots after getting five interceptions and making the Pro Bowl last season with the Bills.
“One of my goals coming into this camp was to get my hands on a lot of balls, and I feel I’ve done that and shown a different side to my game,” Amukamara said. “Last year, it’s on the stat sheet that I didn’t have any interceptions. [ I’m] just showing these coaches that last year was a fluke. Now I have to carry it over to the game.”
Amukamara has only seven interceptions in six NFL seasons, but he had at least one in each of his five seasons with the Giants, including three in eight games in 2014. Interception statistics can be even more
deceiving than sacks. Apick in the end zone to clinch a game counts the same as one on a Hail Mary in a blowout.
But a goose egg stands out for a cornerback.
“It definitely hurts your pride a little bit,” Amukamara said. “You can’t really talk about howgreat you are as a corner if you don’t get your hands on balls. You can ask any corner, [ they] would rather get beaten for 10 touchdowns in a year and still get six or seven picks. Of course, the coaches wouldn’t like that, but the corner personally would love that because all they see is six or seven picks.
“[ I’m] not saying that’s what I’m looking forward to, but I’m just trying to get my hands on as many balls as you can.”
The Bears are emphasizing interceptions after getting only eight
— Prince Amukamara, Bears cornerback
last season. Only the Browns, with seven, had fewer. And Amukamara has taken that to heart, with a push from secondary coach Ed Donatell.
“Coach Ed has really been on my case passionately, just always doing ball drills,” Amukamara said. “And he’s challenged me to go into the receiver lines and learn from them and also just catch with them. I’m catching balls every day, so I’m used to having the ball in my hand.”
Amukamara is on his third team in three years after the Giants and Jaguars let him go in free agency. That’s not his only source of motivation, but it fuels his desire for a big season.
“Not getting signed by New York, not getting signed by Jacksonville, and both of those teams picked up free- agent corners, so, of course, that takes a shot at you for a little bit,” he said. “But I think there’s something special about Chicago. There’s a lot of history here. I really like the camaraderie we’ve built here. It’ more about improving the team, improving the defense and getting back to the ‘ old days.’ ”
Amukamara might have one factor in his favor: The Bears’ front seven looks primed for a big year. Theoretically, that could create opportunities the secondary did not have last season.
“A hundred percent; that was one of the reasons why I came here,” Amukamara said.
“I worked out with Akiem Hicks a couple of years ago, and I knew he was here. I really love the way [ Jerrell] Freeman plays. And a young guy like [ outside linebacker Leonard] Floyd is just hungry to get to the quarterback. So I think that adds into making our job easier, and hopefully on the back end, we can make their job easier, too.”