Thread: Okoye Says He's Glad to be Back............

There's a couple of things I think can be taken from this.

The first is that, above all else, Okoye wanted to return to the Bears even for a $700k vet minimum despite the fact other teams may have offered more if he'd have played the game for a week or so. I think it's always a good sign when a talented young player realizes he's better off where he can showcase his stuff and take the "short money" but maybe earn that long term deal than he is to simply take a few $100k more and then just be treated like he was in TB.

The second thing is once again this kind or proves how players like and respect Lovie Smith and in this instance probably Rod Marinelli too. Schiano sweet talked Okoye away from the Bears with a little more money and a good story but when it comes time to walk the walk all he proved was that he could only talk the talk. Okoye is the third player we've picked who Schiano has let go and two of three will contribute with the Bears this year.

I'm glad to have him back since I never wanted to lose him to begin with and I'm certain Emery didn't want to lose him either and he did do his best to re-sign him. Maybe this is a good lesson for other young players as well. That BBD may not always be as big or so much better than you're led to believe. That big ass contract only pays off IF you make the team.

Welcome back Amobi Okoye.

Originally Posted by Zelezo Vlk

Maybe it'll light a fire under him. I definitely would live to see him play against the Bucs in a few years to see if he holds a grudge against Sciano.

Oh I think there already one starting ZV.

Okoye takes issue with Schiano's parting shots

Bears defensive tackle Amobi Okoye misses Kansas City Chiefs running back Dexter McCluster in the third quarter of the Bears' 10-3 loss to the Chiefs at Soldier Field last December. (Brian Cassella/Tribune Photo / September 3, 2012)

By Vaughn McClure, Tribune reporter 1:46 p.m. CDT, September 3, 2012



Veteran defensive tackle Amobi Okoye, who was re-signed by the Chicago Bears after being released by Tampa Bay, wasn’t pleased with the comments Buccaneers coach Greg Schiano made after the two sides parted ways.

Okoye, who signed with the Buccaneers in the offseason, dealt with right knee inflammation during training camp and saw little action during the preseason. In addressing Okoye’s release, Schiano told the Tampa Bay Times, "At the end of the day, you’ve got to go out and earn a spot."

Schiano also expressed his concern about Okoye's knee to the Times by saying, "It’s not just one surgery. He had a history with the knee."

Okoye felt Schiano’s words -- particularly the reference to his knee problems -- went against everything the coach preached.

"It shocked me when I heard that," Okoye said. "He said the same thing to me during the exit meeting. I reminded him about how I never missed a practice due to my right knee, since I’ve been in the NFL. So how is that a history?


"I feel like, don’t try to put stuff out there that can mess up my livelihood. I thank him for the opportunity to be a Buc. I just wish the things he said could have been rephrased.’’

(It was just a lame excuse he needed to come up with for letting you go. Don't put any stock in it because obviously the Bears didn't. You're back home now so enjoy.)

Okoye played in all 16 games with the Bears last season with one start. The former first-round pick of Houston missed two games in four seasons with the Texans.

He had arthroscopic surgery on the knee in January of 2011 then had another scope in June.

"It wasn’t an actual occurrence where I got hurt. It was just over time," said Okoye, now in his sixth season. "We just noticed from the workouts and the offseason, there was just more pain in there.

"My recovery was going fine. I had (the scope) six weeks before camp. There was just a stage or two left for me to finish before I actually started full-fledged practice. But as soon as camp started, we went right into it. We were supposed to manage it, and we didn’t manage it. That’s Tampa Bay and myself."

Okoye passed a physical with the Bears on Saturday and expects to be good to go for practice this week. He should have no problem readjusting to the defense.

(Funny that Schciano cuts him for missing practices and not earning his keep but he comes here and he starts to practice immediately)

"It fits like a glove," Okoye said. "From being here last year, knowing what I like to do and what this defense asks me to do, it's perfect."

Okoye signed a one-year, $700,000 deal with the Bears. He could earn an additional $300,000 based on playing time and sacks.

vxmcclure@tribune.com

Twitter@ vxmcclure23

he will get his number 91 back... what number will Hayes get?