Bears RB Velus Jones: 'I don’t want to leave this place'

Velus Jones’ agent told him that at least one team had called the Bears and offered them a third-day draft pick for him before cuts last week.

He’s happy the team said no.

“I’m still happy I’m a Chicago Bear,” he said before Wednesday’s practice at Halas Hall. “I don’t want to leave this place. This place is special. [General manager] Ryan [Poles] and the staff, they believe in me. I’m pretty excited [about] this year. So it’s a blessing to still be here.”

A month ago, it wasn’t clear that he would be. The Bears moved the former third-round pick from receiver to running back as a last resort. Jones, though, impressed the Bears with his attitude and running acumen. That, combined with his ability to play on kicking downs, earned him a 53-man roster spot.

On Tuesday night’s “Hard Knocks” episode, general manager Ryan Poles implied that he’d trade Jones for a fourth-round pick if it were offered. It wasn’t.

“The past two years I didn’t have the results I wanted,” Jones said. “That’s in the past now. People can talk about that all they want but that doesn’t matter anymore.”

Tasteful

Holding final cut on the "Hard Knocks," the Bears were conscious of how the documentary would portray them cutting players. Undrafted free agent rookie Theo Benedet was pleased with how his meeting — in which he was cut and told the Bears planned to put him on the practice squad — was shown.

“The way Poles and [coach Matt Eberflus] handled it was great,” the tackle said.
 

J-e-t-s

What is rookie receiver Rome Odunze looking most forward to about his NFL debut? The two EA-18G Growlers that will fly over Soldier Field.

“In college, you’re always in the locker room for the national anthem and the flyover,” he said. “I’m a big fan of fighter jets. I’ll finally get to see that.”

This and that

• What could have been a low moment in Scott Daly’s career “turned out even better than I could have possibly imagined,” the long snapper said. The Lions cut Daly, who’d played 42 games for them, last month. The Bears picked up the Downers Grove South alum to replace Patrick Scales, who had back surgery.

“Chicago called — a team I grew up watching at a very young age with my dad,” he said. “Watching greats like Pat Mannelly, Robbie Gould, Brian Urlacher.”

• Teven Jenkins’ agent hasn’t communicated with the Bears’ front office in “a while,” the guard said as he prepares to start the final year of his contract. The Bears have said they won’t negotiate with him until the bye week, if then.

Jenkins would love to get a new deal out of the way, but he knows he could make himself some money, too.

“The value is whatever somebody’s willing to pay,” he said.