<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE </div><div class='quotemain'>Ricky Manning Jr. came out of the destruction of Seattle on Sunday as one of the Bears' new standouts, having intercepted Seahawks quarterback Matt Hasselbeck twice.Those are the kind of game-changing plays -- a 10-3 lead quickly became 20-3 as Manning snuffed out consecutive Seattle possessions in the second quarter -- that catch the eyes of the coaching staff. But his play hasn't been the only solid work in a secondary that has yet to allow a passing touchdown and gave up only two during an 11-game stretch a year ago.Cornerback Charles Tillman has been at the top of his game and is not in jeopardy of being pushed aside by Manning, despite his big-play ability. Seahawks wide receiver Darrell Jackson was behind Tillman for what would have been a 40-yard touchdown pass in the third quarter had it not been dropped. But the X's and O's tell the whole story.Attacking the Cover-2 scheme the Bears were employing on the play, Seahawks wideout Bobby Engram ran directly at strong safety Mike Brown, freezing him for a split second. That's all it took for Brown to be late coming over to the sideline to assist Tillman.In fact, Rivera pointed out only one play he would want back from Tillman, a pass-interference call in Week 2 against Detroit's Corey Bradford that went for 42 yards.If it looks like offenses are working on Tillman's side of the field and avoiding Nathan Vasher, who was fourth in the league with eight interceptions last season, that might be so. But right-handed quarterbacks throw to their right more often, where the Z receiver typically is lined up. That's just the way it works.Tillman is fourth on the team with 21 tackles, and again, most offenses are right-handed and traditionally run that way more often.''We're playing good ball, but no one has played a perfect game,'' Tillman said. ''There are small things. Everyone on the team can be better.''Manning said in April, when the Bears signed him to a five-year deal worth as much as $21 million, that he wanted to leave Carolina to find a place where he could be a starter. He liked his chances here and still does. In fact, he liked his chances so much, he agreed to a contract with a de-escalator in the back end, meaning he'll be making less money if he is not in the starting lineup.''I'm ready whenever my number is called,'' Manning said. ''I don't know if I still have the opportunity to start. I just prepare myself as a starter so I am ready to go whenever, just in case somebody gets hurt or we make any changes, which I don't think is necessary at this time.''Manning's ball skills are one reason the Bears figured they had an upgrade over Jerry Azumah at nickelback when they signed him. He has 15 career interceptions, including the playoffs, when he has come up particularly big. He made four picks in the 2003 postseason as the Panthers advanced to Super Bowl XXXVIII.Even if the Bears were entertaining the idea of getting Manning on the field more because of his big-play ability -- and they are not -- a couple of factors prevent it. Manning faces a possible suspension after his no- contest plea last week in Los Angeles to a felony assault charge.New commissioner Roger Goodell quickly has made it clear he is going to hold players accountable for their behavior, and the five-game suspension of Titans defensive tackle Albert Haynesworth for kicking Cowboys center Andre Gurode is more than twice as long as any previous suspension handed out for on-field conduct. The Bears wouldn't make a move with the looming possibility of Manning having to sit out.Also, Manning is by far the best corner on the roster when it comes to covering the slot in the nickel package. If he also were starting, the Bears would have to move him back and forth.''There are a lot of starters that on third down move inside,'' Manning said. ''It's kind of harder to cover in there; there's a lot more going on in there. That's why teams put the best guys inside.''It's out of my control. I just have to keep making plays and make sure I'm part of the reason the team is winning. That's all I can do.''And like he said, even after the big game, Manning sees no reason for change. It was a good night for him to try to work past the off-field issue, and he's one of the few Bears who has been on a team off to a hot start like this. The Panthers started 5-0 in '03.''It's too early to start getting wound up in what's going on and what we have to do and how to get there,'' he said. ''We start getting to December, that's when we say, 'Hey, we need to do this now, we need to do that. We need to make sure this is going right.'''Right now it's still early, and we need to keep going out and having fun.''</div>http://www.suntimes.com/sports/football/be...-bear05.article
