Bears rookie camp starts
By The Associated Press
LAKE FOREST, Ill. (AP) — Chicago Bears rookie wide receiver Juaquin Iglesias already has a reception of sorts from the team's new quarterback, Jay Cutler.
"He texted me as soon as I got drafted and said he was happy to work with me," Iglesias said. "I texted him the other day because I saw on TV it was his birthday.
"I'm just trying to make him my best friend right now. We'll make it work."
Iglesias and the Bears obviously hope it's not the last time he receives something from Cutler. The third-round draft pick out of Oklahoma was among 43 draft picks, undrafted free agents and players trying out for a roster spot when the Bears began a three-day rookie camp Friday at Halas Hall.
The Bears are looking for more receiving help for Cutler, acquired via trade from the Denver Broncos. And Iglesias figures to get a good shot as soon as he masters the playbook he just received — a playbook he said was a bit overwhelming at first.
"But I think I'm picking it up well," he said. "I think it's a lot easier once you start looking at it, and I'm starting to get more of an understanding on it. Today I came out here and I think I did well understanding it."
During the non-contact drills, Iglesias went through many of the same emotions rookies routinely experience.
"It's hard, especially just being in front of these coaches for the first time and just being in front of everybody for the first time," he said. "You've got a lot of things going through your mind, but that's just trying to be a professional and going out there and trying to perform.
"I think I'm just going to try to work on that."
Besides fifth-round pick Johnny Knox of Abilene Christian and seventh-round pick Derek Kinder from Pitt, the Bears also brought some undrafted receivers to the camp, including Eric Peterman from nearby Northwestern.
Peterman was chasing down passes from his college quarterback, C.J. Bacher, who was brought to the camp on a tryout basis.
"It's very convenient for me," Peterman said. "I'm still trying to finish up school and do those things, and it just makes it real convenient that I don<t have to fly halfway across the country.
Bears coach Lovie Smith stressed to players that even those at camp for tryouts have a chance of eventually making the team.
"Of course there are some draft picks that'll stay, and they know that," he said. "But you just look at our track record a little bit. We have some tryout players here, guys without contracts. (Bears safeties) Cameron Worrell and Brandon McGowan both came up through that way.
"We've had guys that have signed free-agent contracts. Of course we have low-round players, draft picks. So we have history to say everybody has an opportunity. We tried to let the players know that. They all start from scratch."
