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As ChicagoBears.com staff writer Larry Mayer suggested Thursday, if Thomas Jones feels threatened by the presence of first-round draft pick Cedric Benson, the veteran running back isn't showing it.

In his first public comments since the draft, Jones characterized himself as a team player and insisted that he's not upset with the Bears' decision to select a highly-touted prospect at his position with the fourth overall pick.

"No, there's no disappointment," Jones told a gathering of reporters. "He's a guy who's here just like everyone else to help us be a better team, and that's how I see it."

With the Bears leaning toward a running back in the first round, they informed Jones of their plans before the draft so he wouldn't be blindsided by the news.

"They said that we may end up drafting a running back, that he may be the best player at that position, and that's fine," Jones said. "They make the decisions and I play football."

Identified as the perfect fit in offensive coordinator Terry Shea's system, Jones signed a four-year contract with the Bears just hours into free agency last offseason. One of the few bright spots on the NFL's lowest-ranked offense in 2004, the 5-10, 220-pounder established career highs by rushing for 948 yards and seven touchdowns and catching 56 passes for 427 yards.

Jones broke Walter Payton's team record of 53 receptions by a running back and became the first player to lead the Bears in rushing and receptions since Neal Anderson in 1989.

And when the Bears' starting offense lined up Wednesday, Jones was in it. But as Chicago Tribune staffer Terry Bannon put it: "Bears didn't draft Benson to be a backup, so sooner or later, he will play."

Will Jones be happy?

"That's not even how I'm thinking," said Jones. "I haven't even had those thoughts in my mind. I'm just trying to enjoy my offseason and get ready for the season like everyone else. I was a starter last year and I was a very productive player last year considering the situation and I look for great things for this season.

"[Benson is] a complementary guy. From what I've seen so far, we have different styles. Anytime you have another guy who can come in the game and have some ability to make guys miss and who has been productive in college, it's definitely a good thing for the offense and the team."

"He understands this is a business and we want to get the best players," running backs coach Tim Spencer told Bannon. "When they draft a first-rounder at your position, you question a lot of things. He's an excellent back, did some nice things [last year].

"We needed another guy and had a chance to get a great back. He understands that."

Or as Chicago Sun-Times reporter Brad Biggs put it: "The Bears want a powerful, move-the-chains back and believe they have that in Benson, whom they consider to be a souped up-version of [Anthony] Thomas -- faster, more explosive and with better moves."

At the team's May 20-22 mini-camp, first-year offensive coordinator Ron Turner insisted that the Bears will be able to keep both Jones and Benson happy and involved with the offense. Jones, meanwhile, believes that Turner's scheme actually fits his skills better than Shea's system.

"I like the new offense, I like it a lot," Jones said. "It definitely fits a lot of guys' talents and it gives everybody an opportunity to have a chance to make a play."

According to those who follow the team closely, Jones is one of the best pass-blocking backs in the NFL and that should assure him of a spot on the field on third down.

"Thomas does give us that flexibility," Turner said. "He gives us a lot on third down. He can come out of the backfield. Benson has good hands too. We'll see how it unfolds and we're excited."

The challenge for the Bears' coaching staff is to keep Jones from becoming its next Thomas, who played sparingly last season when Jones was healthy and is now with Dallas.

"We can't win without Thomas Jones, so he's going to play," Spencer said. "Now, will he play and get all the reps that he wants? Probably not. Will Cedric get all the reps he wants? Probably not. But it's about the team, and it's up to coaches to put them right place to help the team. ..."

All of which, of course, would make life a little tougher for Fantasy coaches hoping for a single back to pin their hopes on in Chicago this fall. ...

Other Fantasy-specific news and notes of interest. ...

According to New York Newsday staff writer Neil Best, Jeremy Shockey urged the Giants on Thursday not to throw as many "little bitty 5-, 6-yard passes" this season as last. On Friday, Plaxico Burress said he already sees signs that won't be a concern.

"We definitely have plays in our playbook that get me downfield," the team's newest starting receiver said after the conclusion of a three-day mini-camp in which he regularly went deep. "I would say that was one of the reasons they brought me here."

Like Shockey, Burress was frustrated at times by his team's offensive approach last year. But as Best noted, there was a difference: Head coach Tom Coughlin has a history of run/pass balance and throwing aggressively downfield but was limited by circumstances, including spotty pass protection. For the Steelers, leaning on the run is an entrenched philosophy.

"When I was in Pittsburgh, it was mostly run, run, run, run, play action," Burress said. "Maybe you were lucky to get four or five passes thrown in a quarter, so it's definitely going to be a change."

In Eli Manning, Burress is working with another first-round draft pick of 2004, and Burress already has said Manning has the strongest arm of anyone who has thrown him passes. "I have a lot of faith in him and confidence he's going to be one of the great ones," Burress said.

Best went on to point out that the Giants are placing much faith in Burress, who signed a six-year, $25-million deal in March. He had 35 catches for 698 yards (a lofty 19.9 average) and five touchdowns in 2004. Shockey (61), Tiki Barber (52), Amani Toomer (51) and Ike Hilliard (49) of the Giants all surpassed his receptions total.

So this mostly is a matter of trusting that the 6-5, 225-pound Burress' combination of size, speed and route-running will flourish in a system designed to take advantage of all that.

"He brings a very different look," Coughlin said. "He is a big, strong, fast athlete who has outstanding hands, who brings a presence to that spot."

It didn't take long for Shockey to notice. After lobbying against "little-bitty" passes and noting the need for a downfield threat, he added: "It's not a mystery. Everybody knows that in order to have a good offense, you have to stretch the field. Plax will help us. ..."

In Carolina. ... The Sports Xchange advised readers last weekend that there's an increasing chance that second round draft pick Eric Shelton could have a big impact in Carolina's offense at the beginning of this season.

The Panthers are taking things extremely slow with 30-year-old running back Stephen Davis, who is attempting to come back from microfracture surgery on his right knee.

Davis went to the Pro Bowl in 2004 for Carolina after rushing for a career-high 1,444 yards. That, despite missing two games.

But last season Davis' knee became a problem during training camp and he missed 14 games and was placed on injured reserve midway through the season. The surgery is a tough one for players to come back from, although Carolina's starting running back DeShaun Foster has returned.

If Davis can return, it's likely he won't be a big factor at the beginning of the season.

That would mean Foster would start and get most of the carries, but be spelled frequently by Shelton in Carolina's run-happy offense. Almost right from the get-go, the Panthers seemed to peg Shelton as a guy who would eventually replace Davis.

Team officials admitted he is built similar to Davis and has the same running style.

"I really don't like to compare my game to other players, but as far as the tenacity goes and the north/south style that we have, I would say that's a valid comparison," Shelton said.

But when asked if his running style, Shelton said, "It's north/south. There are no east/west runners in the scheme of their offense. Head coach John Fox likes that. He likes somebody who is going to get the hard yards, and I think I can do that.

"I'm going to work as hard as I can to get myself on the field. The final decision is up to the coaches, though. I'm just glad to be in this position right now. ..."

Meanwhile, Davis believes he'll be ready to strap on the pads when camp opens late next month. But the team's trainers may have something to say about that.

The truth is Davis isn't sure when he'll be given the OK to begin practicing again. And he knows it's out of his hands at this point. "They won't tell me (when I can come back)," said Davis, who had microfracture knee surgery last year on his right knee. "But I feel like I'm making a lot of progress."

In a related note. ... After leading the team in rushing last year, Nick Goings will go back to his role as backup fullback and special teams player.

According to the Sporting News, Goings doesn't have the speed or size to compete with Foster and Shelton for the starting tailback role. But Goings could get some time as a third-down back because of his skills as a receiver. ...

In Arizona. ... Marcel Shipp's wait is over. He says he is 100 percent healthy, and he is practicing at full speed with his Cardinals teammates, a new season in front of him.

Wednesday, the first day of Cardinals voluntary team workouts, was the first time Shipp has practiced with his teammates since suffering a leg injury 10 months ago.

"I've been waiting since the night I got hurt, man, August 6th," Shipp said. "I've been waiting to get out here, run around and do the types of things I did today. I feel like I had a pretty good day today.

"I've been going since I've been hurt. Nonstop. Just knowing where I got to get to just kept me going during the season and after the season."

As Arizona Republic staffer Odeen Domingo reminded readers, Shipp missed the entire 2004 season after dislocating his left ankle and fracturing his left fibula during a scrimmage on the artificial turf surface of their Northern Arizona University training camp.

Nothing in the NFL has come easily for Shipp, a fifth-year player. He was undrafted and made the Cardinals roster as a free agent in 2001. He led the team in rushing in 2002 and 2003 but had lost the starting role to Emmitt Smith, now retired, even before his injury.

This season, Shipp will battle rookie J.J. Arrington to start.

"You never know who's going to be picked to be the starter," Shipp said. "All I can do is my part, come out here and work every day, keep getting better. Not let anything get in my way and not stopping me."

"Marcel hasn't played in a long time and he's worked extremely hard," head coach Dennis Green said. "Everybody knows his character and his determination to be a player."

Maybe so, but SI.com insider Peter King advised readers on Monday: "I think the Cardinals are totally smitten with Arrington. Like the three running backs selected in the first hour of the draft, I expect Arrington to start no later than Oct. 1. ..."

I expect him to start sooner than that. ...

In Indianapolis. ... When Marcus Pollard was released and subsequently signed with the Lions, some observers believed the Colts would suffer at the tight end position.

But according to SportsLine.com columnist Pete Prisco, that is far from the truth.

With Dallas Clark emerging last season, the Colts have a top-notch pass catcher. But he is not alone. The Colts are excited about their other three tight ends as well. Second-year players Ben Hartsock, Ben Utecht and Bryan Fletcher have been impressive in the team's on-field work so far.

Prisco went on to suggest that Peyton Manning and offensive coordinator Tom Moore love to throw to the tight end, so this is an important position for the Colts in terms of creating mismatches on early downs. ...

In Oakland. ... Since rupturing his Achilles' tendon last season, Raiders wide receiver Ronald Curry has been the forgotten man. But not in Oakland's front office.

As NFL Network insider Adam Schefter reported it, very quietly, without anyone noticing, the Raiders recently signed Curry to a two-year, $2.3 million extension that included a $200,000 signing bonus and enough incentives to bring the value of the deal to $3 million.

There's a third year on the deal worth $6.5 million that includes a $5 million roster bonus the Raiders will have to decide whether they want to exercise. But that's for another season.

As for this one, Schefter reports that Curry is getting ready and looks like he will be back and at or near full strength. He's already running and he will be ready for the start of the Raiders training camp. ...

In Dallas. ... The Fort Worth Star-Telegram reports that Julius Jones weighs only 212 pounds, down from the 217 he was listed in last year's media guide, but he looks bigger. "I've put on some mass," he said. "Last year I was kind of shriveled up after I broke my shoulder. I got back in the weight room and put on some bulk.

"I guess it's showing, huh?"

In Denver. ... For the first time in his NFL career, Jerry Rice won't wear No. 80. Rod Smith has that jersey number and out of respect for Smith, Rice won't ask for it.

"I'm not going to go in there and try to fight for that jersey," Rice said. "Rod is the guy there and I think he deserves to keep that number."

A wise choice.

During an appearance on Sirius NFL Radio, Smith told listeners: "I know I heard some fans saying I should give up the number. ... That feels like somebody saying, 'Hey man, let your neighbor use your wife.'"

Rice wore No. 19 during this past week's mini-camp. ...

In Detroit. ... Stage fright hasn't made rookie receiver Mike Williams reject ESPN's offer to be wired for sound to chronicle his activities in the Lions' training camp this year.

According to Detroit News staffers Vartan Kupelian and Mike O'Hara, it's focus.

Williams figures enough eyes are on him already because of the stop-and-start road he took to be a first-round draft pick. Williams' priority is to establish himself as a player.

Meanwhile, lost in the excitement of Williams' arrival was the pre-draft signing of veteran free agent Kevin Johnson, who finally fills the need of an experienced player at that position.

According to the FOXSports.com, Johnson will give the Lions something previous veterans like Shawn Jefferson and Tai Streets could not: Production.

The report went on to suggest that even with three top 10 draft picks in front of him, Johnson, who is already setting a high standard in workouts, will get a decent amount of playing time because he knows how to get open and has excellent hands. ...

In Atlanta. ... ESPN.com insider Len Pasquarelli advised readers on Friday that receiver Peerless Price spent time this week debunking all the reports that he has a retina problem that has contributed to his lack of production in two seasons with the club.

Price said that he has just an astigmatism and that it has played no role in his performance. ...

And finally. ... Also according to Pasquarelli, The Titans continue to flirt with the notion of trading for Buffalo tailback Travis Henry, but a deal does not yet appear imminent, since the Bills haven't lowered their asking price.