Minus mentor Antrel Rolle, Deon Bush ‘thankful’ to join Bears

It was Bears rookie safety Deon Bush’s first “NFL is a business” moment. A day after he was drafted, the Bears cut veteran Antrel Rolle, whom Bush considers a mentor.

Bush, like Rolle, played at Miami. The two have trained together, and Rolle has offered ample advice about football and life in the NFL.

“Antrel is still like a brother to me,” Bush said during the Bears’ three-day rookie minicamp at Halas Hall. “He still called me and helped me out. That’s pretty much it. He just talked to me and still has my back through whatever.”

What did Rolle tell him about the Bears?

“He said it’s a good situation,” said Bush, who was drafted in the fourth round. “He said he liked the Bears, and he said I was walking into a good situation, good coaches, good people around here, great fanbase. I’m just very thankful to be a part of this organization right now.”

There also is a starting job opposite second-year safety Adrian Amos to be had now that Rolle is gone, too.

Bush and fellow rookie DeAndre Houston-Carson, the Bears’ sixth-round selection, will get their opportunities to push Harold Jones-Quartey.

“Right now,” Bush said, “I’m just coming in here with a mentality to work, just going each day and learning each day, just trying to get better any way I can to help this team.”

Bush’s hard-hitting, aggressive style of play won over the Bears. It’s what defensive coordinator Vic Fangio and secondary coach Ed Donatell like from their safeties.

“The good defenses around the league have some kind of feared element to them,” Donatell said. “We like the way he hits, plays by the rules and plays tough. He should be a good Chicago Bear. He’s a good athlete, and he’s got excellent range. And he’s got good toughness.”

Bush doesn’t know any other way to play.

It’s how Rolle played, too.

“That’s pretty much how I’ve played the game since I was younger,” Bush said. “So it’s kind of like second nature. That’s how I like to play the game. I like to be physical.”