With long-term deal, Tracy Porter still has ‘chip on my shoulder’

When Bears cornerback Tracy Porter says he’s glad to be back, he’s not just talking about the money.

“I’m definitely glad I didn’t have to pack things up and move to a new city — that was good,” said Porter, who signed a three-year, $12 million contract with the Bears after leading the team in pass break-ups with 22 last year.

“I was comfortable here. Comfortable with the staff, the front office. It’s definitely a team that I like. I love the guys on this team. It was definitely a great feeling knowing that I was somewhere where I was wanted.”

Everybody wants to get paid, but just staying in the same place was an accomplishment for the 29-year-old Porter, who played for five teams in five cities the previous five seasons — New Orleans, Denver, Oakland, Washington and Chicago.

Though he only had one interception last year, Porter’s long-term contract was a reward for being the type of player general manager Ryan Pace and coach John Fox appreciate — aggressive, productive and dependable. Porter, who had a history of injuries when he signed a one-year deal with the Bears last offseason — he had played in all 16 games only once in seven NFL seasons — missed most of training camp and the first two regular-season games with a hamstring injury last year. But he persevered and became a playmaking starter — then played through an ankle injury late in the season.

“He was a priority [to sign in the offseason],” said Pace, who was with the Saints for Porter’s first four NFL seasons from 2008-11. “It’s just [a matter] of how he played for us, our background with him; his leadership in a young secondary.

“When I knew Tracy [in New Orleans] it was early in his career. Now I’ve seen a player that’s matured and brings a lot of swagger and confidence to the position, which is important — because you’ve got to be aggressive there [with] a willingness to attack the ball and make a play and I think that’s infectious sometimes with other guys.”

And after struggling to stay healthy throughout an NFL season, Porter met Fox’s strict dependability standard.

“He got nicked late and he battled through it — which I look at hard,” Fox said. “His practice wasn’t quite as crisp as it would normally be, but he played on Sundays — you have respect for that.”

Long-term contracts in the NFL still are tenuous — Porter’s $12 million deal includes only $4.25 million guaranteed. The last Bears cornerback to earn one, Tim Jennings, was cut less than 18 months after signing a four-year, $22 million contract in 2014. In fact, Porter effectively is in Jennings’ spot.

The lesson is that Porter knows he has a lot of work to do.

“The long-term deal shows me that the organization believes in me,” Porter said. “It’s going to continue to drive me. I’m entering my ninth year. I’m a leader in the secondary. I have younger guys under me that I have to tutor and bring along. I’m still going to be hungry. I’m still going to play with that same chip on my shoulder.”

And Porter knows that every player who signs a new contract says that. He’s determined to prove that he means it.

“I know I can say that, but it’s best for me to go out and show that and prove it,” Porter said. “The only thing I can say is: Watch for this year. I’m looking forward to it. I’m feeling great. And like I [said] last year, once I’m healthy, I know what I can do. I’m healthy now. I’m going to show everyone what I can do, what the Chicago Bears can do and the direction that we’re going.”