KORDELL STEWART Former Steeler gets acquainted to life with Bears

The former "Slash" has a new home in Chicago.
BOURBONNAIS, Ill. (AP) -- Nine years ago, Kordell Stewart heaved one of the most memorable last-second touchdown passes in college football history, a 64-yarder on the final play as Colorado stunned Michigan in Ann Arbor.
How many times has Stewart been asked about that play?
"About a million," he said. "It's part of my r & eacute;sum & eacute;, one of the things I've done over my career."
From Colorado, he became a multipurpose back with the Pittsburgh Steelers, acquiring the name "Slash" for his versatility as passer, runner and receiver. Next, he won the job as a full-time quarterback and twice led the Steelers to the AFC title game, where they lost.
Now Stewart's career is adding another line on his r & eacute;sum & eacute;.
After losing his job last season to former XFL quarterback Tommy Maddox, he's joined the Chicago Bears with a two-year deal and a second chance.
On Friday's first day of training camp, his new teammates were getting acquainted with Stewart as he worked on learning the Bears' offense, which has been adjusted to accommodate his mobility.
"You want the guys to be able to depend on you, count on you and believe in you, and I think in time that will happen," he said.
"I'm not going to go around and lobby and get any notecards and slide them under guys' doors and say, 'Please root for me because I want you to like me a lot.' ... Now that I'm here, it's not just a cakewalk. You have to prove yourself and earn these guys' respect."
So far
The 30-year-old Stewart was 46-30 as a starter, but with the chance to get the Steelers to the Super Bowl, he threw three interceptions in each of the AFC championship games.
Stewart has 13,328 career yards passing while completing 1,190 of 2,107 attempts with 70 touchdown passes and 72 interceptions.
He is adjusting to master Chicago's offense, one that has been accused of being too conservative the past several years.
"I don't get caught up in that. I play the game. I do this for a living," he said.
"The game is played out here, not on the Internet, not on the sidelines, not with the fans or with you guys," he told reporters. "When you get the job done, it's because of what you did. That's all that really matters."
The Bears, looking to bounce back from a 4-12 season, signed Stewart to a two-year, $5 million contract after releasing Jim Miller, who was often effective but also often injured. They also considered Jake Plummer and Jeff Blake.
"From the first day, Kordell picked up our system well," coach Dick Jauron said.
Polish required
"Does he know it all? No. He touched every aspect of it and that's why we are here. We'll polish," Jauron said. "I have great confidence in this guy. He's a terrific athlete."
After being a Pro Bowl quarterback and then a bench warmer, Stewart understands the ups and downs of his position. Maybe better than most.
"You can't expect anyone to feel sorry for you," he said. "At the end of the day, the quarterback gets praises when he doesn't deserve it and he's going to get boos and criticism when he doesn't deserve it, either," Stewart said.
"You become the sponge and just absorb it. ... I'm going to be upbeat regardless, win, lose or draw. You have to be. What I love to do is show up on Sunday and throw the ball around and make the guys look crazy on the other side."