RE: You told the Bears media that Chicago was never really home for you. Is Charlotte somewhat home for you?

“It’s more home than Chicago was but most of you guys know that my home is in Eastern North Carolina. But as far as it being North Carolina, I guess Charlotte is home. I still have a home in Mooresville”

RE: You talked with the Panthers in the spring about coming back. How far did those talks get?

“I’m not even sure really. I just know there was some contact made.”

RE: How intriguing was that for you to perhaps come back and play here again.

“It was a thought. It was a thought just like I had several places, potential landing spots. With coming home, being one of them, it was a thought. But obviously it didn’t work out.”

RE: Did you talk with Charles Johnson about it?

“If we talked about it, maybe it happened because I worked out with him a couple times down in Miami this off season so I can’t remember. I’m not sure.”

RE: Have you gotten past the sour feelings after leaving here?

“After the first game that I came back and played against the Panthers, I was over it then. I’ve grown a lot since I left Charlotte. I let bygones be bygones and I’m moving forward just as they are.”

RE: Was standing up at outside linebacker something you wanted to do all along?

“It’s been something I wanted to do for a while. I mentioned it while I was there. I mentioned that it was one of my desires. One of many reasons that I was looking for a change, not only in my football, not only in my professional career. I was looking for a change in my life in general. But as far as the football thing, that was one of the things that I wanted to do. When I left, I went to Chicago and I didn’t get the chance to try it. I didn’t get the chance to fulfill that dream I guess. I didn’t want to look back at the end of my career and say, ‘I wish I could have tried this or I wish I could have done that.’ This was a great opportunity for me so I jumped at it.”

RE: You had a memorable game against the Panthers a few years ago. Where does that rank among your portfolio?

“To be honest with you, I haven’t really sat down and thought about it. I’m in a day to day kind of grind so my head is down and I haven’t even really thought about what games rank where that I’ve played in my career. It was an emotional experience definitely playing as a visitor in that stadium. Probably one of the most emotional games I’ve ever been a part of.”