After playing the last nine seasons for the Bears, defensive end Israel Idonije has signed with the Lions, and he says he’ll have some extra motivation when playing against his old team twice this season.
“I’m looking forward to twice a year, dressing up, suiting up and getting after it on the field when we play the Bears in Detroit and then in Chicago,” Idonije said on NFL AM.
Idonije, who initially entered the league as an undrafted free agent with the Browns in 2003, says he feels similar motivation facing Cleveland, even though he lasted only a few months there.
“I looked at it the same way when we played the Cleveland Browns. I was with them for a quick second my first year. Until this day, whenever I play the Browns, I make sure they remember that once upon a time I was a Brown,” Idonije said.
Idonije added, however, that when he faces the Bears he’ll have no personal animosity toward anyone, and he won’t be extra motivated to sack Jay Cutler, whom he considers a friend.
“I love Jay,” Idonije said. “I was with him for a lot of years and watched him do a lot of great things.”
This season, the great thing would be for Idonije to take Cutler down.