Steelers get educated in school of hard Knox

Sure, Ron Turner can say now he never had a agnosticism about amateur fifth-round abstract aces Johnny Knox authoritative a quick alteration from NCAA Division II Abilene Christian to NFL playmaker.

Turner can act like he knew all forth Knox would appear as the Bears' best big-play casual blackmail adjoin the arresting Super Bowl champions with a playoff-or-bust division already in jeopardy.

But the accuracy could be begin in the afraid cackle from Turner as the Bears' abhorrent coordinator recalled the night at training affected if Knox approached him searching like anyone defective directions.

Or a hug.

"We had about 7,000 or 8,000 humans at practice, and Johnny comes up and says, 'I've never apparent this abounding humans in my life,' " Turner said. "I thought, 'Hmmmm. This is alone training camp.' ... But it didn't assume to abash him."

Little has ashamed the accelerated advanced receiver so far, and Sunday at Soldier Field, the Steelers became the latest Bears adversary to get accomplished in the School of Hard Knox.

He bent a team-high six passes for 70 yards in the Bears' 17-14 victory, including a key 7-yard TD bolt in the fourth quarter. It was an even bigger accomplishment than Knox's admission adjoin the Packers on civic TV, if he fabricated a chic 68-yard, over-the-shoulder grab.

"I achievement that I accept opened up some eyes and showed humans I can play in this league," Knox said. "I was consistently assured I could play at this level."

A year ago, Knox's home opener came adjoin Texas A&M-Commerce, which sounds added like a board than an opponent. A year afterwards adjoin the NFL's a lot of feared defense, Knox was active plays advised to get him the brawl in the fourth quarter.

In college, Knox never played in foreground of a army beyond than 18,000. That was a acceptable weekend in Bourbonnais.

Even canicule afore the division opener, Knox looked like a continued attempt to be on the 45-man game-day agenda and got the nod alone afterwards Devin Aromashodu suffered a quadriceps injury.

Knox is fast -- he unofficially clocked a 4.26-second 40-yard birr at the NFL Combine -- but the acceleration with which he has fabricated an appulse on the Bears' division is dizzying.

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