Bears' Young bet on himself before receiving extension

Chicago Bears linebacker Willie Young was ecstatic after signing a two-year extension Saturday.

Young is under contract through 2018, and he's expected to be a key part of a revamped Bears' defense in the fall.

"If there's one person that I can count on to bet on Willie Young, that's Willie Young and him, and only him and himself," Young told reporters Saturday.

Young reflected on his past with marked satisfaction, noting that he entered the league with relative anonymity as a seventh-round pick in 2010.

"It means a lot. Seventh-round draft picks don't hang around that long. You expect to be a practice squad guy and that's it," Young said.

"I think Mr. Irrelevant got more attention than I got when I came out that year."

Young recorded 30 tackles, 6.5 sacks, and an interception last season.