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Battle of the Bears

Mr. Scot

By Mr. Scot,
in Carolina Panthers

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Mr. Scot Grand Master

Mr. Scot

Posted
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Brian Urlacher vs Gale Sayers:

Urlacher sounds off on Sayers' criticism

Excerpts...

Brian Urlacher doesn't have an issue with criticism unless it comes from within the Bears family. Such is the case regarding Hall of Famer Gale Sayers recently questioning quarterback Jay Cutler's ability, putting coach Lovie Smith on the spot and implying Urlacher was getting too old.

"Let me ask you a question: 'How many championships did Gale Sayers win?''' Urlacher told the Tribune. "How many playoff games did he win when he played? None. None. None.

"Does it bother me? There are enough people throwing daggers at us right now, why does one of our ex-players have to jump in? There are enough experts talking (crap) about us, so why does a Bear, an all-time great, have to jump in? I just don't like that.''

Ouch :(

During a speaking engagement May 4 in Nebraska, Sayers said this:

"Cutler hasn't done the job. Urlacher, I don't know how good he's going to be coming back. … They need a couple wide receivers, a couple defensive backs. … If Lovie doesn't do it this year, I think he's gone. …''

Although Urlacher acknowledges Sayers' individual accomplishments, he has little respect for those opinions.

"… Does (Sayers) know how to win football games? Does he? No. How are you going to criticize someone else when you haven't done it yourself? He's one of our own, so that's why it's so frustrating.''

Sayers is in the Pro Football Hall of Fame, but it's fair to say the teams he played on were something less than memorable.

Sayers, who played on a 1-13 Bears team in 1969 and did not reach the postseason in seven seasons, responded to Urlacher's comments when reached by phone Wednesday.

"When I am asked a question, I have to answer it,'' Sayers said during a break from a business trip in Atlanta. "I don't want anybody to think I am afraid to talk about the Bears. … Right now, the Bears are hurting. …

"And Urlacher, how old is he anyway (32 Tuesday)? He should know that himself, that he is on the downside of his career. …."

"If somebody asks me, 'How do you think the Bears are going to do this year?' If I say, 'Oh, they are going to win 14 ballgames,' they know the Bears can't win 14 ballgames,'' Sayers said. "Why should I lie to the people? … Football people understand that. …"

Urlacher says he'll happily talk to Sayers directly if given the chance, and the article goes on to point out that Urlacher's also been known to publicly criticize the team himself. Still, this one apparently stung.

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Mr. Scot Grand Master

Mr. Scot

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Butkus is in it now: Butkus backs Sayers in rift with Urlacher

Excerpts:

On Thursday, Butkus responded from his Southern California home, telling the Tribune: "It's a real reach to say: 'What did Gale do?' (Shoot), Urlacher wasn't even born yet, what does he know?

"I say things to other people, too, about the Bears. It's total frustration. You think (Sayers) is saying it because he hates the Bears? You get so tired of sitting there watching them."

Butkus and Sayers were first-round draft picks of the Bears in 1965; the first duo to become Hall of Fame players for the same team from the opening round of the draft. Sayers still holds the NFL rookie record of 22 touchdowns in '65, including six TDs in one game.

...

"I think he is a little out of line by the way he is handling the whole thing and blaming the whole (1969) season on Gale," said Butkus of Urlacher. "That's uncalled for."

Because of knee injuries, Sayers played in only 68 games before becoming the youngest man to be inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame at the age of 34.

On Wednesday, Sayers told the Tribune: "I knew I couldn't play anymore, and I left the team. I saw that I couldn't run the ball anymore. Every time I fell on the AstroTurf, it hurt my knee. I told (former Bears coach) Abe Gibron during an exhibition game in St. Louis. I walked inside (at halftime) and said, 'It didn't work; I'm through.'

"I am quite sure people were talking about me...'He doesn't have it anymore.' And I knew I didn't have it anymore. So I gave it up. You have to prepare to quit, and I did that during my career. Hey, I gave it up and I didn't look back."

...

"The truth of the matter is that I think Gale is absolutely right when you talk about a linebacker who has played nine years and he is coming back off an injury," Butkus said. "I would say that there should be some concern whether he can reach his ability again.

"I've gone through it. To go nine years and come out with knee injuries...you know your ability is going to be hampered a little bit. (Urlacher) is dead wrong right there. Maybe that's why he was trying to deflect that part of it by saying: 'Well, what does he know? He never won.'

"It's a little defensive move on his part. His pride got hurt," Butkus said.

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