Jump to content

  • Welcome!

    Register and log in easily with Twitter or Google accounts!

    Or simply create a new Huddle account. 

    Members receive fewer ads , access our dark theme, and the ability to join the discussion!

     

Battle of the Bears

Mr. Scot

By Mr. Scot,
in Carolina Panthers

Recommended Posts

Mr. Scot Grand Master

Mr. Scot

Posted
Posted

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.

Link to comment
Share on other sites
Mr. Scot Grand Master

Mr. Scot

Posted
  • Author
Posted

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.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Archived

This topic is now archived and is closed to further replies.

Go to topic listing

  • PMH4OWPW7JD2TDGWZKTOYL2T3E.jpg

  • Topics

  • Posts

    • Icege
      How would you feel if Bryce did this in 2025

      By Icege · Posted

      These are the three deep throw attempts that Will Levis made in week 12. His first one is a beauty; Levis and Westbrook-Ikhine gets the safety to bite on a deep dig only to go over the top for the score. His second throw is another beauty: a crosser to Calvin Ridley reminiscent of Bryce to XL (though Ridley has noticeably more separation on his route). His third and final deep shot was an incompletion from his own endzone on 3rd & 14 with pressure coming down on him (to me, this seems like a solid throw).   Film Room Playlist NFL Pro-02.mp4 Film Room Playlist NFL Pro-01.mp4 Film Room Playlist NFL Pro.mp4 Film Room Playlist NFL Pro-01.mp4 Levis took half of the deep shots that Young did. The differences are: Ridley had much better separation than XL, which is why his deep crosser turned into a 63yd play since he was able to scamper for another 15+ after the catch. Westbrook-Ikhine holds on to his TD pass. Bryce had to throw one away to preserve time for a field goal. Bryce had two more throws that were incomplete due to the WR Are we really holding the three WR errors and clock management decision against Bryce in order to say that Will was better throwing deep in week 12? That's not passing the eye test nor is it confirmed by the data.
    • WhoKnows
      Clowney released

      By WhoKnows · Posted

      If you go on the PUP list before the season starts, you are gone for the year. If you start the year on the PUP list then you can get off of it. Kind of semantics, but we are putting him on the PUP list now which is before week 1, that’s why people who come off of it aren’t really on the PUP list until week 1, hence you usually hear right before the season that they are “starting the year” on the PUP list. I think PUP list and IR may basically be the serve the same purpose now because you also sometimes hear that if a player is added to the IR before week 1 that they aren’t eligible to come off the IR list for the entire year. Now, everyone added to IR (post week 1) can come off after 4 (or more) games so the PUP list is meaningless since it’s 6 games and starts at week 1. Anyone added to PUP or IR in the preseason is gone for the year.
    • countryboi
      Brooks RB, Placed on PUP, Out for 2025

      By countryboi · Posted

      I saw Brooks maybe a few weeks ago, he was walking pretty normally. of course he wasnt running, jumping and cutting.
×
×
  • Create New...