Bears Blitz

Published by Gene Chamberlain on May 6, 2010
Article Source: Bleacher Report - Chicago Bears

In a recent interview with the Associated Press, former Bears running back great Gale Sayers again showed that he should have remained the quiet, unassuming kid whom the late Brian Piccolo sometimes made fun of in the 1960s.

Piccolo poked fun at Sayers’ quiet nature in the movie “Brian’s Song,” and Jeannie Morris’ book “A Short Season,” but after Sayers’ playing days ended he has done nothing but trash his former team whenever he has the chance.

Perhaps it has something to do with how they waited so long to retire his jersey number, but No. 40 has been flying at Solider Field now since 1994 so it’s time to let bygones be bygones.

In the recent AP interview, Sayers blasts quarterback Jay Cutler, linebacker Brian Urlacher and makes one of the most blatant examples of the pot calling the kettle black in the history of sports.

Late in the story, Sayers was asked if his playing style compared with New Orleans Saints back Reggie Bush.

“You can’t compare that, because he gets hurt too much,” Sayers said.

Sayers played 3 1/2 healthy NFL seasons because he ripped his knee to shreds, then after rehabbing and winning the rushing title in 1969 without a run of 20 yards or longer, he suffered another knee injury and essentially had his career end.

And Reggie Bush gets hurt too much.

Sayers also pointed out that Jay Cutler, “hasn’t done the job.”

Thanks there Mr. Obvious. Cutler has been in Chicago one season, played on a team without an offensive line, with inexperienced receivers, a running back who was injured all year, and in a system that was probably even more predictable than the ones Sayers himself played in during the 1960s. Cutler probably deserves a little more time to prove himself.

Sayers also said, “Urlacher, I don’t know how good he’s going to be coming back. He’s 33 years old. They (the Bears) need a couple wide receivers, a couple defensive backs. They haven’t done a good job.”

Certainly it would be difficult for this writer to ever come rushing to the aid of coach Lovie Smith, but let’s be a little more accurate for the sake of pointing out Sayers is a babbling buffoon.

Brian Urlacher doesn’t turn 32 until May 25. He won’t be 33 until May 25, 2011.
He’s not coming off a crippling knee injury or bad hip or anything of the sort. He had a dislocated wrist. That’s not exactly a career-ender, even for 40-year-old players.

The Bears don’t think they need any more wide receivers, let alone two. Offensive coordinator Mike Martz said over the weekend that receivers are the strength of the team and it should be etched “in granite…”.

They probably need a safety and a cornerback, but anyone who has watched a game over the last two years could have pointed this out. So thanks for that astute observation, Mr. Sayers.

During the interivew, Sayers says he goes to every game he can and “lives and dies with” the Bears.

Just for posterity’s sake, it was Sayers who in 1984 in a pregame interview with CBS before the Bears-Redskins playoff game, predicted a Washington victory over his old club. In 1985 he picked against them throughout the march to the Super Bowl title.
He’s never had much positive to say about the Bears even when they were a dominant team after his short career ended.

If he lives and dies with the Bears, the Bears themselves probably can live without him.

The guy was the most exciting running back in history, moreso than Barry Sanders even, because Sayers never came out of the game near the goal line like Sanders did. He had Sanders’ moves and could do it in full stride with Olympic level speed.

He should leave it at that and quit making a complete fool of himself in blatant attempts to sound controversial.

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