A few weeks ago Hall of Famer Gale Sayers fielded questions about his former team, the Chicago Bears. He said that he was not happy with qb Jay Cutler's performance and that of the Bears overall. He says that if they don't win Head Coach Lovie Smith's job may be on the line, and he also wondered what type of player linebacker Brian Urlacher will be after coming off wrist surgery while being in the decline of his career. Urlacher took offense to Sayers comments and ripped him for not winning any postseason games himself. He said that everyone knows the Bears have problems and that they don't need former Chicago greats criticizing them. Sayers responded by saying that he only answered the questions he was asked honestly and that he was not going to spread false hope throughout Chicago when he knew the Bears were hurting. Two more Hall of Famers jumped to Sayers defense in Mike Ditka and Dan Hampton. Ditka reiterated the point that Sayers was justing answering a question honestly and that sometimes criticism can help you. He also said that it does not matter that Sayers never won a postseason game because championships are won by great teams not great individuals. He went on to say that if Sayers played a full career he'd be the greatest 2-back/receiver ever. Hampton said simply that Urlacher can't draw offense from the criticism because he and his Bears aren't winning, and that Sayers only said what was already known. Hampton's response to Sayers, or Ditka, not winning any championships was that their rings say 'Hall of Fame' on them and that is a pretty exclusive club.
Now I understand the initial comments by Sayers, and I can also understand a frustrated Urlacher not wanting to hear criticism from a former Bear who arguably should be helping support them in this bad time. But why did Mike Ditka and Dan Hampton open their mouths? Did they realize they are only putting fuel on the fire? I mean it's great that they want to stick up for a fellow Hall of Famer, but there's a time and place for everything. This time, though, there was no time or place. This issue should have stayed between Sayer and Urlacher. Now three NFL greats, and former Bears, are all basically ripping the Bears. Did they forget that the team is made of humans who have feelings? The Bears psyche had to have taken a huge hit these past few weeks. I mean members of their own "family," as Ditka called them, are completely against them. If members of my own family were against what I was doing, you bet I'd have a hard to doing my job to my full potential. There is saying that goes through my family, and it is "you have to pick and choose your battles." Ditka and Hampton should really get acclimated with that saying. They had no business stepping in and they've only made the situation worse. Gale Sayers is just a man who honestly answered questions about the Bears. Mike Ditka and Dan Hampton are men that damaged the Bears by honestly defending Gale Sayers, the difference could prove to be catastrophic.
References
http://sports.espn.go.com/chicago/nfl/news/story?id=5204392
http://sports.espn.go.com/chicago/nfl/news/story?id=5207667
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