My All-Time Bears Team

by o.c.blazerfan on Jul 29, 2009 1:20 PM CDT

Great History here. Some very tough decisions and a lot of great players left off. 53 man roster, only time/accomplishments with the Bears count.

C- Clyde "Bulldog" Turner (LB), Jay Hilgenberg, George Trafton, Olin Kruetz
G- Stan Jones (DT), Danny Fortmann, Mark Bortz
T- Joe Stydahar, George Musso (DT/G), Ed Healey
TE- Mike Ditka, Emery Moorehead
WR- Harlon Hill, Johnny Morris, Ken Kavanaugh, Dick Gordon
QB- Sid Luckman, Billy Wade, Ed Brown (P)
FB- Bronko Nagurski, Ronnie Bull, Bill OSmanski
RB- Walter Payton, Gayle Sayers, Neal Anderson, Rick Casares, Beattie Feathers
P- Ed Brown
DT- Dan Hampton, Fred Williams, Wally Chambers
DE- Richard Dent, Doug Atkins, Ed Sprinkle, Bill Hewitt (WR), George Wilson
ILB- Mike Singletary, Dick Butkus, Bill George, Brian Urlacher
LB- George Connor (OT), Joe Fortunato, Lance Briggs
S- Dave Duerson, Richie Petitbon, Gary Fencik, Mark Carrier
CB- Red Grange (RB), George McAfee (RB), Donnell Woolford, Rosey Taylor
K- Kevin Butler
KR- Devin Hester (WR), Gayle Sayers (RB), George McAfee (CB/RB)
Head Coach - George Halas

Bears with Bills ties: (28) Ruben Brown, Chris Villarrial, Mike Gandy, Corbin Lacina, Tom Myslinski, Ike Hill, Linzy Cole, Clint Haslerig, Doug Flutie, Shane Matthews, Tommy O'Connell, Damion Shelton, Anthony Thomas, Ronnie Harmon, Austin Denney, Anthony Hutchison, Ted Washington, Frank Cornish, Keith McKenzie, Doug Becker, Leon Joe, Len Walterscheid, Thomas Smith, Charley Ford, Jim Dooley, Dick Jauron, Dan Neal

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Comments

Wow dude.

I just went back and looked… you’ve been doing these posts since January! Are you really researching every position of every team, all the way back through each team’s history? If so, kudos to you. That is a ton of studying.

Be nice. Flag comments that you think are offensive. Use the "reply" button. Drink plenty of water. Compliment others. Rec (wreck) comments and posts you like. Don't call people names. If you don't like someone's comment, attack the comment and not the commentor. Learn the difference in your/you're, then/than, to/too. Exercise. Relax. Stretch often. Find good in the world.

by Dane Noble on Jul 29, 2009 1:31 PM CDT reply actions 1 recs

Where Is Matt Suhey at Fullback?

The lead blocker for Payton his whole career?

by Gesiakob on Jul 29, 2009 1:32 PM CDT reply actions 1 recs

Suhey wasn't the lead blocker for Payton's whole career

Roland Harper was there for a few years before Suhey was ever drafted.

by BearFan611 on Jul 29, 2009 8:44 PM CDT up reply actions

+1

by SamuraiMike50 on Jul 30, 2009 10:17 AM CDT up reply actions

You can't have Mike Singletary

over Dick Butkus. Can’t do it. I love Mike Singletary but Dick butkus IS the ‘All Time’ Middle Linebacker, not just for the Bears, but for the entire NFL.

You can’t leave off Bronco Nagurski at RB.

You can’t have Dave Duerson & Mark Carrier at Safety over Doug Plank & Todd Bell.

You can’t leave off Wilbur Marshall at LB. In an interview about the Bears, Mike Ditka just shook his head when talking about Marshall. As if to say “I can’t put into words how unbelievable that guy was.”

And NEVER make a list like this without Jim McMahon at QB!

by GeoMak on Jul 29, 2009 1:34 PM CDT reply actions

Fwiw,

He’s got Bronco in at FB.

by Dane Noble on Jul 29, 2009 1:53 PM CDT up reply actions

I was typing so fast I missed it

by GeoMak on Jul 29, 2009 2:24 PM CDT up reply actions

Red Grange has to be mentioned

since without him, there probably wouldn’t be an NFL and we would all be posting our thoughts about soccer….yechhhh!

by BearFan611 on Jul 29, 2009 8:45 PM CDT up reply actions

Hey, leave soccer out of this.

- Smudgers

"Newbie, if the next two words out of your mouth aren't 'See ya' then the third word will be 'Oh my god. My crotch. You've punched me in my crotch." - Dr. Percival Ulysses Cox

by David Taylor on Jul 29, 2009 8:51 PM CDT up reply actions

why?

He was a great college player, he was not a great pro player

A fanatic is one who can't change his mind and won't change the subject.
--Winston Churchill

by lookingdeadred on Jul 30, 2009 8:57 AM CDT up reply actions

It was George Halas' signing of Red Grange that gave the pro league credibility.

Grange was arguably the most famous athlete on the planet at that time. The pro’s were looked at as a bunch of meaningless thugs and were very much in danger of going out of business. Nobody attended the games so there was virtually no revenue. Grange instantly brought thousands to the park. Without that signing, the consensus opinion, including that of Papa Bear was that the NFL would have never made it. Read the book “Halas on Halas” for some very interesting insight into the early days of the Bears and the entire league.

by BearFan611 on Jul 30, 2009 9:55 AM CDT up reply actions

true enough

but as a Bear player he was not anything special. The Bears have had several much better RBs than Grange in their long history. All the players listed in the fanpost were better pro players than Grange.

A fanatic is one who can't change his mind and won't change the subject.
--Winston Churchill

by lookingdeadred on Jul 31, 2009 4:11 PM CDT up reply actions

I'm not sure what you consider special, but

he was an original Pro Football Hall of Fame inductee. The NFL Network voted him the #6 all time most elusive runner. I’d say that’s pretty special. He was more famous in college, as most players of that era were, but he was also a great professional. Comparing players from that time with the modern day player is very difficult because those players usually played all 3 phases and rarely came off the field. The rules, or lack of them, also had a huge effect on the stats and the style of play.

by BearFan611 on Aug 2, 2009 10:42 PM CDT up reply actions

Hard to know since there are no reliable stats for his early years

A fanatic is one who can't change his mind and won't change the subject.
--Winston Churchill

by lookingdeadred on Aug 3, 2009 8:33 AM CDT up reply actions

I Agree With GeauxBears

Nice Post though! I’m sure it took a lot of time and effort to compile that list.

by Gesiakob on Jul 29, 2009 1:36 PM CDT reply actions

Thanks for the input

Like I said, there are so many great players in Bears history, it’s hard to make choices. Some guys I left off just because I didn’t care for them. McMahon would make an official list, but I’m just not a fan. Walter Payton and the defense are the real reasons for the ‘85 championship. As for MLB, those are 4 of the best ever! I just personally love Singletary and he is my favorite NFL MLB ever. If I would coach this team, I’d try to get all 4 on the field somehow.

Some players were great, but only for a short time, like Todd Bell and Wilber Marshall. If they were Bears longer, no doubt about it.

Here is a list of some of my honorable mention/ final cuts: Mike Pyle, Dick Barwegan, Ray Bray, James Williams, Jimbo Covert, Keith Van Horn, Jim Dooley, Bill McColl, Willie Gault, Curtis Conway, Jim McMahon, Matt Suhey, Willie Galimore, Bobby Joe Green, George Gulyanics, Jim Osborne, Tommie Harris, Ed O’Bradovich, Mike Hartenstine, Otis Wilson, Wilber Marshall, Doug Buffone, Doug Plank, J.C. Caroline, Dave Whitsell, Bennie McCrae

by o.c.blazerfan on Jul 29, 2009 3:07 PM CDT reply actions

You didn't have to go

and ruin my opinion of you (as a person) in saying “McMahon would make an official list, but I’m just not a fan.”

Just kidding…. but I meant it ;-)

by rdent4hof on Jul 29, 2009 3:25 PM CDT up reply actions

Apparently you disagree with 'Iron Mike"

You said this:

McMahon would make an official list, but I’m just not a fan. Walter Payton and the defense are the real reasons for the ‘85 championship.

Mike Ditka is on record and has been quoted as saying this: “Without Jim McMahon, we don’t win the Super Bowl.”

Sorry o.c., but Ditka’s opinion carries ‘just a little more weight than yours’

Nothing personal, but you understand.

by GeoMak on Jul 29, 2009 5:20 PM CDT up reply actions 1 recs

If Ditka says it

Well dammit it’s true.

I'm teaching fools some basic rules.- MR.T

by Ditkavsworld on Jul 29, 2009 6:22 PM CDT up reply actions

Gotta go with Ditka over a Bills fan

best player in Bills history?

OJ Simpson.

Sad (but true)!!!!!

(OJ gives new meaning to the term “Knifing through the line!”)

by GeoMak on Jul 29, 2009 6:32 PM CDT up reply actions

So bad

(OJ gives new meaning to the term "Knifing through the line!")

I'm teaching fools some basic rules.- MR.T

by Ditkavsworld on Jul 29, 2009 8:46 PM CDT up reply actions

galloping ghost

This man is grossly missed out. Red Grange is why we have a national football league.He was why thousands of people flocked to playing fields all over the nation to come and see him play. Hallastook the bears on a barnstorming tour to show him off. he brought the fan out of ordinary people to see the man who could put points on the board from anywhere on the field.

by stepeo on Jul 30, 2009 12:33 AM CDT reply actions

great post

firstly, i think Jimbo Covert should have made the roster

secondly, I think Desmond Clark should be on the team over Emery Moorhead
Dez’s numbers (6 Years as a Bear): 222 catches, 16 TD’s, 11.1 YPC
Moorehead (8 years as Bear): 200 catches, 14 TD’s, 13.7 YPC
I know that Moorehead is from Evanston so it is hard not to pick the hometown guy but I think that Dez has done a great job for us

although the debate is somewhat jaded since in a few years Greg Olsen will be on the list over both guys, but in the time being, I think Dez should get the recognition

by SamuraiMike50 on Jul 30, 2009 10:36 AM CDT reply actions

Thanks for input - Except the O.J. stuff!

O.J. is such a shameful part of the Bills history. Don’t even like to mention the name of arguably our most talented player. When I made my All-Time Bills roster I left him off. Yes, McMahon belongs, and yes Ditka knows more about the Bears than me, but I just don’t like him and this is my list dangit! Moorehead/Clark is close. Good thought.

I did put Grange on as CB, but also could backup at RB. Numbers are very fuzzy from back then, but he is such a legend and important part of the NFL’s beginnings I couldn’t exclude him.

by o.c.blazerfan on Jul 30, 2009 11:43 AM CDT reply actions

I think you did a...

- Smudgers

"Newbie, if the next two words out of your mouth aren't 'See ya' then the third word will be 'Oh my god. My crotch. You've punched me in my crotch." - Dr. Percival Ulysses Cox

by David Taylor on Jul 30, 2009 12:49 PM CDT up reply actions

Really a great job of research on this.

One name that I’m sure very few people remember is a cornerback by the name of Alan Ellis. He was a Pro Bowl corner in the mid-70’s and played with HOF’ers Butkus, Singletary, and Hampton, a pretty good stretch. He was an outstanding DB whose knee injury later in his career kept him from becoming a more recognizable name. I was a Donnell Woolford fan, but I think I’d put Ellis ahead of him.

by BearFan611 on Jul 30, 2009 12:56 PM CDT up reply actions