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If you're looking for our weekly NFL Thoughts post, we're pushing it back a day due to the holiday, and speaking of Memorial Day... Before you fire up that grill, partake in a few cold ones, or hit the beach, please take a moment and think about all those men and women that died while serving in the United States Armed Forces.
Before we get into today's article, I'll leave you with a quote from John F. Kennedy that is inscribed on the back of the Soldier Field Monument:
"Let every nation know, whether it wishes us well or ill, that we shall pay any price, bear any burden, meet any hardship, support any friend, oppose any foe, to assure the survival and the success of liberty."
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George Halas, Walter Payton, Dick Butkus, and Mike Ditka make four. There's your classic Chicago Bears Mt. Rushmore. Simple and easy. You have Papa Bear, the best running back ever, the best middle linebacker ever, and the coach that led the Bears to their only Super Bowl championship and won an NFL Championship as a player. Those four are no-brainers in Chicago lore.
There are a handful of others that are deserving, but with only four spots, it's hard to go against the obvious picks.
So what about doing another type of Mt. Rushmore?
A Mt. Rushmore for those players that have endeared themselves to the Chicago fanbase, by playing the game the right way. The non-All Pro types that are well know to us Bears fans, but their legend is a mystery to a national audience. The hard-hat, hard-nosed kind of player that wouldn't make it to a Bears Mt. Rushmore, but would be a perfect fit on a Bears Mt. Lunchpail. (Helmet tip to Steve Ronkowski on the name)
Maybe a guy like long snapper Patrick Mannelly, someone who has famously done his job since 1998, and has appeared in more games than any other Bear.
Perhaps a guy like Tom Waddle, who endured multiple cuts, only to persevere and end up starting 41 games in his 6 year career. His ability to take a pounding over the middle has taken on legendary status.
How about Doug Buffone, who played linebacker along side Dick Butkus, and has gone on to become a beloved member of the Chicago media scene.
What about Buffone's partner on the Score, Ed O'Bradovich. Born in Hillside, IL, attended the University of Illinois, and played his entire career with the Bears.
There's Doug Plank, who's jersey number is the namesake of the famous 46 Defense that was used by the Bears during the 80's, and was a punishing safety during his eight year career.
Here are the rules:
Nominate one player in the Subject line of the comment section, then tell us why you feel he should be on Mt. Lunchpail. The only criteria is that the Chicago Bear can't have been All Pro or a Pro Bowler. We're looking for some, pardon the cliche', but some Chicago Guys.