Chicago Bears ‘Ultimate Franchise Player’ Selection

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This is the latest post in Kurt’s continuing series to identify the NFL’s Ultimate Franchise Player of All-Time. For an explanation of his methodology for choosing each franchise’s ultimate franchise player, and then how you and he will choose the NFL’s Ultimate Franchise Player from that list, click here.

To see all the category page for this series, of which there will be one for every franchise, click here.

Previous selections: ARI | ATL | BAL | BUF | CAR

The first five installments of Ultimate Franchise Player have been compelling, with each franchise having its own unique history – but now things are about to get serious.

Out of the NFL Network’s list of the Top 100 players of all-time, eight of the top 60 are Chicago Bears.

My first five UFPs came from franchises that will only produce one, or at the very most two representatives in the eventual 64-player UFP field. The Bears and their 90+ year history will be a little different.

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Q&A with Jeff Pearlman, author of Sweetness: The Enigmatic Life of Walter Payton

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Twelve years ago today the world lost one of the best players to ever play in the NFL, running back Walter Payton.

He battled bile-duct cancer and died at the age of 45. Payton, often referred to as “Sweetness”, played all of his 13 NFL seasons with the Chicago Bears, missing only one game.

During that span, Payton was voted to the Pro Bowl nine times, won the MVP two times, the Super Bowl once and is a Hall of Famer.

He is simply one of the best players to ever take the field. He is rated as the #5 player of all-time by NFL.com.

Author and Sports Illustrated columnist Jeff Pearlman decided to take matters into his own hands and write a book about the great Walter Payton, titled Sweetness: The Enigmatic of Walter Payton.

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Cheesy 80s NFL Video Faceoff: Super Bowl Shuffle vs Locker Room Rock

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Yesterday, at Deuce of Davenport (hat tip: Hot Clicks), I came across the most unintentionally hilarious video I have seen all week. It is a completely inexplicable 1985 music video by the Seattle Seahawks called “Locker Room Rock”.

Now, you may remember that in 1985 another NFL team produced a cheesy music video that is still remembered fondly today: the “Super Bowl Shuffle” by the Chicago Bears.

This morning, we will stack both videos up side-by-side and determine which one is better.

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How should Chicago honor Sweetness?

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It appears that the city of Chicago, the Chicago Bears, and the Chicago Park District have been in talks about where to locate a statue to the one and only Chicago Bear that I ever cheered for: one Walter “Sweetness” Payton.

Many issues have come to light. It appears that the park district does not want to put it outside of Soldier Field as they feel that it will take away from the stadium and how it is a tribute to the Armed Services. I find that ironic after the remodeling job. The Payton family and foundation agree and have openly stated that they would never want to take away from the Service men and woman.

So, maybe outside but close to the stadium?

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