That's why I believe Ditka is so over-rated. Couldn't care less he was the '63 NFL Champions hero/idol. He was frequently outcoached with his offence by Wsh and SF. Ryan was the impact coach. And the commitment by McCaskey to Ditka over Ryan cost the Bears a serious chance at a couple more titles in the late 80's. To this day the love of Ditka is nauseating. Just what is the statute of limitations on length of time of love for a coach who won precisely one title?
- blackhawk24

Completely agree

Seems that a lot of the prospects Stan moved in recent years are not getting QO from their teams... Pirri
Morin
Dahlbeck
Olsen
Paliotta
Clendening
Stanton

Oh yes.. Plus they went into RFK and put it the Skins in that playoff win. And in '84 you had Todd Bell roaming the secondary. Ok Im feeling very old at the moment..
- z1990z

Ya both Todd Bell and Al Harris held out and missed the 85 season.

Who would have sat that year if they didn't hold out?

Say what you want about the current management of the Hawks, but they did win 3 cups, didn't pi$$ it away like McCluskey

Amen. The 1980s Chicago Bears left AT least 2 Super Bowls on the table. Absolutely no reason they should have lost in 86 or 87, but Gibbs as you said outcoached Ditka.

But Ditka's failure went beyond that...it was calling the scab Bears "the real Bears" which destroyed chemistry. Remember before the strike that year? The Bears WAXED the eventual champion NY Giants. Totally dismantling of that team.

and the other was how he managed the Flutie situation and letting McMahon tear the room apart because Mac thought Tzomczak should have been the QB.

But Ditka and Buddy? Egos indeed. Even Ditka finally admitted they may have actually been better with each other.

Again...86 and 87 are the two years that keep that team from being a legit dynasty. In 1988 the 49ers rolled the Bears after barely making the playoffs. There was just something missing from that team...can't put my finger on it, but there was no passion by then anymore, maybe the previous two failures sapped it all out.

McCaskey also has much blame in the situation. Never should have allowed Wilber Marshall to walk.

1985 was hella fun though.
- kwolf68

Ditka was a windbag of epic proportions...the offense was so vanilla and crap Mac changed plays at the line constantly.

Should have won 4 in a row. The Mccheapskis also let Willie Gault go.

You know what?

The NFL Draft year where Wilbur Marshall dropped down to the Bears (b/c other teams though he was going to the rival league) was what entrenched me into being a hockey draft crazy...and an INTERESTED NFL dradft watcher.

Getting Marshall basically sealed the deal for the Bears, and I then started to waste coutless hours researching watching and analyzing the hockey picks, because after Marshall I figured there was a lot more going on in these draft rooms, and I was never gonna be privy to one, but I could be my own...
LOL

Ya both Todd Bell and Al Harris held out and missed the 85 season.

Who would have sat that year if they didn't hold out?

Say what you want about the current management of the Hawks, but they did win 3 cups, didn't pi$$ it away like McCluskey
- vabeachbear

that Bears team was sorta built prior to McCaskey...Jim Finks and Jerry Vainisi have a huge fingerprint on the mid 1980s Bears. All Mccaskey had to do was not (frank) it up.

"Ditka was the reason we won a super bowl and the reason we didn't win three." - Richard Dent

The Bears almost traded their first round pick in 1983 (Jimbo Covert
) for Howie Long. I'm glad they didn't, but imagine that defense with Long on it.

And check out the Bears 1983 draft.

that Bears team was sorta built prior to McCaskey...Jim Finks and Jerry Vainisi have a huge fingerprint on the mid 1980s Bears. All Mccaskey had to do was not (frank) it up.
- kwolf68

True, some say the same thing about Stan and McD right?

Thank god for "not (frank)ing it up"

Ditka was a windbag of epic proportions...the offense was so vanilla and crap Mac changed plays at the line constantly.

Should have won 4 in a row. The Mccheapskis also let Willie Gault go.
- DK002

No argument. Sometimes I think Ditka acted like an ass so he could rush home to see his lead on SportsCenter.

He lost his way. He learned under George Halas, he learned under Tom landry. He was ready to be a great coach and lead that team from the doldrums. Yes, he had some AMAZING talent in place, but he got them there. Then fell in love with himself and it came crashing down.

Ditka was a windbag of epic proportions...the offense was so vanilla and crap Mac changed plays at the line constantly.

Should have won 4 in a row. The Mccheapskis also let Willie Gault go.
- DK002

If that team had any semblance of a backup qb, they would have won multiple SBs. Redskins won a few with different guys, but as well as the Bears drafted before the 85 SB, they needed to have a backup plan for McMahon. They had an offer for Steve Young, but TB didn't want to deal him to the Bears, as they were in the same division. Not that the Bears would have developed him properly.

True, some say the same thing about Stan and McD right?

Thank god for "not (frank)ing it up"
- vabeachbear

I don't think Stan is that good, but compared to McCaskey it's not even a debate. I'd take Stan every day over that buffoon.

"Ditka was the reason we won a super bowl and the reason we didn't win three." - Richard Dent

The Bears almost traded their first round pick in 1983 (Jimbo Covert
) for Howie Long. I'm glad they didn't, but imagine that defense with Long on it.

And check out the Bears 1983 draft.
- Tanuki

Guess the question there is if they did trade that pick, would Covert still been there in the slot they drafted Gault.

Loved the speed, but I'd take Long and Covert over Covert and Gault and day of the week.

If that team had any semblance of a backup qb, they would have won multiple SBs. Redskins won a few with different guys, but as well as the Bears drafted before the 85 SB, they needed to have a backup plan for McMahon. They had an offer for Steve Young, but TB didn't want to deal him to the Bears, as they were in the same division. Not that the Bears would have developed him properly.
- howiehandles

I had no idea they were going after Young. Holy moly.....that solves a bunch of problems right there.

that Bears team was sorta built prior to McCaskey...Jim Finks and Jerry Vainisi have a huge fingerprint on the mid 1980s Bears. All Mccaskey had to do was not (frank) it up.
- kwolf68

I was a senior in HS and McCaskey, who's an alum of the school, and his family are very involved with it. Kinda funny that when he got up to make a speech, the kids all booed him then, even in 86. Granted, kids are easily influenced, and just followed the lead of the players and fans.

Guess the question there is if they did trade that pick, would Covert still been there in the slot they drafted Gault.

Loved the speed, but I'd take Long and Covert over Covert and Gault and day of the week.
- vabeachbear

That's a long way for a blue chip left tackle to fall.

as good as 85 was, the 84 Bears may have been nastier. Remember the Raiders game? LMMFAO....
- kwolf68

that game was a bloodbath. How about Bell's hit on Joe Washington in the playoff game?

We can all look back and say they should have won more Super Bowls...but they were a really good team those years and just kicked butt. That said, I like where Fox and Pace are taking this Bears team. I keep saying they finish above .500 this year but no one wants to believe me. That defense is going to be much improved.

I had no idea they were going after Young. Holy moly.....that solves a bunch of problems right there.
- kwolf68

Also passed on Joe Montana. Supposedly they were set to take him, They had him in every mock draft they did, but

“IN ALL OF THE TEAM’S PREPARATORY DISCUSSIONS, THE ONLY POSSIBILITY THE BEARS CONSIDERED IN THE THIRD ROUND WAS MONTANA. THEY HAD GIVEN THEMSELVES MONTANA IN EVERY MOCK DRAFT THEY HAD PREPARED IN THE MONTH LEADING UP TO THE EVENT. TOBIN, IN FACT, SAID HE HAD MONTANA RATED AS A FIRST-ROUND TALENT, AND THE BEARS’ INSIDE CONNECTIONS WITH THE NOTRE DAME COACHING STAFF HAD GIVEN THEM A GOOD FEEL FOR EVERYTHING MONTANA COULD BECOME.”

“FINKS THEN EXPRESSED CONCERN ABOUT A CROWDED QUARTERBACK DEPTH CHART. THE BEARS HAD BOB AVELLINI AS THEIR STARTER, AND HE WAS BEING PUSHED BY MIKE PHIPPS. VINCE EVANS HAD BEEN SHOWING GREAT ABILITY IN PRACTICES. WHY, FINKS ASKED, SHOULD WE MUDDY THE WATERS WITH ANOTHER QUARTERBACK? AND THEN FINKS STARTED TALKING ABOUT HOW HE WAS UNCOMFORTABLE WITH THE RUNNING BACKS BEHIND WALTER PAYTON.”

Sorry for the caps, copying it from another site while at work.

Could have had Jerome Bettis too, but took Curtis Conway. Not that Conway was bad, but they've always been a run first team. Granted, this was after their glory team, but would have been nice to have Bettis when he was in beast mode.

that game was a bloodbath. How about Bell's hit on Joe Washington in the playoff game?

We can all look back and say they should have won more Super Bowls...but they were a really good team those years and just kicked butt. That said, I like where Fox and Pace are taking this Bears team. I keep saying they finish above .500 this year but no one wants to believe me. That defense is going to be much improved.
- onehundredlevel

I remember watching that Raiders game and literally laughing. They had their PUNTER getting ready to go in to play QB because the Bears had knocked everyone out the game. LMAO....the greatness of the Raiduhs is not here today sir!!!!

Agree...like the direction of our current team. Defense can't help BUT be much improved. It was dumpster fire level proportions last year. However, they lost a TON OF GAMES by just a couple points so they don't have far to go to turn that around.

Also passed on Joe Montana. Supposedly they were set to take him, They had him in every mock draft they did, but

“IN ALL OF THE TEAM’S PREPARATORY DISCUSSIONS, THE ONLY POSSIBILITY THE BEARS CONSIDERED IN THE THIRD ROUND WAS MONTANA. THEY HAD GIVEN THEMSELVES MONTANA IN EVERY MOCK DRAFT THEY HAD PREPARED IN THE MONTH LEADING UP TO THE EVENT. TOBIN, IN FACT, SAID HE HAD MONTANA RATED AS A FIRST-ROUND TALENT, AND THE BEARS’ INSIDE CONNECTIONS WITH THE NOTRE DAME COACHING STAFF HAD GIVEN THEM A GOOD FEEL FOR EVERYTHING MONTANA COULD BECOME.”

“FINKS THEN EXPRESSED CONCERN ABOUT A CROWDED QUARTERBACK DEPTH CHART. THE BEARS HAD BOB AVELLINI AS THEIR STARTER, AND HE WAS BEING PUSHED BY MIKE PHIPPS. VINCE EVANS HAD BEEN SHOWING GREAT ABILITY IN PRACTICES. WHY, FINKS ASKED, SHOULD WE MUDDY THE WATERS WITH ANOTHER QUARTERBACK? AND THEN FINKS STARTED TALKING ABOUT HOW HE WAS UNCOMFORTABLE WITH THE RUNNING BACKS BEHIND WALTER PAYTON.”

Sorry for the caps, copying it from another site while at work.

Could have had Jerome Bettis too, but took Curtis Conway. Not that Conway was bad, but they've always been a run first team. Granted, this was after their glory team, but would have been nice to have Bettis when he was in beast mode.
- howiehandles

Joe Montana? Ok thanks Howie. I'm now physically ill. LOL....Montana and Sweetness together, with a beast defense? I'll take my chances with that.

Avelline? Evans? Phipps? LMMFAO.....

Even if the Hawks get another LW to play in the top 6 and another defenseman for cheap, what I still don't understand is what can they do about the 3rd line? Is the plan to just put a bunch of kids together like Motte, Schmaltz, and Hartman and hope they have instant impact?

Seems that a lot of the prospects Stan moved in recent years are not getting QO from their teams... Pirri
Morin
Dahlbeck
Olsen
Paliotta
Clendening
Stanton
- breadbag

Safe to say the Hawks are not so good at drafting D

I remember watching that Raiders game and literally laughing. They had their PUNTER getting ready to go in to play QB because the Bears had knocked everyone out the game. LMAO....the greatness of the Raiduhs is not here today sir!!!!

Agree...like the direction of our current team. Defense can't help BUT be much improved. It was dumpster fire level proportions last year. However, they lost a TON OF GAMES by just a couple points so they don't have far to go to turn that around.
- kwolf68

I remember reading that the old timers for the Raiders said it was the most physical game they'd ever played in, and showed a lot of respect for them. That game was brutal. Grew up liking the Raiders, even though I was a Bear's fan. That's when I knew they could hang with anyone.

I think its important to keep Kruger at 4C. He's not offensively capable of being a 3C IMO. Especially on a team that is going to need 3rd line scoring depth. We can't afford to have a Desi-Kruger 3rd line(pretty weak as far as 3rd lines go). Gotta hope for a miracle as far as forward depth is concerned. Or else its going to be a long season...

Joe Montana? Ok thanks Howie. I'm now physically ill. LOL....Montana and Sweetness together, with a beast defense? I'll take my chances with that.

Avelline? Evans? Phipps? LMMFAO.....
- kwolf68

LOL Me too. Guys right down the street, more or less, at ND.

I remember as a kid seeing my dad, an grizzled CPD Detective, jumping up and down, almost squealing with delight watching the Bears hammer the Giants and Rams. I'd never seen him act that way. It was great.

Granted, when the Hawks one their first Cup in my lifetime, I got choked up, and had to hold back tears and kick my kids out of the room when they ran in and asked what was up.

"Ditka was the reason we won a super bowl and the reason we didn't win three." - Richard Dent

The Bears almost traded their first round pick in 1983 (Jimbo Covert
) for Howie Long. I'm glad they didn't, but imagine that defense with Long on it.

And check out the Bears 1983 draft.
- Tanuki

Had Covert not gotten hurt...he would be in the Hall of Fame. The guy was a beast. He was the only offensive lineman I remember who could single handily handle Lawrence Taylor...which is saying a ton as Taylor was a terrific football player. I always thought that was one of the reasons the Bears beat the Giants in those years. That said, outside of 1985 Walsh and Gibbs did seem to have our number.