Sweetness 10 years later: Gone but not forgotten

Had, by far, the greatest inverse ratio of talent to externalized ego of any professional athlete.

 

Goddamnit, Sam, I did not want to open this thread, but I couldn't help it, and now it's all I can do to keep from crying. I'll be back later with my thoughts on Walter. Fuck.

 

Even as a Packer fan, you had to respect the shit out of Walter Payton.

He was probably the best quarterback the Bears had for many of his years too.

 

Eat shit, Bubbler.

 

I meant that sincerely.

Think about it, Payton was pretty money on those HB option plays the Bears liked to run back then. He had 3 TD passes in 1983 alone and eight in his career. I believe when Jim McMahon and Rusty Lisch got hurt in '83, he actually played QB briefly.

Think of the cavalcade of suck who played QB when he was there: Gary Huff, Bob Avellini, Mike Phipps, Vince Evans, early Doug Flutie? McMahon was the only representative QB he ever regularly played with.

Yes it's an exaggeration to say he was the best quarterback they had. But not much of one.

 

I know, dude. Didn't do it to anger anyone ... as I'm certain you know.

I didn't exactly let it go in one ear and out the other when I heard. The next person who affected me like this was some guy named Mills. It hurt like hell.

 

There is a story that Steve Largent loves to tell on the rubber chicken circuit. Seahawks playing the Bears in one of Payton's final games. Payton comes around the tackle and Boz just plants him. Payton's head snaps back and bounces on the turf and Largent's first thought is "Oh my God, we just killed Walter Payton." Payton hops back up like it was routine. Boz screams, "You run that play again Payton and I'll bite your head off." Not missing a beat, Payton retorts, "You do that and you'll have twice as many brains in your stomach as you do in your head."

RIP to one of the greats.

 

Pretty sure it was 84 and it was against Seattle at Soldier Field.

They basically ran the single wing.

 

Can't believe it's been that long. I still have the SI 'Goodbye Sweetness' issue somewhere.

 

Great tribute, Sam. Hard to believe it's been 10 years.

As kids, we all loved to imitate his style, high-stepping our way into the end zone in backyard football. Then on Sunday, he was the only reason to watch the Bears for most of his career.

RIP to one of the NFL's best ever.

 

The greatest Football Player who ever lived.

And there's no argument.