A strange night at Soldier Field began–for me–long before kickoff.
Approaching the stadium, I was stunned by how many Bears fans had arrived dressed in purple Vikings paraphernalia. Was this an early Halloween party for the first night game in more than three years?
At Gate 21 an older woman wearing a Bears ballcap and an apron asked if I’d give to some charity. When you live in downtown Chicago, you learn to automatically say, “No, thanks.” Besides, I was preoccupied with my first deadline, which might hit before the game was over.
Not until I was in the press-box elevator did the woman’s identity dawn on me. I had to ask others to confirm it.
True story: It was Bears owner Virginia McCaskey asking for donations to Bears Care. I don’t think she recognized me any more than I did her. The only news conference she has attended in recent years came when she kicked son Michael upstairs.
Last week I wrote that 77-year-old Virginia should sell a team that could be worth at least $500 million. And here this sweet, stubborn woman was asking me for a charity donation. I should have given then. I’ll make my charitable contribution to the Bears now.
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Let’s forget the amateurish pre-kickoff fireworks display. Was this supposed to make up for the wet fuse that is the Bears’ offense? Let’s not get into the hot-and-cold throws of Cade McNown, who can go Rick Ankiel when you least expect it. No use reiterating the Bears should have drafted Daunte Culpepper.
Who cares that in four games against the Vikings, including Sunday night’s, coordinator Greg Blache’s defense has yielded an average of 412 yards? How does this guy escape criticism?
Let’s focus on the highlight of the night, from Chicago’s perspective. Thanks to ESPN, the most talented and exciting Bear was introduced to the country. Meet rookie Brian Urlacher, No. 54, the nearest thing to Dick Butkus this franchise has had since Butkus. Call this Bears middle linebacker “Grrr-lacher.”
Of course, Mike Singletary merely made the Hall of Fame. But Singletary, bless him, was not blessed with Urlacher’s size (6 feet 3 inches, 255 pounds), closing speed, receiver’s hands and defensive back’s instincts. It took Singletary a while to figure things out. Urlacher has survived a bizarre end-of-August demotion to become odds-on favorite for NFL defensive rookie of the year.
Here, Chicago, is our Daunte Culpepper. If only Urlacher could play quarterback.
Urlacher set the bell-ringing tone for the emotional fight put up by the 1-6 Bears. On the Vikings’ third play, Urlacher looped outside and went after Culpepper’s blind side like a grizzly after an unsuspecting tourist. Culpepper, who weighs 266, didn’t know what hit him.
Bears fans finally had something to roar about. It’s amazing what an entire afternoon of tailgating can do for the vocal chords.
On Minnesota’s next possession Culpepper attempted to convert a third-and-18 the way he did in the season-opening win over the Bears–by shrugging off on-rushers and unleashing his effortless 4.6 40-yard-dash speed. Guess who ran him down from behind after a 6-yard gain? His shadow for the night, his athletic equal, Urlacher.
As usual Urlacher was everywhere, blasting running back Robert Smith in the hole, nearly intercepting 20 yards down field, sacking Culpepper again, always bouncing up with a football-loving smile. Does this kid ever like to hit people.
Imagine: After coaches tried to make him into a strong-side linebacker, then demoted him, he has fought his way into the middle, the position made for him, and registered sacks in five straight games. The Bears’ record–Richard Dent’s seven straight–is in jeopardy. Cleveland rookie Courtney Brown and Philadelphia’s Corey Simon are off to terrific starts, but Urlacher would be running away with rookie defensive player of the year if he hadn’t been a second-stringer for the first two games.
Urlacher was also the focal point of the play that turned Minnesota’s 28-16 win–Smith’s 72-yard TD run. With the Bears leading 9-0, Minnesota took over at its 28. Blache sent in a lineup as inexplicable as some of his ramblings to reporters. This package did not include Urlacher, who surely would have caused more problems for Smith than Khari Samuel did.
But so what? No negativity here, Virginia. I give Urlacher his due.