Zero2Cool
15 years ago
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Former Chicago Bears tight end and coach Mike Ditka says hell probably catch some flak for saying this, but hes picking the Green Bay Packers to win the NFC North this season.

Forget about Ditkas strong ties to the Bears, or that he owns two restaurants in Chicago and does a lot of business with Bears fans. As always, Ditka calls it the way he sees it, and if someone doesnt like it, too bad.

Im not politically correct, Ditka said this week in a telephone interview from Chicago. I dont try to be. I speak my piece.

Ditka gives motivational speeches around the country and will appear at the Meyer Theatre in Green Bay on Tuesday night. But he has a warning for those in attendance: People who say dont talk about religion and politics, they got the wrong guy because Im going to bring it up somewhere in there because I think its important.

Ditka will also talk with authority about achieving success. As a Pro Football Hall of Famer and one of only two men to win Super Bowl rings as a player, assistant coach and head coach, Ditka comes with glowing credentials.

He doesnt consider Green Bay enemy territory, even though he was one of the Packers fiercest rivals.

The greatest franchise I ever played against was the Packers under (Vince) Lombardi, he said. They were great guys. We played hard. It was based on respect.

The only problem Ditka had with the Packers occurred in the 1980s when Forrest Gregg was head coach. The two carried on a heated rivalry. At times it turned ugly, and Ditka and Gregg havent spoken since.

I think the game of football is a great game, Ditka said. Its competition, but when you go outside the rules and take cheap shots, then it ceases to be competition. I played against (Ray) Nitschke and we had wars. I mean hed try to kill me and Id try to kill him, but yet it was all within the rules.

But against Greggs Packers, it was different.

The games a physical game, but when you pick up the quarterback and slam him down on his head, theres no need for it, Ditka said.

The reference was to the Packers Charles Martin injuring Jim McMahon with a flagrant late hit in a 1986 game that ended the Chicago quarterbacks season. Some say the cheap shot cost the Bears a second straight Super Bowl title.

It didnt help, lets put it that way, Ditka said.

Theres no question Ditka possesses an old-school mentality and charm. He still calls the Packers division the NFC Central. In talking about his life, he references Frank Sinatra: That song (he) sang was pretty good: Regrets, Ive had a few, but then again too few to mention.'"

He doesnt agree with the Minnesota Vikings letting Brett Favre decide to come out of retirement in the middle of training camp.

I wouldnt have allowed it, but thats me. It doesnt make me right, Ditka said. Lombardi wouldnt have allowed it. (Tom) Landry wouldnt have allowed it. Do you want to keep going? We could go on forever. A lot of guys wouldnt have allowed it, but you know, they made some concessions to get him in there.

Ditka, who is as an NFL analyst for ESPN, said he loves and respects Favre but isnt convinced the veteran quarterback will put the Vikings over the top.

I think everybody is picking them to win the division, he said. Im not doing that. I picked the Packers.

And then he adds: Ill probably get in trouble (for that).

Maybe in Chicago. But those words should elicit a warm welcome in Green Bay.




How the hell does this rate? Former HC of a rival thinks were good to win NFC North, but our very own dhazer doesn't think so?? 😛
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porky88
15 years ago
Just predictions.

I think all talent evaluators believe that this is a three team race. To discount anyone of those three teams as potential division winners or playoff contenders is just plain foolish in my opinion.

I'll say it again and that's Green Bay is two successful field goals away in the closing seconds to going 6-0 in the division.

Packer fans shouldn't need Mike Dikta to get excited about 2009. These three teams are close.
IronMan
15 years ago
Ditka, Ditka, Polish sausage, Bulls, Ditka, Ditka.

UserPostedImage
15 years ago
i like Ditka. always respected the guy even when i had to hate him.

I agree with Twinkiegorilla.

bozz_2006 wrote:


packersfan99
15 years ago
Ditka was a really good player. But I even when he saying we are the team to beat. I don't really believe he is a good evaluator or even an average evaluator. I also believe we are going to be on the race, but he saying it, don't have too many value to me.
BAD EMAIL because the address couldn ot be found, or is unable to receive mail.
dhpackr
15 years ago
wow, see now i think it is strange to see this. i guess he really likes GB in 2009. I gotta say, they look really good.
So if you meet me Have some courtesy, Have some sympathy, and some taste
Use all your well-learned politesse, Or I'll lay your soul to waste
nyrpack
15 years ago
hes always been a guy speaking his mind, gotta respect that !!
jimmy b.
kobe16
15 years ago
i agree with ditka
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dhazer
15 years ago
I found a very interesting read about Ditka's famous trade to acquire Ricky Williams. For those of you that don't remember he traded away 8 draft picks to move up to get Ricky Williams. Everyone laughed but from this article after a few years makes it seem like it was a steal for the Saints.


By trading away eight draft picks, the Saints acquired more than $12 million in cap space. It was as if you downsized to a lesser house and subsequently had extra money to upgrade your new home into a small palace. That cap space enabled the Saints to go on a spending spree that allowed them to sign defensive tackle Norman Hand, receivers Joe Horn and Willie Jackson, middle linebacker Charlie Clemons, outside linebacker Darrin Smith, cornerback Fred Thomas, punter Toby Gowin and quarterback Jeff Blake.




It was interesting to read.


I was actually going to say how can you listen to a guy that traded away his entire draft plus some of the following year for a guy. Oh Well thats thrown out the window lol


http://findarticles.com/p/articles/mi_m1208/is_47_225/ai_80680563/ 
Just Imagine this for the next 6-9 years. What a ride it will be 🙂 (PS, Zero should charge for this)
UserPostedImage
Cheesey
15 years ago
Yup....the guy made a bad move.
Thus, anything he says HAS to be wrong, correct?
Makes ALOT of sense. (not)

Ditka has been around football a LONG time. To me, that means his opinion matters. Those that have been around football a long time who pick the Vikings or Bears matter too.

In the end, ALL that really matters is which team actually WINS it.
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wpr (30-May) : It's all good.
beast (30-May) : Yeah, and I enjoyed your comments and just attempted to add to it. Sorry if I did it incorrectly.
wpr (30-May) : Beast I never said Henderson was the salt of the earth. Nor even that he was correct. Just quoting the guy.
Zero2Cool (29-May) : What did you do??
Zero2Cool (29-May) : Whoa
beast (29-May) : OMG the website is now all white, even some white on white text
beast (29-May) : Henderson, who admits to taking cocaine during the Super Bowl against the Steelers, might dislike Bradshaw as he lost two Superbowls to him
wpr (28-May) : Hollywood Henderson said Bradshaw “is so dumb, he couldn't spell 'cat' if you spotted him the C and an A.”
Mucky Tundra (28-May) : Cooper stock=BUY BUY BUY
Mucky Tundra (28-May) : Also notes he’s playing with more confidence.
Mucky Tundra (28-May) : @AndyHermanNFL MLF says there was a time last year where Cooper was at 220 pounds. Now he’s at 240 and still flying around.
Mucky Tundra (28-May) : And don't even get me started on Frank Caliendos "impersonations"
Mucky Tundra (28-May) : I got tired of them being circle jerks with them overlaughing at each others jokes.
Zero2Cool (28-May) : It used to be must watch TV for me. now it's "meh" maybe to hear injury update
Mucky Tundra (28-May) : I haven't watched the pregame shows in years and I don't feel like I've missed a thing
Zero2Cool (28-May) : Love says knee affected him all season, groin injury didn't help matters.
Zero2Cool (28-May) : I used to enjoy him on FOX Pregame. Now it's like a frat party of former Patriots.
Zero2Cool (28-May) : LaFleur on Watson: “Christian is doing outstanding. I would say he’s ahead of schedule.”
Martha Careful (28-May) : Bradshaw is a dumb ass cracker. I am so tired of his "aw shucks" diatribe. He should shrivel up and go away.
buckeyepackfan (28-May) : He wad all butt hurt because Aaron duped the media saying he was immunized.
buckeyepackfan (28-May) : Bradshaw needs to retire. He's been ripping on Rodgers ever since the covid crap. He was all hury
Zero2Cool (28-May) : Terry Bradshaw doesn't want Rodgers in Pittsburgh lol wow
Zero2Cool (27-May) : one day contract, which he also feels is pointless, but if Packers came to him, he would
packerfanoutwest (27-May) : Aaron Rodgers talks possibility of retiring with Packers, just another rumor
dfosterf (27-May) : Go watch 2001
Zero2Cool (26-May) : 1984
dfosterf (26-May) : That movie sent a chill through many. 1968.
dfosterf (26-May) : "Open the pod bay doors, HAL"
buckeyepackfan (25-May) : Haven't we all seen thus movie? It doesn't end well!! Lol
Zero2Cool (25-May) : lol Anthropic’s new AI model turns to blackmail when engineers try to take it offline
dfosterf (25-May) : Claude Opus 4
dfosterf (25-May) : AI system resorts to blackmail when its developers threaten to take it offline
beast (22-May) : Colts Owner Jim Irsay has passed away
Zero2Cool (21-May) : Well, emailing should work now. After not working for almost a year. Oops.
Zero2Cool (21-May) : Brotherly Shove did not get enough votes.
Zero2Cool (20-May) : lol our email hasn't worked in months. 7 pages of unverified users
Zero2Cool (20-May) : MySpace Screaming Lord Byron ... Brett Favre.
Zero2Cool (19-May) : Packers have signed first-round pick Matthew Golden, leaving second-round tackle Anthony Belton as their only unsigned draft pick
beast (19-May) : Supposedly he has to take his image, and name off of it... but otherwise could keep selling wine if he wanted to.
Zero2Cool (19-May) : he giving up his win business?
beast (19-May) : Speaking of Woodson, sounds like he'll be a minority owner (0.1%) of the Browns
Mucky Tundra (15-May) : Zero, regarding Woodson, that'd why I find the timing with Williams peculiar
dfosterf (15-May) : Ryan Hall y'all does a great job of tracking thesr
Zero2Cool (15-May) : Fear not!! I planned to do 33mi bike ride tomorrow morning, so ... yeah
Zero2Cool (15-May) : We got some dark clouds and nasty winds right bout now.
Zero2Cool (15-May) : Madison they had hail 4pm.
dfosterf (15-May) : Sure looks like these tornadoes are headed towards Green Bay
Zero2Cool (15-May) : Woodson of Charles fame was reluctant and then loved it. that didn't really come out until post career
Mucky Tundra (15-May) : IE "We bought into the Bears and they let us down, we have no choice to seek alternatives"
Mucky Tundra (15-May) : Or that Williams and his family are preparing an exit ramp if they don't like how things are going in a few years
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