Dick Butkus

[Lee Elder]

I know this should be in a different group of topics, but this is one of the biggest names in the history of the game. Dick Butkus has passed away at 80.

https://www.yahoo.com/sports/report-dic ... 49369.html

[RichardBak]

Loved that guy---that menacing glare, cowcatcher facemask, villainous mustache. What was it about middle linebackers of that era? They just sounded like ass-kickers: Butkus, Schmidt, Nitschke, etc.

We loved to hate him here in Detroit, but he was an original. RIP

[Retro Rider]

One NFL Films clip that stands out (and there are many) was Butkus' hit on Charlie Sanders at Wrigley Field back in the late '60's. On the play Butkus wiped out Sanders and one of his own teammates like they were bowling pins. Butkus personified the NFL's "Black and Blue" division. R.I.P. #51.

https://youtu.be/7-AJNnXVqiU?si=jNkp6nQomuYhbXhf

https://youtu.be/3tP17HeG-5k?si=7btBjaJwMwYAVdPJ

[RichardBak]

One NFL Films clip that stands out (and there are many) was Butkus' hit on Charlie Sanders at Wrigley Field back in the late '60's. On the play Butkus wiped out Sanders and one of his own teammates like they were bowling pins. Butkus personified the NFL's "Black and Blue" division. R.I.P. #51.

https://youtu.be/7-AJNnXVqiU?si=jNkp6nQomuYhbXhf

https://youtu.be/3tP17HeG-5k?si=7btBjaJwMwYAVdPJ

Oof! Just watched those clips. Jeezus, that was football, wasn't it? The '60s were great. Mud, power sweeps, etc. It's just basketball on plastic now.

I was at the game when Chuck Hughes died. One of those images that always stuck with me was Butkus waving frantically to the sidelines as he stood over Hughes. Butkus's rep was such that a lot of people thought he had actually finally killed someone.

[Brian wolf]

Butkus was to the MLB position what Jim Brown was to the RB position ... bigger than life. I have a preseason game where he played against the Packers in Milwaukee, where he got a head of steam and made hits with such ferocity that the crowd literally would go berserk in unison ... the electricity was definitely in the air during any game he played.

[Bryan]

I thought we had an old thread where people ranked the top 10 MLBs of all-time. I think that while Ray Lewis probably had a better 'career', Butkus was the superior MLB. If you got a blocker on Ray Lewis, he would stay blocked. Butkus just shed blockers until he got to the ballcarrier.

Dumb story, but they had some event here in Illinois...might have been the 'unveiling' of the renovated Soldier Field...but they had a ceremony with the Governor and he's onstage with Dick Butkus and Mike Ditka. The Governor had no idea who either guy was, and he says "Now let me introduce Chicago Bears legend....MIKE BUTKA!"

[Retro Rider]

I have a preseason game where he played against the Packers in Milwaukee, where he got a head of steam and made hits with such ferocity that the crowd literally would go berserk in unison ...

Here's an upgraded version of that game for those who haven't seen it (including myself):
https://youtu.be/eeUkZ8Cw6es?si=KF4rDkpGKgznT5Km

[Retro Rider]

I have a preseason game where he played against the Packers in Milwaukee, where he got a head of steam and made hits with such ferocity that the crowd literally would go berserk in unison ...

Here's a look at that game for those who haven't seen it:
https://youtu.be/eeUkZ8Cw6es?si=KF4rDkpGKgznT5Km

[Brian wolf]

Thanks Retro Rider ... someone points out Butkus wiping out Chuck Mercein at the 31 minute mark ... The crowd was incredible.

[JohnTurney]

I thought we had an old thread where people ranked the top 10 MLBs of all-time. I think that while Ray Lewis probably had a better 'career', Butkus was the superior MLB. If you got a blocker on Ray Lewis, he would stay blocked. Butkus just shed blockers until he got to the ballcarrier.

Only negative thing ever heard about Butkus was Bud Grant said the Vikings could misdirect him because he was so effective. SHow the belonging scheme one way and let him flow and have a counter or quick-hitter behind him. They could get enough of a crease to have some success.

There is possibly something to it. The Vikings had some big rushing days in the years Grant/Burns overlapped with Butkus. No so much in '67, but after that. But Van Brocklin's teams had good days, too. Comes down to what plays worked and also the how poor the bears became stopping the run in early 1970s.

Still, I think Butkus' peak is probably still the best historically and Lewis had the longer peak ... greatfor a longer time