Bears great, Hall of Fame linebacker Butkus dies
A photo of Dick Butkus sneering behind his facemask filled the cover of Sports Illustrated's 1970 NFL preview, topped by the headline, “The Most Feared Man in the Game.” Opponents who wound up on the business end of his bone-rattling hits could testify that wasn't an exaggeration.
Butkus, a middle linebacker for the Chicago Bears whose speed and ferocity set the standards for the position in the modern era, died Thursday, the team announced. He was 80. According to a statement released by the team, Butkus' family confirmed that he died in his sleep at his home in Malibu.
Butkus was a first-team All-Pro five times and made the Pro Bowl in eight of his nine seasons before a knee injury forced him to retire at 31. He was the quintessential Monster of the Midway and was elected to the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 1979, his first year of eligibility. He is still considered one of the greatest defensive players in league history.
Butkus enjoyed a long second career as a sports broadcaster, an actor in movies and TV series, and a soughtafter pitchman for products ranging from antifreeze to beer. Whether the script called for comedy or drama, Butkus usually resorted to playing himself, often with his gruff exterior masking a softer side.
Butkus was a star linebacker, fullback and kicker at Chicago Vocational High who went on to play at the University of Illinois. But after being drafted in the first round in 1965 by both the Bears and Denver Broncos (at the time, a member of the now-defunct American Football League), Butkus chose to remain in Chicago. The Bears also added future Hall of Fame running back Gale Sayers to the roster that year with another first-round pick.
Butkus brought speed, agility and a scorched-Earth attitude to the job that his predecessors only imagined. He intercepted five passes, recovered six fumbles and was unofficially credited with forcing six more in his rookie year, topping it off with the first of eight straight Pro Bowl appearances. But his reputation as a disruptor extended well past the ability to take away the football.
Butkus is survived by his wife, Helen, and children Ricky, Matt and Nikki.
KEY RAIDERS COULD MISS MNF GAME ❯❯ Las Vegas Raiders wide receiver Davante Adams did not practice Thursday because of a shoulder injury, and quarterback Jimmy Garoppolo remains in concussion protocol.
Raiders coach Josh McDaniels did not say whether either would play when Las Vegas hosts the Green Bay Packers on Monday night, but did say Garoppolo is in the “final stages” and would practice Thursday.
Cornerback Nate Hobbs is not practicing because of an ankle injury.
Adams injured his shoulder in Sunday's 24-17 loss at the Chargers, though he finished the game and caught eight passes for 75 yards. TAYLOR RETURNS TO COLTS ❯❯ A healthy Jonathan Taylor explained how happy he is to be practicing again with the Indianapolis Colts. He wouldn't discuss the ugly contract dispute he's had with the team.
Taylor smiled and mostly sidestepped questions about his relationship with the Colts and his future with the team.
“I don't think it matters if I'm saying committed or not because I'm here,” he said. “If somebody wasn't committed, they wouldn't be here. Right now, I'm here and my No. 1 goal is really to attack this first practice. It's been over 290 days, I believe. When you're not doing what you love, you're going to notice it, so my main goal has been to attack this first day.”
Taylor missed all of the team's offseason workouts while rehabbing from ankle surgery and all of training camp after going on the physically unable to perform list because of lingering pain. Then in late August, one day after keeping Taylor on the PUP list to start the regular season, Colts general manager Chris Ballard reiterated he wouldn't put Taylor or anyone else on the field with an injury.
The decision gave Taylor four additional weeks to work his way back to full health. Now, he insists, he's ready.