Best NFL team ever? New documentary says ’85 Bears
Argue all you want about which is the best team in NFL history. A new documentary declares the winner to be the 1985 Chicago Bears.
The Pro Football Hall of Fame in Canton, Ohio, will premiere “85: The Greatest Team in Football History’’ on Jan. 3. The film will then hit theaters nationwide on Jan. 29.
The documentary focuses on the dominant Super Bowl XX championship team coached by Mike Ditka, and including a cast of characters as colorful as the coach.
Dan Hampton and Jim McMahon — two stars from that team that went 151, shut out the Rams and Giants in the NFC playoffs before beating the Patriots 46-10 in the Super Bowl — will attend the premiere.
Afterward, actor Matt Walsh, who narrated the film, will lead a panel discussion with the Bears players, documentary director Scott Prestin and Hall of Fame executive director and noted historian Joe Horrigan.
The documentary includes interviews with members of the ’85 team, including Hall of Famers Mike Singletary, Hampton and Ditka, plus McMahon, Steve McMichael, Willie Gault and Otis Wilson, who co-produced the film.
Famous Chicagoans such as former President Barack Obama, the Rev. Jesse Jackson, actor Bill Murray and sports commentators Michael Wilbon and Chris Myers, offer their perspectives.
Profiled are such players as Hall of Famer Walter Payton, McMahon, William “The Refrigerator” Perry and Ditka.
Injury updates
Seattle linebacker Bobby Wagner, despite a lingering hamstring problem, practiced Friday and will play Sunday when the Seahawks face the Cowboys.
The Seahawks listed just three players as questionable for their must-win game: safety Bradley McDougald, defensive end Frank Clark and tight end Nick Vannett.
Coach Pete Carroll said McDougald, who has been starting with Kam Chancellor out, would play.
Carroll also said there is a chance cornerback DeShawn Shead will be activated from the physically unable to perform list. Shead suffered a major knee injury in the playoffs last January.
• Tennessee cornerback Logan Ryan missed his third straight day of practice and is questionable for when the Titans host the Rams on Sunday.
Ryan suffered an ankle injury in the first half of last week’s loss to the 49ers and did not return to the game.
The Titans (8-6) also made some moves in the secondary, placing second-year cornerback LeShaun Sims on injured reserve with a hamstring injury and re-signing cornerback Demontre Hurst.
• The Cardinals’ injury report listed 15 players who either missed or were limited in practice — but as of Friday, only three of those players definitely will miss Sunday’s home against the Giants.
Those players are linebacker Josh Bynes, tight end Troy Niklas and offensive lineman Earl Watford, all with ankle injuries.
The rest were able to practice to some degree Friday, though a limited practice doesn’t mean they will all be active.
Bynes, Niklas and Watford didn’t practice all week, and four other players missed two of three practices. One of those was running back Kerwynn Williams, who was limited on Friday with injuries to his quadriceps and ribs.
Williams has been the No. 1 running back the past three weeks, but his injuries have him questionable for Sunday.
• Jets right guard Brian Winters will not play against the Chargers on Sunday because of an abdominal injury.
Meanwhile, defensive end Leonard Williams completed the NFL’s concussion protocol after being injured last Sunday at New Orleans and was a full participant at practice.
Running backs Matt Forte (knee) and Elijah McGuire (illness) are questionable, as is center Wesley Johnson (hip).
Muhammad Wilkerson’s playing status remains uncertain. Coach Todd Bowles declined to say whether the defensive end, who was benched last Sunday for tardiness, will play.