Thursday, April 23, 2009

Top Ten Chicago Bears Second Round Picks of All Time

Despite not having a first round pick in this year's draft, the Bears could still wind up selecting a player that has an impact on this team for years to come.

Is it going to be one of these players that Ricky talked about yesterday?

Only time will tell. But what we do know is that some of the best players in Bears history were snagged in the second round and here are the Top Ten.

10. Matt Forte – 2008


The rookie wunderkind blew away every expectation we could have come up with in his rookie season with the ballclub. He showed that he is more than capable of running either in between the tackles or sideline to sideline.

The future is even brighter for Forte now that the Bears have the services of Jay Cutler. I can't wait for the season start.


9. Mike Brown – 2000


Despite being plagued by injuries much of his career, Mike Brown's impact on the Bears will be felt for a long time.

He has a knack for coming up with a big play in the biggest of moments and his bone jarring hits still echo throughout Soldier Field.


8. Ron Rivera – 1984


Hola chico.

The name Ron Rivera remains fresh in the minds of Bears fans after a sour departure following the team's appearance in Super Bowl XLI.

Rivera played with the Bears for nine years, becoming both the first Puerto Rican or Mexican player in the league and the first to play in and win a Super Bowl.


7. Devin Hester – 2006


Devin Hester, you...are...mediocre?

Hester may have had a down year in 2008, but he is still the greatest return man the Bears ever had (no disrespect to Gayle Sayers). And there's still plenty of time left for him to regain his status as the league's best and possibly best of all time.


6. Charles Tillman – 2003


Is there anyone in the league better at stripping a football than Peanut?

Tillman's had more ups than downs in his career with the Bears and will remain a cornerstone of their secondary for years to come.

If you're like me, the everlasting image of Tillman you have in your mind is the game he ripped the ball away from Randy Moss in the end zone.


5. Matt Suhey – 1980


The man who plowed the way for the greatest running back of all time, Suhey was revered in the city of Chicago for his role on the 1985 Bears. Never once did you hear him complain about a lack of touches or limelight playing second fiddle to Payton.

He was as blue collar as they get and a symbol for everything the Bears fans expect from their players.


4. Bobby Douglass – 1969


Bobby Douglass was the original Randall Cunningham and one of the few Bears quarterbacks that could be considered above average. While nobody would ever confuse his passing abilities with those of the newly acquired Jay cutler, Douglass was in a class of his own with both feet on the ground.

In 1972, Douglass set the single season rushing record for a quarterback with an astounding 968 yards and eight touchdowns. That number was surpassed by Michael Vick in 1996.

The only difference? Vick had 16 games in his attempt to reach a record Douglass set in only 14 games.


3. Richie Petitbon – 1959


This rugged safety out of Tulane amassed 48 INT during his 13 year career while playing for the Bears, Rams and Redskins.

For fans too young to remember watching Petitbon patrol the secondary for the Bears, just imagine a more dominant version of Gary Fencik and you'll get the picture.

He was selected the Pro Bowl four times and named to the NFL All-Pro team five times before retiring and would eventually become head coach of the Washington Redskins.


2. Mike Singletary – 1981


Good old Samurai.

Long before he dropped his pants at halftime, Singletary was the heart and soul of the 1985 defense that is regarded by those who know anything about football as the greatest unit of all time. Opposing quarterbacks, running backs and wide receivers needed only one look into the wide eyes of the Samurai before the fear set in.

Some of his accolades include 10 trips to the Pro Bowl, two NFL Defensive Player of the Year awards and eight selections to the All Pro team.

Oh, and a little thing called the Hall of Fame.



1. Bill George – 1951


Credited with being the first middle linebacker in NFL history, Bill George was the origin of the mystique that surrounds this particular position for the Bears.

His accomplishments include eight consecutive Pro Bowl selections, eight All-Pro selections, 18 career interceptions and member of the NFL 1950's All-Decade Team.

George was inducted into the NFL Hall of Fame in 1974 and is still remembered as being the Bears toughest player of all time.

No small feat when you think of the legends the team has produced.

1 comment:

Anonymous said...

Great list cousin. I hope to see Forte in the "Number One" position in 2011's installment. It honestly wouldn't suprise me to see Angelo lay a duece on this draft. Thank God they made a play for Cutler...

Unfortunately, an Olsen favorite "Bobby Engram" didn't make the list due to a departure from the Bears in 2000. I know he would have made your top ten...

TO