For those unfortunates who did not get a chance to see him play, this guy struck absoulete fear into his opponents. Dick Butkus was one of the original bad *** LB's I have ever seen, and I am better for watching him play.
One of the truly original BAD *** players Dick Butkus has passed
- Thread starter Harvard Gamecock
- Start date
Very sad news. Proof positive that even the baddest and toughest have the same inevitable fate as all of us.
A couple of interesting notes from his Wikipedia page that jumped out at me: At the time of his retirement in 1974, his contract with the Bears paid him $115,000 per year (about $623,000 in today's money). I also note that he was married to the same woman, his high school sweetheart, for 60 years.
A couple of interesting notes from his Wikipedia page that jumped out at me: At the time of his retirement in 1974, his contract with the Bears paid him $115,000 per year (about $623,000 in today's money). I also note that he was married to the same woman, his high school sweetheart, for 60 years.
Love the legendary quotes/stories about him.
Deacon Jones: "Roses are red, Violets are blue, if ya got any sense, you'll keep Butkus away from you!"
Brian Piccolo(Brian's song): "Fake draw, Screen right, I block the linebacker, but if it's Butkus I'll just notify the quarterback and call for a priest!"
Deacon Jones: "Roses are red, Violets are blue, if ya got any sense, you'll keep Butkus away from you!"
Brian Piccolo(Brian's song): "Fake draw, Screen right, I block the linebacker, but if it's Butkus I'll just notify the quarterback and call for a priest!"
Butkus, Huff, Nietzke - Baaad mamajammas who brought a lot of hurt on Sunday afternoons.
Bubba Smith, "Too Tall" Jones, Bob Lilly....there were some great players and hardass hitters back then.
Geesh, forgot about Buck Buchanan, Randy White, Alan Page.
I was focusing on the middle linebackers, but you are correct, everyone you named was extremely violent.
Joe Kapp, QB for the Vikings. Couldn't throw for beans but hung out with the defensive team, rode with them in the bus. Ran over a linebacker for the Browns on national TV, knocked the guy out of the game. Became my no. 1 guy on the spot. Same reason I was a Garcia fan.