Open Mic: My All-Time Favorite Chicago Bears Team

Here's my all-time favorite Chicago Bears team, it's a fifty-three player roster. My Coach is Buddy Ryan, for creating the 46 defense and Ditka made my team. Has nine HOF members, twenty-one members of the '85 Super Bowl team, some players for their depth all are favorites of mine and sixteen current players. 

QB

1. Sid Luckman, HOF member, he's my starter. He's the best QB, the franchise has had great arm and Madden says he's the best.

2. Jim McMahon, won a SB, dependable, reliable, managed the game and he's my back-up. While he was injured alot, he still has to be here and more amazing about him is he's blind in one of his eyes (don't remember which one).

3. Jim Harbaugh, always liked him, decent arm, and use as a back-up third string.

Offensive Backs

1. Walter Payton, HOF member and needs on explanation why he's on my list. Sweetness's the best period.

2. Gale Sayers, HOF member, another great back and one of many on my team. Wish as a fan, I was old enough to see him play.

3. Red Grange, HOF member, like Sayers wish I could have seen him play. What I liked the most about him is he played both on offense and defense.

4. Neal Anderson, great in a backing role, helped carry the load and had some great seasons in Chicago.

5. Matt Suhey, a member of a SB team. He was great at short yardage, would use him as FB and third-down back.

I also would use Gentry, Hester and AP for depth in the running game. But both are on my list in a couple of other positions.

Tightends

1. Mike Ditka, HOF member, wow could he play, great player and one of the best ever at tightend. Also found success as a Coach winning the '85 Super Bowl.

2. Desmond Clark, like how he plays, great blocker, use for short yardage passes and think he's underrated. With a decent QB, who can unload quickly maybe Clark would get more respect.

I also would bring in Hester, coming off the line for a quick pass and let his speed turn it into a larger gain.

Receivers

1. Willie Gault, on the SB team, my favorite and think he was the best. Would love to see him playing today, he would give both TO and Chad a run for their money.

2. Mushin Muhamad, have always liked him, great dependable player and will miss him. With another QB, would have had better stats, and still be a Bear. Let me note, the games I watched he was open a large amount of time and never thrown to by either QB.

3. Marcus Robinson, another guy I liked, talented, dependable, had some decent seasons and gives you depth.

4. Marty Booker, glad to see he's back, dependable, gives you depth and had his best years as a Bear.

5. Bobby Engram, had some great years, stats back it up, talented, speedy, dependable and gives you depth. He could start today as a N0. 1 receiver today with the roster we have at that position.

6. Wendell Davis, put up some great numbers in a too short career, like the guy and added him for depth.

7. Dennis Gentry, versatile, always liked the guy, a great versatile player (The Bears are trying to turn Hester into another Gentry.) dependable at receiver, running back or as a returner. Listed him at receiver, but can use him at any of the three i just mentioned and has great value to making my list.

Obviously, Hester can also be used at receiver, while not a No.1 or No. 2 and couldn't see leaving any of the ones I mentioned above.

Offensive Line

Have five linemen coming from the SB team, played great careers through the '80's and can't leave them off my list.

1. Jay Hilgenberg -Center

2. Mark Bortz - Guard

3. Keith Van Horne - Tackle

4. Jim Covert - Tackle

5. Tom Thayer - Guard

6. Rueben Brown, played Guard, always liked him, dependable player and maybe brought back to play on the line this year.

7. John Tait, plays Tackle, one of the best, while he played his best years in KC, still feel he's decent, gives you depth and leadership.

8. Patrick Mannelly, long snapper, great special teams player, versatile lineman and added for depth. Can't leave him off my list.

9. Roberta Garza, plays guard, another great line-man, dependable and just a all around great guy. Plus does alot charitable work off the field.

The Defense

Cornerback

1. Leslie Frazier, on the SB team, had a great while short career with the Bears. But always liked him and put him on my list.

2. Charles "Peanut"Tillman, my favorite player, a extremely talent player, going to be a HOF member one day and been a starter from day one. Plus gives something back to Chicago with his foundation.

3. Nathan Vasher, another great talented secondary player. Along with Tillman, they are the best in the NFL and both made my list. I also feel he could also end up in the HOF, with what he done in his career and keeps on producing sure.

This along with the receivers were the toughest to fill, but feel I did a decent job with filling my roster.

Defensive Backs

1. Dan Duerson, on the SB team, a great player, gives you depth, and couldn't leave him off my list.

2. Richie Petitbon, another great player from the past that I would have loved to see play. Gives you depth, feel can't leave him off the list.

Safeties

1. Gary Fencik, on the SB team, a great player, should already be in the HOF, the 46 defense worked because of how he played. Fun to watch him clean opponent's clocks tackling and Steltz reminds me of him.

2. Mike Brown, just always liked him. Has had a great career, will be one of the best ever and don't hold the last couple of injury plagued seasons against him to keep him off my list.

3. Doug Plank, another favorite of mine, gives you depth, great hitter and had a great career in Chicago.

Linebackers

1. Dick Butkus, HOF member, one of the greatest ever to play in the position. He has to be here, wish I could have seen him play and especially on the defense today.

2. Mike Singletary, HOF member, on the SB team, one of the best ever at MLB and those eyes missed nothing on the field. Wish the Bears brought him in as a Coach or Defensive Coordinator.

3. Wilbur Marshall, on the SB team, should be a HOF member, he was a tremulously talented guy and earned his place on my list.

4. Ron Riviera, on the SB team, always liked him, a great player, gives you depth and wish he was still leading the defense as Coordinator.

5. Otis Wilson, on the SB team, a favorite of my wife's, very talent, hard hitter, gives you depth and can't leave him off.

6. Brian Urlacher, got to include him, brings alot to the game, great from day one, on his way to the HOF and just love the guy. Can't leave him off, glad to see he maybe a lifer with the Bears, like Tillman will be.

7. Lance Briggs, great talent player, gives you depth, hard hitter and glad we hung onto him. Always like him, couldn't leave him off.

8. Vinson Smith, liked him, made my list for his talent and depth. He had some great seasons in Chicago, use him in relief, for fresh legs late in the game or for filling in for injured players.

Defensive Line

Have three from the '85 Super Bowl teams. All had great careers in the '80's for them, all very talented guys and deserve to be on my list.

1. Dan Hampton (HOF Member) - DL

2. Richard Dent -DE

3. Steve McMichael -DT

4. Alan Page, HOF member, one of the best every to play at DT, earned his spot on my list. Currently a Judge, continues to be a positive influence on todays youth and a great role-model.

5. Doug Atkins, HOF Member, one of the best ever, another one would have loved to see play and from what I read about him. Could do it all and can't leave him off.

6. Tommie Harris, like the guy, he's a great dependable player and earned his place on my list.

7. Chris Zorich, great talented player, dependable and added for his depth.

Kick Returner

Devon Hester, the greatest ever, as I noted on my list could use him a bunch of different ways, on track for the HOF for being a return demon, and by listing him here could add a extra receiver to my list.

Special Teams

Adrian "AP" Peterson, in no way could I leave him off. Love the guy, great on ST and would also use him on Defense more. He's also mentioned under offensive backs, could also use him in receiving.

Kicker

Kevin Butler, on the SB team, he's was sixth all-time in the NFL, when he retired in 1997. Dependable, tough and can't leave him off for anyone else and could see him making the HOF soon. Plus played with a one bar helmet.

Punter

Brad Maynard, always liked the guy, earned being here from all of Rex's three and outs. Does a decent job, seldom blocked and couldn't leave him off.

So that's my team, would also have these two as my Coordinators. Both have never been with the Bears, but would be great ones if they where. My offensive coordinator would be Mike Martz and Monte Kiffin as my defensive coordinator.

Sure I could have added a bunch of different players, some might have been better choices or had better careers. But I went strictly with the players I liked and where my favorites.

Since I do post alot of comments some good, some bad on Bears articles. Figured I would use the open mic, to prove I do know my Chicago Bears and will be listing more articles about them in the future. If you haven't read my Craig Steltz article, you should it's a great one.