1994 Chicago Bears Team Season Highlights "All For One"

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with a review of the 1994 Bears season a highlight package we call all for one and Michael in the NFC central the closest most competitive division in football the question every year has to be what have you done for me lately what have you done to make yourself a better team to distance yourself from the pack from the previous year I believe the Bears have got the real difference maker now on their team in rashon Salaam what do you think I agree with your Peter the Bears haven't had a front line halfback since Neil Anderson was in his prime Selam rushed for 2000 yards last year won the Heisman Trophy at Colorado then it became fashionable to talk about his shortcomings oh the guy's not that fast a lot of those yards came after he had already turned the corner on option plays baloney rashon Salaam is an immediate improvement for the Bears at halfback quarterback I'm not so sold on they brought in Eric Kramer last year to be the man he didn't get it done Steve Walsh came in doesn't have the arm strength you would like but he has a pretty good leader I think the other thing the Bears have going for him going into this year I like their coach Dave Wannstedt on the Tuesday Wednesday before a big game to be able to do the most in a in a strategic and motivational sense to help his team win a game these are just some of the things we're about to see for in addition to 1994 highlights we've also got a preview of the 1995 Bears season as well as a special trip down memory lane in our Bears classic segment that segment will feature profiles of two colorful bears of yesteryear quarterback Bobby Douglas and defensive end ed sprinkle alias the claw so without further ado Sports Illustrated proudly presents the 1995 Chicago Bears video yearbook everybody seems to think that the Bears have no chance except the bear players so it's gonna be interesting to see if they could just put it across it'd be a major up so that they do it it certainly would be one of the greatest upsets in history of the NFL the Chicago Bears are here in Candlestick to give it a trap for the first time in three years the Chicago Bears were battling in the postseason they deserve to be in the playoffs they had worked hard they expected to be there all along it was their goal [Music] in candlestick against San Francisco the Bears held a slim early lead and fought desperately to hold on in the end their grit was no match for the 49ers glittering galaxy of star but it took the best team in the NFL to be ran up against a steamroller machine in the San Francisco 49ers you have to remember this is a team on the way up they went from five and eleven to seven to nine last year went to ten today three playoff games this year so definitely another huge step in the right direction it was a year to be proud of a springboard for the season to come [Music] [Applause] in 1994 the Bears held fast to the simple virtues that have sustained them for 75 years they were fighters who thrived on hardship and found a way to win [Music] single bag off henceforth there Kramer back bucks once now rainbow [Applause] [Applause] [Music] NFC coach of the year Dave Wannstedt has built a playoff toughened winner that plays the game the way it was meant to be all out all for one [Music] [Applause] [Applause] [Music] [Applause] the Bears had that twitch and after beating the Giants for their first undefeated preseason in 36 years they were psyched for the real thing and the opener they were razor-sharp our Kramer takes play action looking tres Armstrong broke from the gate with a pair of sacks as the Bears didn't allow a touchdown cruising to their NFL record 35th opening day victory [Music] I formation backfield and on play action back throat - Chris get me touchdowns made it look easy perhaps too easy the Bears lost their next two games and starting quarterback Eric Cramer but there would be no free fall they had a safety net Dave Wannstedt who remind them that they were all in it together and everyone had a vital role to play game plans were user-friendly player input was welcomed many hands made for a lighter load and everyone had a share the result was a three game winning streak it began on a Sunday night against the Jets as the Bears made the plays when they needed them to forced fumbles for sacks and Alonso Spellman's first career interception fuel the 19 to 7 victory [Music] then it was back to Soldier Field to take on the four-time AFC champion Buffalo Bills each was playing a part solid spokes in the wheel picks by Donnell Wolford and Jeremy Lincoln set up scores in a key fourth quarter sack by Spellman nailed down the win a win that featured the NFL's catch of the year a one-handed masterpiece by Chris Getty cook in motion to the right walls backpedal slips steps up now throws the middle of the endzone [Applause] always built into the game plan was the freedom to seize the moment mark carrier step forward this time with some impromptu magic against the Saints [Applause] their third straight win was in their sights and Eric Kramer's replacement Steve Walsh didn't miss the quarterback Walsh's straight back to the low swings the right side of the answer who are these guys how had they leaped into first place they were the resourceful young Bears and the league was beginning to take notice by formation scram why to the right side and here's the handoff to Lewis Tillman [Applause] it was all for one all the way the 75th anniversary was the time to celebrate where the Bears are going and where they've been throwback jerseys were unveiled and heroes returned after all the team George Halas founded has more Hall of Famers than any other the diamond anniversary was also the perfect occasion for Michael McCaskey to honor two of Chicago's most cherished jewels [Music] it was ironic that in the midst of a Monday night monsoon the two jerseys were retired one worn by a legend who ran like the wind and another by a raging storm who hit like a lightning bolt [Music] humility and pride I'm proud of Chicago and I'm proud to tell you that when I played for you I gave it the better best I could Gale Sayers Dick Butkus no one wonder where number 40 and number 51 in a Chicago Bears uniform again over the years down bear alley they marched numbers and names have changed but there's always been one constant a legacy of defense handed down by the monsters of the Midway [Music] the charge was led up front by Carl Simpson John theory Albert no Jim Flanagan Alonzo Spellman sack leader Trace Armstrong and Chris Zorich [Music] [Applause] [Music] the tradition of beating on ball carriers was carried on by vincent Smith and Dante Jones number 59 Joe Kane lived in the backfield and led the team in tackles while veteran Ron Cox filled in and feasted on the leftover number 92 berry mentor is accounted on performer for next year and along with Meyer and Baker helped make the defense the NFC's toughest inside the 20 incredibly Chicago allowed only four touchdowns longer than 20 yards newcomer Marty Carter will ease the loss of Shaun Gayle and joins Kevin Minnifield Maurice Douglas Jeremy Lincoln mark carrier and John Mangum in the secondary Donelle Wolford continued to be one of the league's premier corners he led the Bears in interceptions and receivers paid dearly for the rare short ones he allowed [Music] with the defense leading the way Chicago caught fire once more launching a new winning streak it began in Tampa as the Bears rolled 20 to 6 [Music] very royal I'm gonna go walk back to the dorm quick over the [Applause] the wind was the first of four in a row and at the heart of that streak was the special team fourth down meant it was time for the Bears big play unit to take center stage [Music] many gave chase but nearly always the same man got their first leading tackler Maurice Douglas [Music] Douglas led the charge on a group that blocked five field goals recovered an onside kick forced six fumbles and courtesy of Jeff Graham returned a punt for a touchdown the special teams were special indeed when Chicago took on the Dolphins looking for their second straight win the Bears had never won in Miami but this time it would be a different kind of game very different over the middle [Applause] Kurtis Conway's unlikely touchdown pass set the tone for Chicago's Aeneas game of the season a bizarre contest that tested the will of players the patience of coaches and the bounds of belief of all who watch [Applause] [Music] [Applause] [Music] late in the tie game Steve Walsh ate up time and yardage on a clutch drive with one goal in mind Kevin Butler did just that and from 40 yards out it was dead solid perfect [Music] [Applause] but there was more madness with seven seconds left Chicago needed one more miracle from their specialty [Applause] it began with a touchdown pass from a wideout and ended with a blocked field goal from a right tackle all for one yet again big cat Williams was the man of the hour and in the rain the Bears were winners for the first time ever in Miami [Music] in November there was a traffic jam of for division contenders and the bears and lions were two of them [Music] [Applause] another special teams Jam and a perfect pass put Detroit in Chicago's rearview mirror side lone setback greenwall spective no five-step drop rides up Steve Walsh even found the open man on the way out and then he found Jeff gray I'm a week later against buddy Ryan's Cardinals their fourth win and as many games would mean sole possession of first place in the division and they caught a break early in overtime the Bears relied on execution not Lady Luck the walls to Graham connection clicked again setting the stage for Kevin Butler who in 1994 drilled his 1,000th career point out of the hole to Gardocki the one Berg on the staff here it is placement made tick by Butler sails to the upright [Applause] Dave Wannstedt smen roared through November to eight and four they were alone atop the division a big reason was an innovative approach on offense flea flickers reverses and rollouts never the same look a rich blend of run and pass thriving in the system were Steve Walsh and Eric Kramer who together set Club records in attempts completions yards and percentage [Music] reliable Keith Jennings Ryan wet night and Chris get me help bear tight ends catch 56 passes for eight scores but in 1995 the focus will be on wide receivers like free agent Michael Timpson Greg McMurtry and Curtis Conway rhymer pumps left throws the rights out of the end zone [Music] to take short drop Jeff Graham had a stellar year catching passes in every game 68 and all the most by affair in 25 years [Music] [Applause] senator Jerry Fontenot was the triggerman and upfront mark ports Todd Perry J Lowenberg Troya zine and DHEC and James Williams allowed only 25 cents an airtight pocket allowed Tom Waddell and the controlled passing game to Fleury drive blocking sprung the ground attack luis tilman finished off every run on his way to a hundred and 99 yards and a team-high 7/10 [Music] versatile Raymond Harris finished second in rushing and third and receiving in a promising rookie season during the playoff push in a week 14 shootout with the Vikings Robert Greene turned in one of the most electrifying plays of the year she's on over the middle he goes he's got Robert Creek tried to sever defender and done [Applause] [Music] [Applause] a rare Kevin Butler miss sent the game into overtime and in sudden death sadly the Bears died fast and hard [Applause] [Music] [Applause] touchdown Vikings the game [Applause] when they lost again in Green Bay the Bears were steamed but like an angry volcano they erupted against the RAM victory number nine would mean a winning season and more importantly the playoff spot they had set their sights on from the very beginning play action loss look to the endzone drills the map [Applause] thanks give too they had done it together joining once more the ranks of the NFL's elite ahead a wild-card rematch with the Vikings division champions that had beaten them six straight time it would be a grudge match all for one the Bears and their fans were primed for a memorable trip to the Metrodome this afternoon from the Metrodome in Minneapolis Minnesota it's an NFC wild card playoff contest between the Chicago Bears and the NFC Central Division Minnesota Vikings [Applause] [Music] [Applause] and up tearing off the right side of the endzone touchdown [Applause] what's an already taken over the middle [Applause] wash tanks bootleg rolling [Music] [Applause] yard line of Minnesota giver Iman Harris up the middle he goes her [Music] [Applause] [Music] this bear team believes they can beat the knowing they could win they've got all the confidence the world [Applause] [Music] [Music] [Applause] [Music] [Applause] Minneapolis and thoroughly blast the NFC Central Division champion Minnesota Vikings in what I'd have to say one of the most inspired performances I've seen from a Chicago Bears football team [Applause] [Music] [Applause] the Bears season ultimately ended to victory short of Super Bowl 29 but what a run it was [Applause] and only his second season Dave Wannstedt had convinced them of just how good they can be in 1995 they'll begin anew but not unsure and tentative they approached the coming year as a playoff tested United team inspired as always by their loyal fan [Music] with each season there are new challenges and little certainty but for the Chicago Bears one thing is certain they will face 1995 all together all out and all for one [Music] last year head coach Dave Wannstedt guided a ragtag bunch of no names to a playoff with boy he'd better shape up I think he's got to be on the hot seat this year if he doesn't win at all I'd get rid of him no I did once that has done everything you could ask for in two seasons with the Bears and there's no reason to believe that they won't be at least as good this year maybe a little better think about Dave Wannstedt he had zero Pro Bowl players on his roster last year and he got a team into the second round of the playoffs that's tremendous one of his greatest assets to me is the ability to get 53 guys in a room and say we don't care what our stats are we care that we win this playoff game no matter who does it but I think it's a tribute to him [Applause] this season tres Armstrong will not be making plays for the Bears he was sent to Miami for draft picks well everyone will talk about the fact that the Bears lost their sack later from last year trace Armstrong's when they traded to Miami but think about it he had seven and a half sacks that's not that many sacks it's not like losing the Charles Haley I would expect the lines of Spelman at this point in his career to be able to get at least that many sacks this year he'll get some help from John Ferry younger player but I do believe that a lines of Spelman will step up and maybe be a Pro Bowl caliber player by the end of 1995 how Spelman does is gonna indicate to me how the Bears do this year not only is a defense but as a team if he comes through strongly and has even a Jeff cross type of ten sack year this is going to be a vast a vast improvement for him in terms of consistency and I don't think the bear defense is gonna be heard all that much by Armstrong's loss nor will they be hurt by the loss of safety Shaun Gayle the last remaining starter from their 1985 Super Bowl defense the Bears merely replaced one run stuffing number 23 with another Tampa Bay's Marty Carter a younger version who's familiar with life in the NFC Central [Music] Carter will join a unit of opportunistic role players led by one of the best pure defenders in the league playmaking cornerback Donnell Wolford number 21 I felt very very strongly last year that along with Deion Sanders this guy was the biggest difference maker at cornerback in the NFL last year even more so than Rod Woodson reason I felt that way is very very simple he has become a physical player and I think his coverage skills I'm not saying or second to none because I think Sanders really blankets people Woodson when he's on his game does the same thing but his coverage skills are as good as any player other than Deion Sanders in my opinion in the NFL I think he's that good and I think last year him not being a Pro Bowl starter for the NFC was a huge injustice I think that as far as a team defense concept they played extremely well they aren't nearly as talented player four players the Cowboys were but I think once that strategically can match up in a in a in a mental chess game with any coordinator in the league right now and it seems they have the targets in place to match up in the passing game as well receivers Jeff Graham and Curtis Conway are the likely starters they invested a lot in Curtis Conway and I think the time has come for him to to justify that number one draft pick Graham had a great year last year and I think Graham and Conway the two young guys are gonna be the key to that team if Conway is injured like last year look for two former Patriots to step in Greg McMurtry or newly acquired michael Timpson Timpson is a lackluster practice player but one step will put an end to that immediately and now with for quality receivers the Bears will finally be able to keep defenses honest what this does is especially in that division where the Bears have been played so close to the vest you know so almost eight in the box type of type of defense against them all the time they're gonna be able to spread the field slightly so that even even though the quarterbacks on these teams relatively speaking have poor arms I still think they're gonna be able to spread the field a little bit more which is a definite must for their running game the running game no matter what assistant head coach Tony wise tried it never improved a couple of years ago down in Dallas wise Unleashed Emmitt Smith Lewis Tillman and Raymond Harris are not Emmitt Smith last year Tillman and company averaged a mere three point three yards of carry something had to be done Lewis Tillman Spencer Tillman lawyer Tillman it doesn't matter none of those guys were gonna be the marquee running back the dev ones that needs to get the bear offense to where he wants it to be I think by late in the season they once that and his staff had decided that Lewis Tillman was not their guy were they going to consistently give the ball to Raymont Harris were they gonna look elsewhere in 1995 that was obviously answered on draft day when they go after rashon Selam who had the gaudiest per run average in college football last year playing against a big-time schedule here's a guy who I think is gonna be a real mutter and is going to be able to get outside in a division where you have to get outside Selam is going to give them a little bit of outside bursts that they didn't have last year with Tillman and they haven't had since Walter Payton for some reason it became trendy to rip rashon Salaam right around the time where he won the Heisman Trophy all the guy did was get 2000 yards for one of the best teams in the country and win the Heisman and then all you heard was well he's a little slow he's not a great breakaway back he's not this a lot of his yards in college came after he had already turned the corner on the option well so what yards or yards and I think unless Rashad salon was a complete failure or he gets injured that is going to be a marked improvement I think that Salaam will have as much opportunity immediately to be a factor for an NFL team as any rookie drafted this year drafting Salaam was once Ted's boldest move now he must make his biggest decision who will start at quarterback Erik Kramer or Steve Walsh the miracle man who took over and led them to the playoffs I think most people thought Steve Walsh was out of the league this guy wasn't dead he was cremated where did Steve Walsh come from and his resurrection that's a great story bears do have a lot invested in Kramer and if Kramer is the clear-cut winner in a competition he will be the guy but I think Dave once that will evaluate it on who gives the Bears the best chance to win based on last year that's to be Walsh I think Steve Walsh wins the Kramer Walsh battle because I think that Dave once that learned last year that he could really go to war with this guy I think Dave personally feels bad for Kramer because it was one of those Lou Gehrig Wally PIPP things where once the guy lost his job and they started to win a few games he wasn't gonna get his job back but I think Dave is going to go with performance clutch performance and that's why I think Walsh is gonna win the job the key for the Bears this season is going to be their division games the division is so competitive you've got four teams that made the playoffs last year the first time that's ever happened and Tampa Bay you'd think would improve a little bit now that's eight tough games that if the Bears can win maybe six of them I think they have an excellent chance to win the division I think ten insects might be a realistic goal for them if Rochon salaam becomes the 1213 hundred yard threat that they drafted him to be if he's able to get outside you're gonna see this team is gonna be a ten win team neither a division champion or a wild-card home team Bobby Douglas was a professional quarterback who often resembled an amateur magician even though his sleight of hand was a bit wobbly his tricks were astonishing whenever Chicago's gameplan threatened to disappear in a puff of smoke Douglass had a knack for pulling a rabbit from his hat [Music] [Applause] as a rookie in 1969 Douglas wore number 14 and boasted a rocket-launching left on I threw a ball over 90 yards a couple times and I really think I could throw a ball 100 yards if I got the right throw off my statistics were great in some games and horrible and others I was a very up and down quarterback it made a big deal out of of course because I was controversial and was one of those people that the media like to try to find something different about while Douglas could muscle the football he never could master the playbook and during his rookie year the Bears took unusual measures to improve his signal calling Jim Duda was a coach at that time he would write a play on piece of paper and stick to the guards hand and the golf was running he would hold up the front of Bobby Dodd so you read the play didn't we go ahead with the play we had a million plays it seemed like so I had to eventually get him typed on a on a piece of cardboard and then we they had this wrist thing and you put on your wrist and I'd have a cardboard on the top and the cardboard on the bottom but despite cue cards Douglas was never able to get his lines right and this put him on the wrong side of head coach aid give Ron Bobby Douglas Douglas so many times he would call her own play but he would make it work although Douglas stood tall in the pocket here Ellie stood there for long he was a player who never lost his nerve even though he frequently lost his helmet [Music] Douglas was a rugged individualists who approached every carry as if it were a wild waterfront wall I'm a person who likes to try to do everything myself and I was probably not as a patient as a quarterback as I should have been it's always been hard for me to count on somebody else to do something I enjoyed running I really did I had good balance and I could take the punishment I could run over people once in a while and basically had pretty good instincts Douglas gained 968 yards more than any quarterback has ever gained the reason he did it is Bobby go out there on that option and he couldn't decide whether he wanted to pitch it to the back or keep it himself in 1972 Douglas is 968 rushing yards established an NFL single-season record for quarterbacks that is unlikely to be broken he could run with the ball but about to hell anybody can run with a football I always felt he could have been probably one of the all-time great strong side safeties a linebacker tight in but he wanted to be a quarterback they never really came to me and said look you might have to move you too tight in they wanted me as the cornerback I mean I threw the ball well you know I hit the people and they were open but in game situation and you're playing against the Minnesota Vikings and you get two and a half seconds to throw I don't care who you are you're not gonna look good Douglas rarely look good dropping back but when running forward he was in a class by himself [Music] for seven seasons Chicago Bears fans and opponents never knew what Bobby Douglas was going to do next and neither did Bobby Douglas [Music] well that sprinkle was probably in his day the most feared pass rusher in football ed sprinkle was a hundred and ninety pound rattlesnake he said he was the meanest guy in the world now ed sprinkle is tough fast and you've really got to watch out for him don't turn your back on him or he'll club you 30 small guy 205 pounds tough guy hit you when you weren't looking I'd hit anybody on any play as hard as I could hit and that's where I played em sprinkles seemed more myth than man and the tales of his violent plays spread like wildfire throughout the 1950s although sprinkle was a mean spirited hardcase he was an excellent player rather than a hit man [Music] so good in fact that number seven was double-teamed on most plays he was an intense competitor who never gave up and ruled by intimidation not dirty beads sprinkle would never like to lose sprinkle was not a dirty football players a lot of people think he was but he wanted to give you the impression that he was and that gave him the edge he was just short about four inches I mean 3/4 of an inch of being dirty he always got there just in time to hurt you but it was in time that it was legal he way he'd run by and stick his arm out and clothesline it emember one time we're playing against him out there George Riley was a quarterback and we're playing them in the Yankee Stadium and he did he clothesline vitamin and rather Ben didn't wake up to the fourth quarter in the locker room in Yankee Stadium he knocked them out under head coach and owner George Halas the Chicago Bears were traditionally a rough tough team the toughest of the lot was ed sprinkle whose clothesline tackle was his great one for this he was nicknamed the clock when he came in you know I used to Club you across her head with that left hand even was earlier late he always had my eyes water in all the time he always Club me with it they'll cross the face near I used to stare watery you do it with a runner or anyone if they were running by when you couldn't tackle them if you couldn't reach them you'd you'd reach out and hit him with with your arms extended they've had a quarterback same way catch him under the chin and that was the technique of about it worked pretty good like a bird of prey the claws swooped in using his famous left arm to disrupt plays leaving his teammates to scavenge the Maine's sprinkles guillotine left arm savage quarterbacks and scattered their senses [Music] this unique style of ploy made him a marked man a player targeted for swift revenge from his opponents you IDI went in to block the punt and we went on the punt return and about four Cardinals get a hold him and really made mincemeat out of his face and I talked to Ed later about it and said well you know what do you think about it he said everybody has their day we're playing Green Bay and they had a in from Michigan who was very elusive in and he played offenses left in and and he had a little mustache and and Alice says I'll give you five dollars for every hair that you pull outta this guy's my Stacy and they said that I they ran a play and I come running off the field holding my hand and started counting another although sprinkle was not a hatchet man he was stuck with that reputation and it got to be that players kept one eye out for the ball and the other for the claw this was especially true of the Rams Deacon Dan Talbert the Rams were about to score and water-filled called Tyler's number over to our side of the line my bulldog turner and myself and tyler wouldn't carry the ball and water-filled kicked him on the field and sent him off to the sidelines III hit Dan Taylor a couple of times with the shoulders a real aggressive and I hit him so hard that that the next time I came in even looked the other way and let me and that's when I got water-filled we had two quarterbacks at that time water fielding Van Brocklin he broke water fields cheekbone put him out of the game we got me in the game and he got three of my ribs later in the ballgame he remains a contradiction some say he was clean and tough to others he was vicious ed sprinkle the angel with a dirty face the edge sprinkle was kind of a jekyll-and-hyde off-the-field wonderful guy just a very pleasant fellow to be around a nice guy to be on a party with and things of that nature but on the field he really what he did his character did change he was a punishing football player off the field one of the gentle people of the world on the field anything with [Music]

Channel: Sports Odyssey

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Length: 47min 4sec (2824 seconds)

Published: Mon May 06 2019