Every day of the 2015 Chicago Bears season, Chicago Sun-Times Sports will revisit its coverage 30 years ago during the 1985 Bears’ run to a Super Bowl title.
McMichael misses practice
Kevin Lamb
Originally published Dec. 19, 1985
Defensive tackle Steve McMichael was the only Bear to miss practice, coach Mike Ditka said. He had his knee drained and was listed as doubtful, but Ditka said, “He’ll probably be OK to play.”
Halfback Tom Sanders (knee) is questionable and punt returner Keith Ortego (knee) and Walter Payton (stiff neck) are probable. Ditka said Payton “looked like nothing’s bothering him” in practice.
“I probably scared him by saying I wasn’t going to play him much,” Ditka said. “I said, `You better get all your yardage on the first two plays.’ And he goosed me, so I know he’s OK.”
Ditka said Payton won’t play the whole game Sunday at Detroit, but “As long as he’s feeling well, I don’t mind playing him because he has a two-week rest before the playoffs.”
Payton is 91 yards behind NFC rushing leader Gerald Riggs of Atlanta, who injured his ankle Sunday. Payton has 1,470. His 1,898 yards from scrimmage are 46 behind NFC leader Roger Craig and 102 short of 2,000 for the fourth year and third in a row – both of which would be records. He trails league leader Marcus Allen by 166 rushing yards and 268 yards from scrimmage. . .Detroit was the only NFC team not to have a Pro Bowl representative. . .Jim McMahon will make only his second start against the Lions. He has missed six Detroit games, three because of injuries.
The Lions’ injury report – Out: starting wide receiver Mark Nichols (knee). Questionable: starting quarterback Eric Hipple (knee), tight end Rob Rubick (calf) and guard Don Greco (ankle). Probable: starting fullback James Jones (thumb) and fullback Mike Meade (knee).
Dan Hampton received a package from the mayor of Grapevine, Texas. Hampton had belittled his jump when his tipped pass at Dallas enabled Richard Dent to score on an interception, saying, “You could have fit a Grapevine phone book under my feet.” So the mayor sent him a phone book with a note saying, “I’m sure you’ll find it fascinating reading.”
Dent leads the NFC with 15 sacks, barely ahead of New York Giants defensive end Leonard Marshall’s 14 1/2 and within range of NFL leader Andre Tippett, who has 16 1/2 for New England. . .Leslie Frazier’s six interceptions are two behind NFL leader Everson Walls of Dallas. . .Kevin Butler’s 131 points are four behind NFL leader Gary Anderson of Pittsburgh. . .McMahon is second in NFC passing, six points behind Joe Montana, and fifth in the league.
