Take it from Khalil Mack, Bears nose tackle Eddie Goldman was dominant against the Broncos last week.
“I don’t know how many tackles he had, but it should have been quite a few,” Mack said because he was everywhere on the field.
For the record, Goldman had a grand total of three — one solo. It’s yet another example of how Goldman’s contributions just can’t be accurately quantified. Even as he continues to play at a Pro Bowl level, you have to be an All-22 geek to appreciate it.
The Bears tried to rectify that this week by awarding Goldman the first “Sweep the Sheds” award — given to a player who makes an unheralded contribution. The Bears might as well call it the -Eddie Goldman Award because if it’s given to the player who makes the biggest contribution with the least recognition, he’ll win it just about every week.
The unassuming Goldman has the perfect temperament to play that relatively thankless role.
“I don’t get frustrated [at the lack of recognition]; it’s kind of like my job,” Goldman, 25, said. “I mean, if you sign up to play nose tackle, you gotta know it comes with the job.”
With all due respect to the “Sweep the Sheds” award, Goldman has all the accolades he needs in the form of respect from his teammates and coaches.
“He does his job; he’s one of the best at it,” Mack said. “Eddie does the dirty work, and he makes his plays, and he doesn’t seek anything. You know what he does and his impact on the game. A lot of people don’t really understand the game from that point of view. But he’s one of the best.”
It was with a touch of irony that one of the few times Goldman was noticed last week was for a roughing-the-passer penalty when he hit Broncos quarterback Joe Flacco on a first-and-20 pass rush in the fourth quarter. It looked like a textbook pressure. Goldman even avoided putting his full weight on Flacco as Flacco went down.
“It’s really difficult [to take that call] — especially because we got 15 yards,” Goldman said.
Goldman was not fined for the play — tacit acknowledgment by the NFL that it was a bogus call. But what’s done is done.
“That’s the way it goes,” Goldman said.
That Goldman can play as aggressively and physically as he does without overdoing it emotionally is a big key to his success. But he’s at least a little stoked to return to his hometown of Washington for the Monday night game against the Redskins.
“It means a lot,” he said. “I get to play [at] FedExField like I always wanted to.”
But it will be a typically modest personal event. He said a group of about 10 family members and friends will be there. And he likely won’t be hitting any of his old haunts for big meals.
“Probably room service,” he said.
