Hayes’s take on Urlacher vs. Sayers

Brian Urlacher is upset because Gale Sayers answered a question about the Bears honestly.

I don’t get it. I don’t get what Brian’s beef is about and I don’t understand why so many Bears fans are insulting Sayers, who is one of the greatest players in team history.

What ever happened to free speech? Where is it written that because Sayers played for the Bears he has to be a boot-licker and can’t speak his mind?

The man was speaking at a banquet for charity in Omaha, Neb., when he was asked about the Bears. Here’s what he said: “If Lovie doesn’t do it this year, I think he’s gone. He had a good team the Super Bowl year. Nothing came together for him the last couple years.”

Sayers said he doubted Urlacher would return to form after missing last season with a wrist injury.

As for free-agent Julius Peppers, Sayers told the Omaha World-Herald that, “He’s a good player, but he can’t do it all by himself.”

Evidently, this enraged Urlacher, even if every word Sayers uttered is right on the mark.

“Let me ask you a question: ‘How many championships did Gale Sayers win?”’ Urlacher told the Chicago Tribune. “How many playoff games did he win when he played? None. None. None.

“Does it bother me? There are enough people throwing daggers at us right now, why does one of our ex-players have to jump in? There are enough experts talking (crap) about us, so why does a Bear, an all-time great, have to jump in? I just don’t like that.”

Good grief. If you don’t like what people are saying about the Bears, here’s an idea: play better. If indeed “daggers” are coming the Bears way they are richly deserved after three straight underachieving seasons. Where’s the accountability?

“I go to every game I can,” Sayers went on to say. “I live or die with them.”

Meanwhile, keep telling it like it is, Gale. Real men speak their mind rather than tow the company line.

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