| With the passing of the NFL’s new
realignment plan, much was made of the team owners' ability to maintain long-standing
rivalries, such as Cowboys-Redskins, Chiefs-Raiders and Bills-Dolphins. But one rivalry
that was maintained doesn’t seem to be a rivalry at all. In fact, it’s gone the
other way, almost becoming — gasp! — just another game.
The Bears and Packers make up the oldest rivalry in football. But perhaps it should be
known as simply the longest-running series in football, because the word
"rivalry" no longer applies. The only true rivalry that exists is between fans
of the two teams, and even that has died down.
Chicago and Green Bay have met on a football field 161 times, with the Bears leading
the series 84-71-6. But that record is deceiving, because the Packers have won 12 of the
last 14 meetings, including 10 in a row from 1994 to ’98. The Bears haven’t
beaten Green Bay in Chicago since ’93.
Such one-sided results do not make a rivalry — they hurt it. But even more harmful
than the Packers’ recent dominance is the player movement that has transpired between
the teams of late. Edgar Bennett, who led the Packers in rushing from 1994 to ’96,
led the Bears in rushing in ’98. Two key members of the Bears’ Super Bowl
shufflers, DT Steve McMichael (’94) and QB Jim McMahon (1995 to ’96), also wore
the green and gold.
Now, DT Jim Flanigan has switched allegiances, signing with the Packers on Tuesday.
Sure, Jim’s father, Jim Sr., played for the Packers from 1967 to ’70, but the
younger Flanigan was a big proponent of the Bears-Packers rivalry, always touting its
importance in football history. But the enemy has become the ally and will now pay
Flanigan’s salary. And these days, that’s the bottom line, just as it was with
Bennett, McMichael and McMahon.
Never mind that Charles Martin, who kept a hit list of Bears on a towel that hung from
his belt, assaulted McMahon on the field. Never mind the hatred that grew between former
head coaches Mike Ditka and Lindy Infante during their tenures. Never mind the
embarrassment the Bears felt while being routed at home 33-6 on "Monday Night
Football" — the same night they retired the numbers of Gale Sayers and Dick
Butkus.
The animosity level is at zero.
But if anything jumpstarts the rivalry, it could be this: When Bears vice president of
player personnel Mark Hatley joined the Packers on May 18, it signaled that the
Chicago-Green Bay pipeline had reached the front office. But even more intriguing is the
fact that Hatley conducted the Bears’ draft mere weeks before leaving the team.
Whether or not there was any wrongdoing, the situation had to raise some eyebrows. On
the surface, Hatley’s move looked fishy, and one has to wonder when he and the
Packers first spoke regarding a job. Could this be the first step in a Bill Parcells-like
saga between division rivals? Could this be the first shot taken in a rivalry renewed?
Doubt it. Hatley wanted to leave Chicago about as much as the Bears wanted him to leave
Chicago. And he wasn’t a fan favorite, having spent first-round picks on RB Curtis
Enis and QB Cade McNown.
So the series … uh, rivalry … will go on this season with both sides praising
its history and sanctity and blah blah blah blah blah. They’ll say it, but they
won’t believe it. Bears-Packers is not what it was, and in this day and age of
football, it likely will take something catastrophic for it to be a "rivalry"
again.
Anyone have a phone number for Charles Martin? |
