Sweetness: The Enigmatic Life of Walter Payton by Jeff Pearlman

Author:Jeff Pearlman
Language: eng
Format: mobi, pdf
Tags: Biography
ISBN: 9781455132126
Publisher: Gotham
Published: 2011-09-29T00:00:00+00:00

The Philadelphia Eagles advanced to the Super Bowl.

The Chicago Bears went home.

Payton spoke optimistically of better days to come; of a franchise headed in the right direction. He was encouraged by some of the changes being made from within. In the summer of 1980 the team moved into Halas Hall, the $1.6-million meeting spot/dormitory/operations center located adjacent to Lake Forest College’s Farwell Field. No longer were the Bears’ facilities fourth-rate. No longer would players think of the team as a haven for cheapskates.

Despite Finks’ failure to land a quarterback of note, high-quality drafts were slowly beginning to yield results. “I don’t like the word ‘building,’ ” Finks said. “I just think we have the right people here to continue being a good football team.” In 1979, the Bears used their two first-round picks on defensive players, a tackle out of Arkansas named Dan Hampton and a defensive end from Arizona State named Al Harris. The two became key contributors, and started for most of the ensuing decade.

The following year, Finks once again hit big in the first round, selecting an athletic linebacker from Louisville named Otis Wilson. Payton was ecstatic (the Bears’ overall philosophy started with defense, and he was comfortable with that) until he learned that Finks spent a second-round selection on a fullback.

In taking Matt Suhey, a five-foot-eleven, 217-pound bowling ball out of Penn State, Chicago seemed to be giving up on Roland Harper, Payton’s longtime blocking back who missed the entire 1979 season with a tear in the anterior cruciate ligament in his right knee.

Although not quite as tight as they had been as rookies, Payton and Harper remained close friends and devoted on-field comrades. Dave Williams did a serviceable job in Harper’s stead, but Payton missed the crushing blocks that had been his pal’s staple. As the Bears won ten games and advanced to the postseason, Harper watched from his couch, miserable and depressed. “I prayed,” Harper said, explaining his recovery. “I prayed for His will to be done. If He gives you the strength, that’s all you need.”

Payton applauded Harper’s efforts. He encouraged him and cheered for him and assumed normalcy would return in 1980.

Then, Suhey arrived.

Payton hated him immediately. “Walter assumed I was brought in to get rid of Roland,” said Suhey. “He wasn’t nice to me at all. He didn’t talk to me and barely acknowledged me.” Suhey long believed that Payton’s negativity was solely about Harper. It was, however, more than that. For the first time, Payton was able to see the reality of his inevitable gridiron mortality. Harper had been one of the Bears’ offensive captains for three seasons. He was quiet and respectful and universally beloved by coaches, players, and administrators. He played hard and worked out even harder.

What did it say about the Bears—about the NFL—that all the sacrifice and effort rendered Harper replaceable? One day, Payton realized, he would be replaceable, too.

Although Harper returned to start twelve games in 1980 (and limit Suhey to special teams duties), Payton was shaken by what Suhey’s arrival signified.

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