Who are your MOST OVERRATED/UNDERRATED BEARS of all-time?

[BuddyRyans46]

For me, I have to start off with Jim McMahon. It pains me to say this since I love Jimbo, but his stats were NEVER all that impressive. Even during the 1985 campaign (by far his best season) his stats ((15 TDs - 11 INTS, 56.9 Completion %, etc.) left something to be desired. When you view his career as a whole, he was, at best, a slightly above avg QB who was often injured. I would love to be a Jimmy Mac throwback jersey, but I have to admit that he wasn't the "great QB"so many Bears fans seem to remember.

Underrated: Wilbur Marshall. This guy hardly ever gets mentioned as a Bears great, but he receives serious praise from all knowledgeable football fans. One of the handful of NFL players with over 40 career sacks and 20 career INTs, Marshall was a force at LB for two of the greatest teams of all-time (the 1985 Chicago Bears and the 1991 Washington Redskins). Dude could rush the passer (just ask lil' Joe Ferguson) on the blitz, drop back into coverage or provide stout run support. His stats compare favourably to two LBs already in the HOF...Andre Tippett and Ted "the Mad Stork" Hendricks.

Erik Kramer: Had the best season of any QB SINCE Sid Luckman. Jay Cutler has yet to match Kramer's 1995 QBR of 93.5, or his oustanding TD to INT ratio of {2.9:1}. Kramer wasn't the most physically-gifted QB, but he was heady and knew how to lead an offense down the field. It is a shame that only the most knowledgeable Bears fans remember the outstanding passing season he had in 1995.

Well, that pretty much completes my list. So how are your most overrated/underrated Bears of all-time? Names?

 

[CutlersCorner]

Are you f*cking mental???

 

[DaaBears]

For me, I have to start off with Jim McMahon. It pains me to say this since I love Jimbo, but his stats were NEVER all that impressive. Even during the 1985 campaign (by far his best season) his stats ((15 TDs - 11 INTS, 56.9 Completion %, etc.) left something to be desired. When you view his career as a whole, he was, at best, a slightly above avg QB who was often injured. I would love to be a Jimmy Mac throwback jersey, but I have to admit that he wasn't the "great QB"so many Bears fans seem to remember.

Underrated: Wilbur Marshall. This guy hardly ever gets mentioned as a Bears great, but he receives serious praise from all knowledgeable football fans. One of the handful of NFL players with over 40 career sacks and 20 career INTs, Marshall was a force at LB for two of the greatest teams of all-time (the 1985 Chicago Bears and the 1991 Washington Redskins). Dude could rush the passer (just ask lil' Joe Ferguson) on the blitz, drop back into coverage or provide stout run support. His stats compare favourably to two LBs already in the HOF...Andre Tippett and Ted "the Mad Stork" Hendricks.

Erik Kramer: Had the best season of any QB SINCE Sid Luckman. Jay Cutler has yet to match Kramer's 1995 QBR of 93.5, or his oustanding TD to INT ratio of {2.9:1}. Kramer wasn't the most physically-gifted QB, but he was heady and knew how to lead an offense down the field. It is a shame that only the most knowledgeable Bears fans remember the outstanding passing season he had in 1995.
Well, that pretty much completes my list. So how are your most overrated/underrated Bears of all-time? Names?

Yes, I remember the Bears of the nineties quite well, alot of agony, with that one great offensive year in the middle. What most don't know is that is mostly attributable to a great offensive line coach, who the players would kill for.

Other than that, you are definitively crazy !

 

[BringBackDitka54]

Overrated: Jay Cutler
Underrated: Jay Cutler

 

[EDUB316]

Overrated: Brian Girlacher
Underrated: Jay Cutler

 

[Kekua Zombie]

Overrated: Cade McNown

No matter how shitty everyone thought he was, he was actually much shittier.

 

[Icculus]

Overrated: Jay Cutler (by some fans), Brian Urlacher, Chris Zorich, William Perry
Underrated: Jay Cutler (by others fans) ,Doug Buffone, Wilber Marshall (should have kept him), Matt Suhey (Payton's best lead blocker), Neal Anderson

 

[BuddyRyans46]

Overrated: Jay Cutler (by some fans), Brian Urlacher, Chris Zorich
Underrated: Jay Cutler (by others fans) ,Doug Buffone, Wilber Marshall (should have kept him), Matt Suhey (Payton's best lead blocker), Neal Anderson

Ziggy, thanks for agreeing with me on Marshall. Excellent call on Neal Anderson as well. I should have included him.

 

[nwfisch]

Overrated-Buddy Ryan's 46 defense

And lol at people saying Urlacher is overrated. Top 2 MLB in the game for a decade, clearly overrated.

 

[Omeletpants]

Wally Chambers was the best player you shitheads never heard of.

 

[nwfisch]

Bob was the best player you shitheads never heard of.

Who :shrug:

 

[Penny Traitor]

Wally Chambers was the best player you shitheads never heard of.

This shithead remembers Wally Chambers...an absolute terror for his first few seasons then blew is knee and wasn't quite the terror anymore.

For the younger crowd...the Tommie Harris of the seventies. For the old farts...I remember my grandmother saying he's no Fred Williams.

Overrated: William Perry

Underrated: Donnell Woolford

 

[HAVOCONE]

Well i would say wilbur marshall, neal anderson, as the most underrated.anderson came along after the great walter payton and done a heck of a good job. he was in the shadow of walter. most overrated there's a few, cade mcnown, david terrell, rashan salam wasn't all that either. could even throw in ole rick mirer for that matter.

to bad merrell hodge didn't get much of a chance to play. think he got injured in a preseason game if i remember correctly n it was over for him. he was in his prime when we got him. i think he would have done well if givin the chance, but who knows.

 

[Omeletpants]

Wally Chambers was every bit as good as Dan Hampton. Cat quick and nearly unblocakble. Just had the knee problem and played on some awful defenses.

 

[BuddyRyans46]

This shithead remembers Wally Chambers...an absolute terror for his first few seasons then blew is knee and wasn't quite the terror anymore.

For the younger crowd...the Tommie Harris of the seventies. For the old farts...I remember my grandmother saying he's no Fred Williams.

Overrated: William Perry

Underrated: Donnell Woolford

Excellent call on Donnell Woolford! You know your Bears football, dude.

 

[Sculpt]

I don't think there are many Bears us Bears fans would say was underrated. But I think there is one underrated:

Gary Fencik, current Bears record holder for most interceptions (& tackles), born in Chicago, Yale grad, and with Doug Planck, the real Hit-Men. Fencik actually knew how to hit a receiver exactly when the ball hit the receiver so the ball would pop-up in the air, or the receiver would drop it. How long has it been since we had a Safety like that?

Maybe Doug Planck is underrated too.

Overrated? I don't think there are any.

 

[Major Ursa]

Underrated - Trace Armstrong
Overrated - Olin Kreutz

 

[BuddyRyans46]

good calls on Trace Armstrong and Fencik, fellas. Seems like most of the young'uns don't remember that Armstrong was a pass-rushing FORCE back in the early 90's. I would be ecstatic if Shea became 1/2 the force at DE that Trace was!

 

[airtime143]

The OP got who I thought was the most underrated, Kramer. You never hear the single season leader in passing brought up anymore.

Most of the underrated guys have been covered.... the only guy I can really think of that has been missed was Brad Muster. He was a pretty damn good FB that led the way for Neal Andersons best stretch of years.

Ayanbadejo is the most underreated special teamer. Hester put up 4 kickoff tds and 7 punt return Tds during the 2 years Ayanbadejo was out there blocking for him.

With Ayanbadejo, Hester scored 5.5 times a year on returns..... since then, about 1 per year.

 

[nwfisch]

Wally Chambers was every bit as good as Dan Hampton. Cat quick and nearly unblocakble. Just had the knee problem and played on some awful defenses.

Thank God those things aren't important when ranking players, Bob.