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ICK BUTKUS SAYS there’s “a goodchance the AFL teams will do better than the NFL teams when the two leagues completely merge next season.”Although some NFL diehard? have held out on the subject of the two leagues’ parity, the ChicagoBears’All-Pro middle linebacker said:“There’s no doubt the AFL is on a par with theNFL’’ since Kansas City’s 23-7 Super Bowl victoryover the Minnesota Vikings to even the leagues’ record at 2-2 in the post-season cruncher.Butkus, in Tokyo on a Far East USO hospital tour, feels the younger AFL might outshine the NFL after the merger “because the AFL has younger quarterbacks. Most of the NFL quarterbacks have got a lot of mileage on them. Johnny Unitas, Bart Starr, Earl Morrell —■ even Roman Gabriel — have been around a number of years,” the 6-foot-3, 240-pound Bears’ star said.“But look what the AFL’s got. Bob Griese, Dar-yle Lamonica and Joe Namath are good examples.’ Butkus, 27, felt Namath’s celebrated gimpy legs would respond to off-season treatment and that the Jet passer will be back next season.Who are some of the tougher NFL running backs?“Really, they’re all tough on any given day. Dave Osborn of the Vikings, Leroy Kelly of theBrowns, and Tom Matte of the Colts are tough,” Butkus said.As defensive captain of the Bears, does Butkus call all the plays?“Usually. Some times they (the coaches) sendin a play from the sidelines if they think they have spotted something.”Does Butkus run a blitz whenever he feels likeit?“Sure, but only when it’s part of the play I’vejust called. Otherwise, I’ll leave us uncovered.”■ ' •. : • .What part do the fans and their cheering playin the reactions of the players?“I’d say they help to set the tempo of the game. If you make a tackle and the fans start cheering, it gives you a lift.”Who will be the Bears’ quarterback next season?. • * • * ... * • * i •* ..“Bobby Douglass seems to have the inside track now that the Bears have made deals to strengthen themselves at other positions.”Whenever you read about Butkus as a player, the adjective that is most often applied to him is “vicious,” but tenderness came into his voice as he spoke about things back in the States.“The hippie thing bothers me. Those kids taking dope and stuff like that. It’s all tragic how they’re wasting their lives. To me that’s the number one problem back home right now.”Butkus, whose nose dog-legs to the left from a time he was smashed in the face while making a tackle, says he doesn’t think statements some players make abGut being “up” for a particular game make any sense.“That’s a lot baloney. In pro football, every game is a big one. Sure you may go into a game slightly injured from the week before, but you’re always — at least I am — up for a game.“Pro football isn’t easy,” said the man many consider the best to ever play middle linebacker,”but you’re in the game because you love it. That’s the main reason.”Dick Butkus knocked on a wooden table top, got up. “The only thing is — injuries do add up.” Then he limped away.
Newspaper Details
Pacific Stars and Stripes
Tokyo, Tôkyô, JP
Sun, Feb 22, 1970
Page 15
Full Page
Clipped by
Marc H.
VA, USA 25 Apr 2023
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