The Greatest Running Back Ever

Reasons why Walter Payton was and is the greatest running back ever:

• because for years the Bears did not have a good quarterback or passing game
• they did not have a deep threat until Willie Gualt came
• the defenses knew he was running the ball on almost every play and they stacked the line
• he had a lot of long runs called back due to penalties some of which were not good calls
• he wasn't allowed to start every game because he should have
• he kept himself healthy and injury free
• he dished out punishment to tacklers
• he was a great receiver
• he was a great blocker
• he was fast
• he was strong
• he could change directions
• he should have been allowed to score a touchdown in the Superbowl
• he was classy in the endzone; he never celebrated; he was never a hot dog
• he retired on top with a lot of gas in the tank.

Walter's best friend Matt Suhey was named executor of his estate by Walter. I remember Walter Payton asking me what SIU stood for on my son Tommy's tee shirt. Walter went to Jackson State, Matt went to Penn State, Tommy went to Carthage College, I went to Elmhurst College and SIU is Southern Illinois University. This picture of Matt's was taken at Halas Hall during Matt's first training camp..