Count Down to First Bears Game!

**The Benjamin** · 07-07-2012, 09:54 AM

Williams was drafted by the Bears 14th overall in the 2008 NFL Draft. On July 23, 2008, it was announced that he had signed a five year contract with the Bears. Williams missed the camp's first weekend after sustaining a minor back injury. He was later diagnosed with separate injury, a herniated disc, which required minor surgery to repair. Williams started taking part in conditioning and work-out drills in September. On November 2, 2008, He made his professional debut on the special teams in a win against the Detroit Lions. Williams was a starter in 2009, and played at right tackle to accommodate Orlando Pace, whom the team acquired via free agency on April 2, 2009. Smith eventually moved Williams back to left tackle after Pace was faced with inconsistent play and injuries. His first major test was to protect Jay Cutler's blindside against the highly toted Baltimore Ravens defense. The following week, he was paired against Jared Allen of the Minnesota Vikings, one of the League's top defensive lineman and pass rushers. Williams' prevented Allen from sacking Cutler, as the Bears beat the Vikings, 36–30. Williams started the 2010 season as the Bears starting left tackle. However, he was injured early during the team's second game against the Dallas Cowboys. Williams spent the next several weeks nursing a hamstring injury and missed three games. Upon recovering from his injury, Mike Tice, the team's offensive line coach, decided to move Williams to the left guard position.

**The Benjamin** · 07-08-2012, 07:55 AM

Made an immediate impact on the Bears offensive line as a rookie, starting 12-of-14 games played... Moved into the starting lineup in Week 5 at CAR (10/10/10) and started the final 12 games at RT... Helped block for RB Matt Forte's 1,000+-yard season in 2010... Made his NFL debut vs. GB (9/27).
HONORS AND AWARDS:
2010 - Brian Piccolo Award.
2010 SEASON: Appeared in 14 games, making 12 starts... All 12 starts came at RT... Helped solidify an offensive line that saw the Bears finish the season by winning 7-of-9 games... Helped block for Matt Forte to rush for 1,069 yards. GAMES PLAYED-STARTED: 14-12

(From ChicagoBears.com)

**JustAnotherBearsFan99** · 07-08-2012, 07:04 PM

Here's a #73 that I thought was a good player for us and a good guy too. I think he was a Bear for 11 years. He retired in '86 or '87. For those of you who watched Mike play, you might enjoy reading this article. It's pretty good.

LINK to the article
#73 - Mike Hartenstine

Catching Up With: Former Liberty High School standout and NFL player Mike Hartenstine

Published: Sunday, July 17, 2011, 6:02 PM Updated: Monday, July 25, 2011, 7:58 PM

The former Bear believes his old team is on the right track. He noted the continued improvement of the offensive line and perhaps the addition of a big-play wide receiver would keep Chicago in contention.

"I think they've got a good ball club, they're only going to get better," Hartenstine said. "I'm hoping they can get over that hump."

**The Benjamin** · 07-09-2012, 04:44 AM

In 1985, he was selected in the first round of the 1985 NFL Draft by the Chicago Bears. Nicknamed "The Refrigerator" for his gargantuan, almost rhomboid, frame, Perry was 6 ft 2 in (1.9 m) and weighed 382 lb (173.3 kg) at his peak weight. He quickly became a favorite of the Chicago Bears fans.Perry, who wore number 72 as a Chicago Bear, became famous for his prowess as a defensive lineman. In addition, Perry was used as a fullback when his team was near the opponents' goal line or 4th and short situations, either as a ball carrier or a lead blocker for running back Walter Payton. During his rookie season, Perry rushed for 2 touchdowns and caught a pass for one. Perry was once used in a surprise play during a Pro Bowl game as an offensive lineman.Perry even had the opportunity to run the ball during Super Bowl XX, as a nod to his popularity and contributions to the team's success. The first time he got the ball, he was tackled for a one-yard loss while attempting to throw his first NFL pass on a halfback option play. The second time he got the ball, he scored a touchdown.Perry went on to play for ten years in the NFL. His Super Bowl ring size is the largest of any professional football player in the history of the event. His ring size is 25, while the ring size for the average adult male is between 10 and 12.Perry retired after the 1994 season. In his 10 years as a pro, he played in 138 games, recording 29.5 sacks and 5 fumble recoveries, which he returned for 71 yards. In his offensive career he ran 5 yards for 2 Tds. Perry later attempted a comeback, playing the 1996 season with the London Monarchs of the World League of American Football (later NFL Europa).

**Wolfman** · 07-09-2012, 03:06 PM

Originally Posted by The Benjamin

Reggie Stephens........ yeah.... not many good 78's that I could think of/find.

No real bio for this washout.

No love for Keith Van Horne? :)

**The Benjamin** · 07-10-2012, 04:52 AM

Idonije was obtained by the Chicago Bears as a practice squad player late in the 2003 season. He made the Bears' roster the following year, and has been with the Bears since then. Idonije is known for his versatility, including his ability to play both Defensive Tackle and Defensive End, his contributions to special teams, and his blocked kicks.In 2006, the Idonije became a restricted free agent and the Buffalo Bills attempted to sign him, but the Bears retained him by matching their offer. During the 2007 NFL Season, Idonije had three consecutive games with a blocked field goal or extra point. In 2008, Idonije set career highs in sacks (3.5), tackles (22), and passes defensed (6). In May 2009, signed a two-year, $7 million contract extension with the Bears. On December 30, 2009 Idonije was placed on injured reserve due to a foot injury.In 2010, week 5 at the Carolina Panthers, Idonije recorded a career high 3 sacks.In 2011, in week 15 against the Seattle Seahawks, Idonije scored his first NFL touchdown after a fumble recovery in the end zone after Tarvaris Jackson had the ball stripped by Julius Peppers.

**JustAnotherBearsFan99** · 07-10-2012, 10:43 AM

A great Bear who wore #71 was Hall of Fame linebacker George Conner. We often forget that the Bears had GREAT linebackers long before Butkus, Singletary & Urlacher. That is why I hope we keep the tradition alive after Urlacher and Briggs retire. No franchise in the history of the NFL has had a tradition at LB like the Chicago Bears. Nobody.

By the way, George played his entire career on BOTH sides of the ball. He played 3 positions - offensive tackle, defensive tackle, and linebacker. He was GREAT at all 3 positions.

George Connor earned All-America honors three times, once at Holy Cross in 1943 and then at Notre Dame in 1946 and 1947. During his eight-year career (1948-1955) with the Bears, he was named to the All-NFL team at three different positions — offensive tackle, defensive tackle, and linebacker. In 1952 and 1953, he was named all-league on both the offensive and defensive teams by different wire services.

Although George is remembered as one of the finest of the post-World War II tackles, it was as a linebacker that he made his biggest mark in the pro football world.

And it was the sheer necessity of a desperate situation for the Chicago Bears that prompted George's switch to a linebacker position.

The Philadelphia Eagles were running roughshod over the NFL in 1949 and one end sweep with two guards and the fullback leading Steve Van Buren around the flank had been particularly successful. The Bears coaching staff hit upon the idea of moving a big, fast, and agile man like the 6-3, 240-pound Connor into a linebacker’s slot to try to stop the play. The move was made, the experiment was successful, the Eagles were beaten and Connor became a linebacker for keeps.

That didn't mean, however, that he was a one-way specialist. He continued to play offensive tackle, winning All-NFL acclaim on both offense and defense. George was always one of the smartest men on the field wherever he played. He seemingly instinctively knew about keys – the tips that the movements of certain offensive players will provide to the alert defender as to which way the play if going – long before keys became the vogue.

Connor always played the game hard and clean and with exceptional effectiveness and he might have continued in a starring role for many years had not a knee injury cut short his career after the 1955 season.

**JustAnotherBearsFan99** · 07-10-2012, 10:49 AM

p.s. I hope it's OK Benjamin, if I throw in an occasional old timer into the mix here in this thread. I absolutely LOVE this countdown idea you have. Great stuff.

**The Benjamin** · 07-10-2012, 11:49 AM

Feel free!

**The Benjamin** · 07-11-2012, 04:45 AM

Williams was cut by the Redskins during the 2010 preseason, and subsequently signed by the Chicago Bears. He was elevated to the active roster on September 27, 2010. In Week 16 against the Green Bay Packers, Williams scored a touchdown on a fumble recovery in the endzone after running back Kahlil Bell fumbled on the goalline

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