The 20 Biggest Baddest Bears of All Time; #4 Doug Atkins

No. 4 Doug Atkins
http://cdn.bleacherreport.net/images...jpg?1345686197
Doug Atkins (photo courtesy ChicagoBears.com)

The legend of big badass defensive ends started long before Julius Peppers and about a decade before Deacon Jones. “The Big Guy” Doug Atkins stood 6’8” and weighed in at 275 lbs. Atkins was a monster of a man and played with that same demeanor.

Atkins was fast enough to rush the edge, but usually preferred to go through opposing blockers on his way to the QB. Former NFL player Bill Curry told a story of Atkins from his rookie year when he was a center with the Green Bay Packers.

“Look, here’s some things I want you to remember,” Skornoski said. “Number 81 is Doug Atkins, he’s 6’9” and he weighs 265 pounds. He said DON’T CUT HIM, and if he falls down, help him up and say nice play, Mr. Atkins.”

“Well, I (Curry) started to laugh,” Curry said.

“Kid, this is not a joke, and I’m not kidding you now, because if you cut him, on his knees, the first thing he’s going to do is kill you, and then, he’s going to kill me.”

Atkins played defensive end in the NFL for 17 seasons and destroyed offensive linemen and quarterbacks in the process.

There are stories that have Atkins picking up and throwing opposing blockers at quarterbacks and rumors that he would body press players over his head and slam them to the ground rather than tackle them.

Atkins is one of the biggest players in the Hall of Fame and is probably one of the strongest who ever played the game.

If Dan Hampton was nicknamed "Danimal" I'm not sure we could even come up with one for Doug Atkins. Maybe just "Mr. Atkins" as Bob Skoronski suggested would be appropriate.

In his day there was not a bigger, meaner, defensive lineman in the game and George Halas made damn sure he was playing for us rather than against us when he got him from the Cleveland Browns in 1955. Doug Atkins hasn't played in the NFL since 1969 but he's still a legend in the annals of defensive football. His career spanned 17 years from 1953 through 1969 and for 12 of those years he was the Bears RDE.

Richard Dent and Julius Peppers may be two of the best pass rushing RDEs to ever wear a Bears uniform but Doug Atkins is still the one who all others will be measured against. He was 6'8" and went 275-280lbs in an era when OTs weighed about 250lbs and he virtually destroyed them play after play after play.

He wasn't a speed rusher though. Doug Atkins perfected the "bull rush". He's pick up OTs by the shoulder pads and would virtually throw them at the QB if he couldn't get to him. He once said that he kept throwing blockers aside until he got to the one with the ball and said, "that one I'd keep".

Dags knows a lot about the history of Doug Atkins since big Doug was a friend of the family and his avatar shows Doug in action. Of all the "Monsters of the Midway" Doug Atkins was the biggest meanest monster of all.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by soulman

If Dan Hampton was nicknamed "Danimal" I'm not sure we could even come up with one for Doug Atkins. Maybe just "Mr. Atkins" as Bob Skoronski suggested would be appropriate.

---

or "Tiny"

Crazy to think that's a TE now. The nastiness of some of these old guys is being taken out of the game which is necessary but sad also.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by short faced bear

or "Tiny"

---

OK by me shorty but probably not to his face right? :rofl2:

I like that. Alot!

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by soulman

He once said that he kept throwing blockers aside until he got to the one with the ball and said, "that one I'd keep".

---

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by soulman

If Dan Hampton was nicknamed "Danimal" I'm not sure we could even come up with one for Doug Atkins. Maybe just "Mr. Atkins" as Bob Skoronski suggested would be appropriate.

In his day there was not a bigger, meaner, defensive lineman in the game and George Halas made damn sure he was playing for us rather than against us when he got him from the Cleveland Browns in 1955. Doug Atkins hasn't played in the NFL since 1969 but he's still a legend in the annals of defensive football. His career spanned 17 years from 1953 through 1969 and for 12 of those years he was the Bears RDE.

Richard Dent and Julius Peppers may be two of the best pass rushing RDEs to ever wear a Bears uniform but Doug Atkins is still the one who all others will be measured against. He was 6'8" and went 275-280lbs in an era when OTs weighed about 250lbs and he virtually destroyed them play after play after play.

He wasn't a speed rusher though. Doug Atkins perfected the "bull rush". He's pick up OTs by the shoulder pads and would virtually throw them at the QB if he couldn't get to him. He once said that he kept throwing blockers aside until he got to the one with the ball and said, "that one I'd keep".

Dags knows a lot about the history of Doug Atkins since big Doug was a friend of the family and his avatar shows Doug in action. Of all the "Monsters of the Midway" Doug Atkins was the biggest meanest monster of all.

---

I have some funny stories to tell you all about Doug which come from my dad.

One time, and it must have been Halloween but then again probably not because it would have been during the season, Doug was over at my great-great aunt and uncle's tavern out in West Knoxville drinking beer. Dad said that Doug was so huge that he could easily drink a whole case of beer and not even have a buzz. Anyway, Doug turned his head to look out the back door only to see a little boy (my dad) running around in a Batman costume. Doug was like, "Either I've had too much to drink or I've just seen a 'haint'! (sp?)"

Another story. When Dad was about eight years old, Doug, who was actually 6'8" and closer to 300 lbs than 285 or 290 lbs, picked him up over his head and pinned him against the ceiling. Dad got so scared that he pissed all over himself!

A favorite line that Doug used to tell my late grandmother (God rest her soul, I never got to meet her as she died thirteen years before I was born) was this: "I'm 6'8" and 300 lbs of dynamite, with a six inch fuse!"


All that said, Doug was a beast. Dad said that he hated playing for the Bears mainly because of George Halas. He made no bones to our family that Halas was a hard ass and an asshole to deal with. His favorite place he played was actually in New Orleans, which is no surprised consider Doug's carefree personality. Doug had a great sense of humor off the field, but he was totally different on the field.

Right now, Doug Atkins is one of two former Tennessee football players to be enshrined in Canton (the other being Reggie White). The two who will go in in a few years are Peyton Manning and Jason Witten, and possibly Jamal Lewis and Arian Foster.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by Dagan81

I have some funny stories to tell you all about Doug which come from my dad.

One time, and it must have been Halloween but then again probably not because it would have been during the season, Doug was over at my great-great aunt and uncle's tavern out in West Knoxville drinking beer. Dad said that Doug was so huge that he could easily drink a whole case of beer and not even have a buzz. Anyway, Doug turned his head to look out the back door only to see a little boy (my dad) running around in a Batman costume. Doug was like, "Either I've had too much to drink or I've just seen a 'haint'! (sp?)"

Another story. When Dad was about eight years old, Doug, who was actually 6'8" and closer to 300 lbs than 285 or 290 lbs, picked him up over his head and pinned him against the ceiling. Dad got so scared that he pissed all over himself!

A favorite line that Doug used to tell my late grandmother (God rest her soul, I never got to meet her as she died thirteen years before I was born) was this: "I'm 6'8" and 300 lbs of dynamite, with a six inch fuse!"


All that said, Doug was a beast. Dad said that he hated playing for the Bears mainly because of George Halas. He made no bones to our family that Halas was a hard ass and an asshole to deal with. His favorite place he played was actually in New Orleans, which is no surprised consider Doug's carefree personality. Doug had a great sense of humor off the field, but he was totally different on the field.

Right now, Doug Atkins is one of two former Tennessee football players to be enshrined in Canton (the other being Reggie White). The two who will go in in a few years are Peyton Manning and Jason Witten, and possibly Jamal Lewis and Arian Foster.

---

That's four possibles, glad it was history not math you got a degree in. LOL just teasing. j/k

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by yttocs

That's four possibles, glad it was history not math you got a degree in. LOL just teasing. j/k

---

Don't make me hit the "Dislike" button again, Scotty. lol