Mike Ditka

You are right, Walter Payton was the best RB (and possibly the best player) I've ever seen, bar none. The guy had class, was tough and the complete package. May he rest in peace.

No, I remember watching the game and pretty much thinking the same thing but you assume Ditka knew the score or if he did that he cared what the score was. I remember Buffalo coming from way back in the second half vs Houston in the playoffs. Ditka wasnt going to let that happen because he's coaching pro football not PeeWee league.Is your point that giving the ball to Payton on the 1 is a drop-off from giving it to the Fridge? I don't care if Ditka told NE he was giving the ball to Payton, and what hole he was hitting, they still wouldn't have stopped him. WP had a knack for getting in the End Zone. As the other guys have said, Ditka got caught up in the Fridge hype and made a call he would like to have back.

Here's another way to look at how bad Ditka's call in that situation was; Payton had a 2.24% fumble percentage per carry.....the Fridge 25% over his career. Up to that point Fridge hadn't fumbled, but giving the ball to a big, fat, DT has a much higher chance of a fumble occuring than a Pro bowl RB. Looking at it from that angle, the call couldn't have been worse. What if Fridge fumbles and NE recovers and scores, then sparks the unbelievable comeback? Let's say you give the ball to Payton, even if he doesn't get in, kick the FG and now it's 40-3. There is no way in hell NE was coming back from that (not that they had a snowball's chance anyway).

Great post SS33.

If Ditka was so concerned about the game he would have given it to his best player, period.

This thread has turned retarded, can't believe we're even discusssing this.

This thread has turned retarded, can't believe we're even discusssing this.

I feel like I should apologize :)

i dont see why this is a big deal. then again, it was before my time. unless this was peyton's last season and he was on the verge of breaking some kind of record, I dont see a problem with Ditkas decision.