The Scores Report interviews Chicago Bears All-Pro Charles Tillman on breast cancer, Deion Sanders and Halloween
Posted by Paul Eide (11/01/2013 @ 7:46 am)
Charles Tillman is so good, you take him for granted. Even during an 11-year career as a member of some of the fiercest defenses in NFL history, his consistent production and greatness are rarely recognized outside of Chicago.
“Peanut” owns the Bears’ career records for defensive touchdowns (9), interceptions returned for touchdowns (8) and forced fumbles (39). Thanks to his signature move the “Peanut Punch,” his 10 forced fumbles last year set an NFL single-season record, and the four fumbles he forced in a game against the Titans a year ago is the all-time single game record. His 36 career interceptions are just two away from tying Gary Fencik for the Bears’ franchise record.
With two Pro Bowl selections and an appearance in Super Bowl XLI, Tillman’s overall body of work solidifies him as the best cornerback in the history of the Chicago Bears and potentially as the most disruptive defensive back of all-time.
You’re working with Proctor & Gamble on a campaign for breast cancer awareness. Tell me about that.
I partnered with P&G to encourage women to have an early detection plan with breast cancer. And, for the men in their lives, to motivate the women in their lives to create a plan. Everyone talks about how October is breast cancer awareness month. We have pink gloves, pink shoes, pink wrist bands, but it doesn’t just end there. Breast cancer doesn’t wait; it comes when it wants to. And you shouldn’t wait. Go to PGEveryday.com/bca and get the app. This app will give you notifications that you need to go see your doctor this month, or get a checkup another time, and it gives you a reminder to have an early detection plan. If breast cancer is detected early enough, there’s a 98% survival rate. I’m not a math guy, but I will take those odds.
You’re the most physical corner in the NFL, which for some reason is very rare in the game; to have a real physical corner that can stop the run and jam receivers at the line. Why is that? Why are so many corners soft, and can we blame Deion Sanders for that?
No, I don’t think you can blame Deion for that. I think it’s just what is required of our defense. And it’s not just me; my other Pro Bowl corner Tim Jennings… he and I are in the same boat. I think there are a lot of physical corners, not just to name myself and Tim. But I think what makes ours more evident is the type of defense that we play. It’s required that our corners make tackles and make plays.
Read the full interview here.
Posted in: Interviews, News, NFL, Super Bowl
Tags: Charles Tillman, Charles Tillman Breast Cancer Awareness, Charles Tillman Halloween Costume, Charles Tillman Interview, Charles Tillman P&G, Charles Tillman Proctor & Gamble, Chicago Bears, Halloween, P&G Breast Cancer Awareness, Peanut Punch, Proctor & Gamble Breast Cancer Awareness, Randy Moss
Cutler lifts Bears to Divisional win over Seahawks, sets up rematch with Packers
Posted by Anthony Stalter (01/16/2011 @ 5:28 pm)
Chicago Bears’ quarterback Jay Cutler celebrates after his touchdown pass to teammate Kellen Davis in the fourth quarter of play against the Seattle Seahawks during their NFC Divisional NFL playoff football game in Chicago, January 16, 2011. REUTERS/Frank Polich (UNITED STATES – Tags: SPORT FOOTBALL)
Here are five thoughts on the Bears’ impressive 35-24 victory over the Seahawks in the Divisional Round on Sunday.
1. What inexperience?
Jay Cutler did Sunday what Joe Flacco and Matt Ryan couldn’t this weekend: Elevate his game when it mattered most. For all the talk about his lack of postseason experience, Cutler played like a 10-year playoff veteran on Sunday. He set the tone early with a picture-perfect 58-yard touchdown pass to Greg Olsen on the Bears’ third offensive play from scrimmage and then showed pure grit and determination on his 6-yard touchdown run in the second quarter. On the day, he was 15-of-28 passing for 274 yards with four touchdowns (two passing, two rushing) and zero interceptions (although he came close to throwing a couple of picks, including one at the goal line). Cutler has really put a lot of his past troubles behind him and deserves praise for his unflappable play on Sunday. He was highly impressive.
2. Cutler also got a lot of help from his offensive line.
The Bears’ O-line has taken a lot of heat for its play over the last couple of years, and deservedly so. But they’ve been a transformed unit since midway through the season and a lot of credit goes to Mike Tice and Lovie Smith for moving guys around to better match their strengths (and quite frankly, hide their weaknesses, too). Cutler was excellent but he also had plenty of time to survey the field and pick apart Seattle’s overmatched secondary. His front five did an outstanding job swallowing the Seahawks’ pass-rushers and keeping them out of the backfield.
3. That’s Bear defense right there.
The final score doesn’t do the Bears justice. Their defense played out of its mind for three quarters and that’s about as aggressive as I’ve seen Chicago’s secondary play all season. Unlike other teams who like to play their corners 10 yards off the ball and give opponents easy yards via slants and screens, the Bears’ DBs suffocated Seattle’s wideouts all afternoon. Granted, nobody outside of Brandon Stokley fought back, but credit still goes to the Bears’ corners for bringing the fight to them right from the start. Once again, Julius Peppers failed to record a sack but he got pressure on Hasselbeck all day. You have to focus on him to really appreciate what he does for that defense. He helped paved the way for fellow linemen like Tommie Harris, who did rack up two sacks. Without a doubt, J-Pepp was worth the money the Bears spent this offseason.
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Posted in: NFL
Tags: 2011 NFL Divisional Round Playoffs, 2011 NFL Playoffs, Aaron Rodgers, Anthony Stalter, Brandon Stokley, Charles Tillman, Chicago Bears, Green Bay Packers, Jay Cutler, Matt Forte, Matt Hasselbeck, Mike Martz, Mike Williams, Seattle Seahawks