Peyton Manning Had Great Advice for Bears on Building a Winner

The Chicago Bears are trying to pull themselves out of the hole dug by years of bad drafting between 2009 and 2012. A period that left the roster largely devoid of front line talent, leading to their collapse from playoff contender to bottom dweller. This was the reason GM Ryan Pace and head coach John Fox were brought in. Both men had reputations. Each were considered to have an eye for talent. Together they might be able to rebuild the depleted Bears roster back into something formidable. Things didn't start well. Their 2015 ventures were largely flops. First round pick Kevin White is an injury-riddled bust. Pernell McPhee, their top free agent signing has endured multiple knee surgeries. Truth be told the only considerable success from that year is second round pick Eddie Goldman. Thankfully the two seem to have found their rhythm. From 2016 through 2017 they've made a number of quality additions and the Bears have slowly started to play better. This doesn't mean they've found all the answers though. Even with their wealth of experience, Pace and Fox can still learn things. Turns out they got a surprisingly good lesson from a future Hall of Famer. (continue to next page)

Peyton Manning reminded Bears that team success starts in practice

Fox has a relationship with quarterback Peyton Manning. The two spent three seasons together in Denver and went to a Super Bowl. People remember Manning as arguably the greatest of all-time. To this day they wonder how he accomplished so much.

• 14 Pro Bowls
• 5 MVP awards
• Most passing yards in a career
• Most passing touchdowns in a career
• 4 Super Bowl appearances
• 2 Super Bowl victories

Manning would offer people a hint. It wasn't because he was the most talented. Indeed the guy never had the strongest arm in the NFL, even back in his prime. No his greatness came more from one of the most incredible work ethics that has ever been seen in league history. Manning was borderline-obsessive when it came to practice and film study. He demanded perfection and precision from both himself and teammates. [video width="854" height="480" mp4="https://www.sportsmockery.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/10/Peyton-Mannings-Summer-School-The-Timeline-NFL-Films.mp4"][/video] That's why when he paid a visit to Halas Hall to meet with the team, he had a piece of advice to offer about what it will take to build the kind of strong culture they need to win.

It may sound overly simple but there is tons of evidence behind it. Look back through history at the best Bears teams. Every one of them holds true to that statement. Brian Urlacher, Charles Tillman and Olin Kreutz were talented but also hard workers. Mike Singletary, Walter Payton, Gary Fencik and Dan Hampton were like that as well in the 1980s. This is unfortunately a lesson the Bears tend to forget from time to time.

The new breed embodies this thinking

Based on this new wave of youth coming in, they've rediscovered the formula. Look across the roster at the best players and they all share that trait in common. They're not big partiers. They are humble, mature young men who only want to get better. Akiem Hicks, Danny Trevathan, Leonard Floyd, Kyle Fuller, Jordan Howard, Eddie Jackson, Kyle Long, and Mitch Trubisky. They all have that same mind set. The wins haven't completely come yet but the culture is building. This team is young. It's gaining experience and confidence each week. If Manning is right there will be a point sometime soon where the switch flips and that light will come on. It should be a momentous occasion when it does.