Earl Bennett has fast developed one of the most enjoyable weekly segments going in Chicago Bears circles. He dubs it #StoryTimeWithEarl. In it, he details various events and hijinks he was part of during his career with the Bears from 2009 to 2013. He revealed perhaps the best one yet. This one centered around team legend Charles Tillman.
Everybody knew "Peanut." He was not only a great player who had 36 interceptions as a cornerback, but also a team record 44 forced fumbles. His famed ability to punch the ball out became a staple that teams have tried to teach their defensive players ever since. Yet none of them have come close to the incredible consistency with which Tillman did.
It turns out though those fits weren't just for punching footballs. Tillman also had a background in boxing. It was a big key to how he developed that style. Apparently, one teammate in particular was unaware of this and saw fit to test the veteran defensive back during a team scrimmage. Who was it?
None other than self-proclaimed badass Brandon Marshall.
Marshall quickly found out his big talk didn't phase Charles Tillman
Now Marshall was a stud wide receiver at that time. He could play the physical game as well as anybody. Big and strong. Most people would have been afraid to go toe to toe with him. Tillman? He was not one of them. Marshall apparently took exception with him at one point and, knowing the coaches wouldn't intervene, tried to take him on in a fight.
It did not go as he'd hoped.
"There are some guys you do not want to mess with on a fighting level. That guy was DB#1. His ability to punch the ball out should give some insights to his ability to hit his target accurately. Make no mistake, DB #1 is one of the best teammates you could ever have. He battled, played hard and had fun. He just is not with the nonsense.
During a team scrimmage, WR#1 and DB #1 lock up. They had been arguing beforehand, and it carried over onto the field. Before you know it, they were fighting. Well, I say fighting because there were two people, but really DB #1 was in control the entire fight. DB #1 has that country strength being an Army brat and living in Texas. He controlled the whole fight. Start to finish, I cannot recall WR #1 getting in a single punch or making any contact."
If anything were to ever humble an ego, it would be decisively losing a fight to a guy most considered over the hill at that point in his career. Turns out that playing football and throwing fists don't have the same age restrictions. Marshall went on to have a great year, but it would prove to be the beginning of the end for him. His welcome in the locker room steadily soured after that.
Glad to know Peanut put him in his place before bowing out himself.
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