Jason McKie could have walked away disgruntled, considering he had two years remaining on his Bears' contract. Plus, he was a favorite in the locker room, so his release Tuesday surely triggered some emotions among his former teammates.
But instead of lashing out at the organization, the veteran fullback praised head coach Lovie Smith and running backs coach Tim Spencer for giving him the opportunity. McKie thanked the Bears fans for the support and said it was an honor to wear the same helmet Walter Payton once sported.
And McKie vowed to be back to work soon.
"I know that (the next team) will get a guy who is multi-talented, can do a lot of things,'' said McKie, who spent seven seasons in Chicago after entering the league with the Eagles as an undrafted free agent. "I just want to go where a team knows that I'm going to give nothing but 100 percent on the field and off the field in the community. I want to go anywhere that is serious about winning."
Photo: Former Bears fullback Jason McKie wants to go to a team "serious about winning." (Phil Velasquez/Tribune)
The Bears seem to have a renewed commitment to winning now after adding Julius Peppers and Chester Taylor via free agency and turning the offense over to Mike Martz. But a traditional fullback such as McKie is not needed in Martz's offensive system, which would explain why there was a mutual parting.
Now the Bears can focus on finding someone to fill that H-back role -- either a tight end or another fullback -- while McKie can concentrate on finding a new team.
Martz actually had a fullback during his glory days in St. Louis: James Hodgins, a 6-1, 275-pound bruiser who started 17 games in four seasons with the Rams and carried the ball all of 13 times. Hodgins was a relentless blocker, and former Jets coach Eric Mangini once said Hodgins "made linebackers quit'' during Hodgins one season in New York (2006).
McKie can block, too, but the 5-11, 247-pounder is almost 30 pounds lighter than Hodgins was during his playing days. Not to mention the Bears signed fullback Eddie Williams (6-1, 249), who they believe is better suited for the H-back role than McKie.
Martz relies on his tight ends to block, so newly signed Brandon Manumaleuna (6-1, 295) also could fill that role. He lined up at H-back during his days with the Chargers.
Desmond Clark and Greg Olsen might want to dust off their H-back skills.
As for McKie, the Cowboys might be in the market for a traditional fullback, and he already had one stint in Dallas. The Eagles would be a fit, but they just signed Leonard Weaver to the richest contract for a fullback in NFL history (reportedly $11 million with $6.5 million guaranteed).
"Teams can look at the film and they know what they're going to get,'' McKie said. "You talk about a guy like Lorenzo Neal who played 15 seasons as a fullback for a reason; because he was consistent. I'm not saying I'm Lorenzo Neal, but I feel I'm going to play just as hard every down as he did.''
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Virginia Mccasky is a class act.
What does that phrase mean?
Mckie had no business being on the Bears 1 year let alone 7.
A horrible player
Mckie was a class act and he will catch on somewhere. I was saying all along that the Bears can now keep 4 TE's and have Manumaluena play more H Back in goaline sets. Having Olsen, Clark, Davis and Manumaluena is a strength so why fight it. Unless this kid Williams really wows us although him and To'a'fu could be bound to fight it out for the practice squad. Martz is gonna pass 65-70% of the time and why not have a guy who is 295 lbs play some H Back. You want to talk about a linebacker quiting let the big Samoan pancake you a couple times. Not only that but Manumaluena can double team other teams best pass rushers on 3rd down. Its great to see a O Coordinator that actually knows what he wants. GO BEARS!!!!