Flutie Meets Bear Teammates; Ditka to Start McMahon Against Lions

It all happened very quickly.

Coach Mike Ditka introduced Doug Flutie to the Chicago Bears and then announced Jim McMahon would start at quarterback today against the Detroit Lions.

If the mere presence of Flutie, the 1984 Heisman Trophy winner out of Boston College, spurred McMahon into a sudden and miraculous recovery, nobody was saying.

McMahon avoided reporters, Flutie was involved in meeting some of his new teammates and Ditka explained it wasn’t McMahon’s shoulder injury that kept him out of last Sunday’s 23-7 loss to Minnesota but, instead, it was a back injury.

“Jim threw well in practice, he looked good,” said Ditka. “The timing was there. It’s his body. I can’t assume what hurts and what doesn’t.”

McMahon’s injuries, his shoulder, elbow and back, kept him out of three of the Bears’ first seven games this season.

His injuries and inability to practice were believed to be the reasons the Bears not only acquired Flutie’s rights from the Rams but signed him for this season along with a 1987-88 contract.

“We need insurance at that position,” said Ditka, who has until Nov. 4 before activating Flutie.

After practice, Ditka seemed pleased with McMahon’s condition.

“Jim did everything we asked him to do,” said Ditka. “He threw 30 to 40 times . . .”

Ditka also introduced Flutie to the Bears, some of whom were angered over the idea that the Bears had acquired the rights to the 5-9 quarterback.

“I told them I’d like to introduce Doug Flutie,” Ditka related. “There was no resentment but a couple of them threw tomatoes at me.”

McMahon was the most vocal in expressing his resentment over Flutie and questioned management’s loyalty to the players.

Flutie says he hasn’t met all of the Bears yet “but some of them, one by one, introduced themselves to me. It was a good greeting. It helped ease me in.”

Flutie also said he met McMahon.

“He said ‘Hi’ and we had some casual conversation when I asked him about some pass patterns,” said Flutie. “It was friendly and cordial.

“I’m waiting for the practical jokes to start,” said Flutie. “If the jokes don’t come, I’m in trouble.”

Flutie admitted later that although he didn’t sense any resentment “I understand the situation. I have to earn their respect by showing them I’m a good athlete.”

Flutie, who last played for the New Jersey Generals in the spring of 1985 in the United States Football League, glowed over the chance to be in uniform again.

“The football environment feels great,” he said. “I missed it. I was lost on the practice field and I did a lot of thinking out there.”

Flutie also met with the Bears’ other quarterbacks, Steve Fuller, who started last week and was scheduled to start again today, and Mike Tomczak.

“Mike and I were in the Japan Bowl together,” said Flutie. “I talked to Mike more than anybody else.”

Flutie said he does not expect the pressure with the Bears that he experienced with the Generals when he had to go through four, two-a-day, practice sessions to get ready for his first game.

“It always seems I’m under pressure,” said Flutie. “Maybe the Heisman has something to do with that. They expect Doug Flutie to come in and challenge. Peoaple have to be patient.”

Ditka lost some of his patience when he was asked what it was about Flutie that intrigued him.

“This is the last time I’m going to answer that question,” said Ditka. “I like 10,579 yards (Flutie’s college passing record). He took his team to three bowl games. He won the Heisman. He didn’t do it by mirrors, he did it throwing.”