Bryan Cox says he is prepared to take security matters into his own hands Saturday night when the Bears visit the Buffalo Bills for a preseason game.
In 1993, the NFL fined Cox $10,000 for making an obscene gesture to the Buffalo fans when he was a member of the Miami Dolphins.
“They were throwing batteries at me. They were calling my room and talking about killing me. I went through a whole bunch of stuff. And the NFL’s action was, `We’re going to fine you because you (made an obscene gesture).’ I mean, how much is a player to take?” Cox said Thursday at the Bears’ training camp.
The Bears fly to Buffalo Friday for the Saturday night exhibition at Rich Stadium.
“I am going to protect myself,” the Bears linebacker said. “If I have to go into the stands after somebody hits me with something, then that’s what I have to do. But I am going to protect myself by all means. I don’t want to get hit in the head with bricks and I don’t want people throwing stuff at my bus.
“I honestly don’t trust the NFL. If it’s up to them to take the almighty dollar from the fans or protecting the player, they are going to take the dollar. It only takes one (fan) to come and say, `Since you beat my team I’m going to kill you,’ or something. . . . It only takes one stupid guy to do that.”
Taking responsibility: Player security is becoming a problem in all professional sports. White Sox outfielder Albert Belle refused to play in the All-Star Game last month in Cleveland for fear of having dangerous objects thrown at him in left field. Wednesday night, the Angels’ Tony Phillips had to be restrained by teammates after a fan threw something at him near his dugout.
“I think that when something like that occurs, the leagues are trying not to step on the fans’ toes by penalizing them by not serving them beer or whatever,” Cox said. “They obviously don’t want the fans not to show up for the games. But at the same time, they are not looking at the security of the players. They are saying, `Well, you have to live with it. You have to have integrity for the game.’
“But if somebody is threatening your life or somebody is threatening your safety, you are not going to have integrity for the game too long. You’re going to make sure that you come out fine. Because the NFL won’t protect you. They would much rather say that the player was in the wrong instead of saying, `Well, we’re not going to continue to serve alcohol at these games if (the fans) continue to do these different acts.’ I put the responsibility on the leagues.”
Some like it hot: While several Bears players were complaining about their arduous trip to Ireland and tough training-camp workouts, the Pittsburgh Steelers were going through similar turmoil.
“We’re sluggish. We need to pick it up. We’ve got to get back into the rigors of this thing,” Steelers coach Bill Cowher told his team after its first practice in the United States in eight days. “We’ve got only three weeks left of this thing, and we’ve got a lot of work to do.
“The extra exhibition game is good from an evaluation standpoint. So there’s not much time for anybody to feel sorry for themselves. I’d like it hotter . . . a lot hotter.”
Weak spots: Last season the Bears scored on only 75 percent of their possessions inside the opponent’s 20-yard line, the worst percentage in the NFL. The Bears also failed on all five of their two-point conversion attempts last season, more than any other team.
Headliners: Local comedians and radio personalities Harry Teinowitz and Spike Manton will headline a roast of Jerry Reinsdorf at Park West on Aug. 11. Tim Weigel will emcee the event known as “Funny Money,” which also features roasters Robin Ventura and Steve Kerr. Proceeds go to the National Child Abuse Association. . . . Chicagoan Peter Delneky recently won the gold medal (sparring) and the silver medal (forms) at the national karate competition in Colorado Springs. He will compete in the world championships later this year. . . . Ron Santo will sign autographs before Friday’s 7 p.m. Rockford Cubbies game at Marinelli Field. Olympic softball star Dot Richardson appears before Sunday’s 12:30 p.m. game. . . . The annual Shoot The Bull 3-on-3 Basketball Tournament tips off this weekend. . . . The NBC 5K Run & Walk for the National Kidney Cancer Association is Aug. 17 at Navy Pier. Call 847-332-1051.
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Send e-mail to Fred Mitchell at Kick3485@aol.com.
