Payton was a “free agent” under the old NFL system that allowed teams either to match offers or pay compensation. Because he already was the NFL’s highest-paid player at $475,000, Payton would have cost another team two No. 1 draft choices. He received no offers, a signal to players that something was fundamentally wrong with their collective bargaining agreement.
Payton wanted $1 million a year, but ended up signing for three more years at an average of more than half a million plus a multimillion-dollar line of credit that enabled him to make investments.
Armstrong turned to passing guru Ted Marchibroda as his new offensive coordinator to improve the worst passing offense in the league. The result was the run offense dropped from fourth to 11th and the passing improved only one notch from 28th to 27th. Payton’s 1,222 yards and 3.6 average were below his standards, the Bears finished 6-10 and George Halas fired Armstrong.
Payton gained 5 yards against Washington, his worst day since his rookie year. Later it was discovered he had hyperextended a knee five days earlier when he dove on the stairs of his home to prevent his son from falling.
Vince Evans started every game at quarterback and completed only 44 percent of his passes for a woeful 51.0 passer rating. Marchibroda resorted to handoffs. Payton ran 38 times for 179 yards against Dallas.
“Payton is the best back in football,” Dallas coach Tom Landry said. “He has great strength and great running ability. We just couldn’t stop him.”
Yet the Bears lost to Dallas 10-9. The next week Payton ran 33 times for 112 yards against Minnesota and the Bears won 10-9. All the 100-yard games and 10-9 wins and 10-9 losses seemed to be melding into the same picture.
“I’ve learned through the years that after a victory or a loss, you treat them both the same,” Payton said. “Don’t dwell on either. They’re both devils in disguise. You can savor a victory all week or dwell on a loss and it doesn’t get you anywhere.”
Defensive players Gary Fencik and Alan Page took matters into their own hands and wrote a letter to Halas praising defensive coordinator Buddy Ryan. Halas, 86, went into action.
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November 26
In one of the most dismal seasons of Payton’s career, he rushes for a season-high 179 yards in 38 carries in a 10-9 loss at Dallas on Thanksgiving.
1981
ATTEMPTS YARDS AVERAGE TD
339 1,222 3.6 6
