[CBFF] Packers week

[mom2iancal]

Charles "Too Mean" Martin and Jim McMahon
On November 23 1986, Chicago native Markbreit worked his first game as an 
NFL referee at Soldier Field when the Green Bay Packers and Chicago Bears 
renewed their ancient rivalry. In the second quarter of the game, Bears 
quarterback Jim McMahon was intercepted, and as he watched the proceedings 
downfield, Packers defensive end Charles "Too Mean" Martin picked up McMahon 
and slammed him shoulder-first into the AstroTurf. Martin remained hovered 
over McMahon on one knee, taunting him, until Bears' offensive tackle Jimbo 
Covert barreled full-speed into Martin. Markbreit ejected Martin from the 
game, despite strenuous protests from Packers coach (and Pro Football Hall 
of Fame offensive tackle) Forrest Gregg. It would be Markbreit's first 
ejection as an NFL official. When describing the penalty, Markbreit stated 
that Martin, number 94 of the Packers, "stuffed" McMahon into the ground.

Martin was suspended for two games by NFL commissioner Pete Rozelle, the 
longest suspension for an on-field incident until Tennessee Titans defensive 
tackle Albert Haynesworth was suspended five games by commissioner Roger 
Goodell for stomping on the face of Dallas Cowboys center Andre Gurode 
during an October 1, 2006 game [6].

During the game, Martin wore a "hit list" towel with the numbers of several 
Bears listed, including those of McMahon, running back Walter Payton, wide 
receiver Willie Gault and center Jay Hilgenberg.

The call was largely credited by the media and NFL executives in helping 
Markbreit land the assignment as the referee of Super Bowl XXI two months 
later.




RIP Charles Martin, Who Made The Dirtiest Play Ever In NFL History
Chicago Tribune reporter David Haugh on the infamous play by Green bay 
packers defensive tackle Charles Martin, who passed away in January:

  Martin took the field that Sunday afternoon on Nov. 23, 1986, wearing a 
towel displaying the numbers of three Bears offensive stars--9, 34, 
83--McMahon, Walter Payton and Willie Gault, respectively, plus 63 and 29 
for Jay Hilgenberg and Dennis Gentry. In Bears-Packers lore, the numbers 
scrawled on the towel will always be known as "the hit list."

  After Packers safety Mark Lee intercepted a McMahon pass in the second 
quarter of a game eventually won 12-10 by the Bears, Martin grabbed McMahon 
from behind and body-slammed him to the ground.

  "It was at least 20 seconds after the interception," said Jerry Markbreit, 
a retired NFL official who worked the game. "I don't think he had an 
awareness of how late it was, or that the play was over. McMahon was walking 
to the sideline, had relaxed, and he picked him up and smashed him to the 
ground."

  Markbreit worked 461 NFL games over 23 years. He had never been so shocked 
by a player's action. To that point in league history, no player had ever 
been thrown out of a game for anything but a fight.

  But Markbreit, bothered by the severity of the hit and a little concerned 
Bears players "might kill" Martin, ejected the defensive tackle and escorted 
him off the field. Markbreit's decision ultimately cost Martin a two-game 
suspension and $15,000 fine.

~A Morning  Without Coffee is Sleep~
----- Original Message ----- 
From: "David Wessman" <dkwess at gmail.com>
To: "CBFF" <post at chicagobearsfanforum.com>
Sent: Thursday, October 04, 2007 10:12 AM
Subject: [CBFF] Packers week


>    Since it's Packers week, does anybody have a copy of the Jerry 
> Markbreit
> story
> about the "incident" between Martin and McMahon?
>
>   DaveW
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