DON’T POKE THIS BEAR
Everybody knows that Howard had plenty of incentive to play well this past season. Aside from the drive for success and financial well-being, there was the simple goal of proving all of his doubters wrong. Few things in life are more precious to an athlete. It doesn’t matter how big or small the doubter is either.
Howard proved that during an interview with Lakisha Jackson of Oklahoma Drill, offering up a fascinating reason for his best game of the season. Not only was it out of nowhere, but also came from the unlikeliest of sources.
“I’ve never played fantasy football in my life. I did get a lot of notifications saying how well I helped people. A lot of them I don’t get to see, because I have it where I only see people that I follow. I remember some bad ones. One game, I had a bad game. I had like 2 fantasy points or something like that, and a dude, he let me know. He told me he was going to beat me up in person if it happened again. It’s been a lot of good ones, though. I remember after the Minnesota game on Halloween night…I had a lot of people blowing me up about that.”
The game in question was against the Green Bay Packers during week seven up at Lambeau Field. Howard only carried the ball seven times for 22 yards and didn’t catch a pass. He came away with a measly two fantasy points. Then it would seem he got some grief from an angry owner over something that really wasn’t his fault.
So he essentially took it out on the Minnesota Vikings the next week on Halloween.
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TRICK OR TREAT
By the time the night was over the Bears had delivered a 20-10 gut punch to their division rivals, and it was Howard who led the way. He ran for 153 yards on the night, the most Minnesota would allow against a single back all season. On top of that he posted 49 yards receiving. It was a sterling performance that first introduced the future Pro Bowler to a national audience. For the first time Chicago knew they had something special.
All thanks, in part, to an angry guy or girl who was upset about their fantasy. Maybe it’s time people started doing that to Howard every weak. Clearly he’s a man who thrives on proving others wrong. He did after his first college football program folded. He did again as a lowly fifth round draft pick. A man who likes to be challenged.
Something to note for the future.
