Kyle Long is in high spirits lately. This shouldn’t come as a surprise. For the first time in years he didn’t have to endure any sort of offseason surgery or rehab program. He was able to go out and enjoy himself. He could work and play without restrictions. The former three-time Pro Bowler insists this is the best he’s felt in a long, long time.
It is undoubtedly great news. When Long was healthy, he was one of the best right guards in the NFL. A true all-around beast who could dominate you on the ground or in pass protection. If the Chicago Bears are getting that guy back for 2019? This offense is going to be that much more dangerous. If nothing else, it’s a welcome relief for one of the most likable players on the team.
One of the things he got a chance to do? Take a trip to Hawaii. Something that wasn’t afforded to him in the past. While the vacation itself was great, it was something else that truly caught his attention. A reminder about how far the Bears reach truly goes.
Kyle Long blown away by how big Olin Kreutz still is in Hawaii
Anybody with a modest Bears education will know that former star center Olin Kreutz is a native of the 50th state. As it turns out, he’s a bit of a celebrity over there. A big celebrity. Long found out just how big during his trip as he explained to Mark Potash of the Chicago Sun-Times.
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“I got to leave the Halas Hall training room,” Long said. “I was in Hawaii for about 10 days, and that was nice. Hawaii’s beautiful. They love Olin [Kreutz, the former Bears center from Honolulu]. Somebody finds out you’re on the Bears, all they want to talk about is Olin, which is beautiful.”
Most would agree that Kreutz is the best player to ever come out of Hawaii. A six-time Pro Bowl center who was arguably the peak of his position for a decade. He was actually teammates in high school with another Hawaiian great in former Detroit Lions center Dominic Raiola. Kreutz was also a state wrestling champion.
So yeah, it’s not hard to see why he was such a big deal.
