It appears George McCaskey is a pretty hands-on chairman.
McCaskey is in Foxboro this week to watch his Chicago Bears participate in joint practices with the New England Patriots. That much isn’t a surprise, as NFL owners and front office executives often show their faces at preseason practices.
But what was surprising was the active role McCaskey played in Monday’s session.
During 11-on-11 drills, Patriots cornerback Malcolm Butler and Bears wide receiver Alshon Jeffery got into a heated scrap that nearly escalated into an all-out brawl. And apparently McCaskey, who was on the sideline near the fracas, helped calm things down by physically intervening between Butler and Jeffery.
That, of course, begs the question of why a 60-year-old top executive would step between two very angry, very strong NFL players.
“To protect our guy,” McCaskey said, via the Chicago Tribune. “I just happened to be standing right there. It was no big deal.”
Fortunately, it appears no one was hurt in the skirmish, although Butler and Jeffery both were immediately ejected from practice. The fight was one of several scuffles between Patriots and Bears players Monday, as usually is the case when guys finally get the chance to hit someone other than their own teammates.
As for McCaskey, who has been Chicago’s chairman since 2011, we’re sure Bears fans appreciate his passion. But his fellow front-office executives probably don’t want to see him thrusting himself into any more melees.
Thumbnail photo via Kamil Krzaczynski/USA TODAY Sports Images
