Bears coach urges players to wear sleeves Sunday, not be ‘macho’

MINNEAPOLIS, MN - DECEMBER 20: Head coach John Fox of the Chicago Bears on the side lines against the Minnesota Vikings in the third quarter on December 20, 2015 at TCF Bank Stadium in Minneapolis, Minnesota. (Photo by Adam Bettcher/Getty Images)
MINNEAPOLIS, MN - DECEMBER 20: Head coach John Fox of the Chicago Bears on the side lines against the Minnesota Vikings in the third quarter on December 20, 2015 at TCF Bank Stadium in Minneapolis, Minnesota. (Photo by Adam Bettcher/Getty Images) /
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Chicago Bears head coach John Fox wants his players to be smart during Sunday’s game against Green Bay, with temperatures possibly below zero.

This weekend, the Chicago Bears and Green Bay Packers will enjoy another edition of the oldest rivalry in the NFL — with the Packers still fighting for a playoff spot and the Bears hoping this season will end sooner rather than later.

The big story ahead of the tilt inside Solider Field is the fact the game is going to be cold … really cold … RECORD BREAKING COLD! There’s a decent chance it will be the coldest game ever played in Chicago, with kickoff temperatures approaching, and quite possibly below, zero.

Bears head coach John Fox asked his players to be smart heading into the game, and suggested they actually wear sleeves under the jerseys when they take the field — while calling out the thought pattern of some involved in the game:

"“I’ve told them the macho stuff’s all great, but there comes a point where people might question your intelligence,” Fox said."

Of course, that doesn’t mean all his players are going to listen. In fact, you can count the captain of his defense, linebacker Pernell McPhee, as one of those who will be going guns out against the Packers:

"“… As a guy who plays defense — I think it’s a sign of weakness. I ain’t wearing no sleeves. I don’t know about everybody else.“I’m at war. I’m [in] combat. I ain’t got time to think about sleeves. I’m gonna go out there sleeveless, and that’s how I’m going to play.”"

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Okay, first off you’re not at war — you’re a professional football player who will drive a nice car back to a nicer house after three hours of work. Second, make sure you watch the game Sunday to see how quickly McPhee or other sleeveless wonders put on their giant coats and put their butts by the sideline heaters when they’re off the field.