A Biscuit, a basket, a few touchdowns

"The best use of fat since the invention of bacon."

Originally published at Sportlanders...

A Biscuit, a basket, a few touchdowns

He was part of the most dominating, if not most famous, defense of all-time, but he really made his name on the other side of the line.

In training camp, before the 1985 season his Chicago Bears teammates saddled a 308-pound rookie out of Clemson with the sobriquet of “Biscuit.” It was all in good fun. His teammates loved him.

Yet Biscuit hadn’t got much playing time early in the season. This big fella was a “second-stringer,” even though he was remarkably athletic and known to “360-dunk” on a regulation basket at only 6’2” and well over three-spins.

Nominally, he was a defensive tackle, and the Bears played with two of them. Problem was, the playing time was dominated by Dan Hampton, a future Pro Football Hall of Famer, and Steve McMichael, a College Football Hall of Famer who may be better known for his turn as a pro wrestler.

Defensive coordinator Buddy Ryan was never sold on Biscuit for the defensive line. Called him a “wasted draft-pick.” First …