Phillip Elliott: Hell coach, I love needles.

I have been searching for purpose for quite sometime here at this website.

Trade the Clown?

Not well received. But all in good time. Trust me.

Trade Patrick Kane?

Half-hearted perhaps. But yes sincere.

Pay Hunter Hillenmeyer?

Bingo.

Yeah, Hunter Hillenmeyer.

Remember him?

A refresher:

“I have nothing but the utmost respect for the Bears organization. I do not leave this franchise bitter or feeling slighted by anyone in the building. In truth, I’ve known this day was coming since I landed on IR back in September. In that conversation with Lovie (Smith), he acknowledged that having been made aware of my history, and the number of concussions I had sustained on his watch, that he could not be a part of forcing me back out on the field.

“While at the time I was frustrated with such an abrupt end to my season, I have sought out and continue to seek the medical opinions of the best doctors in country as it relates to brain health and concussions. I am yet to find one that thinks it is a good idea to continue playing football. In hindsight, that makes me grateful that Lovie cared enough about me specifically, but really any player, to take that decision away as it pertains to a medical issue.

“Barring some unforeseen turn of events, I don’t think there was a set of circumstances where I would have been cleared to play next season anyway. The more we pull back the curtain on the long-term effects of head injury, the scarier it gets for players in my position, who have multiple diagnosed concussions and countless more ‘dings’ and headaches. On one hand, I feel lucky to have been relatively candid about my symptoms compared to some colleagues who do everything they can to conceal their struggles. I can only thank the Bears organization, from the trainers and the doctors up to Lovie and Jerry (Angelo), for trying to be proactive in the way concussions are handled. On the other hand, any player who tells you they aren’t affected by the tragic stories like Dave Duerson’s, that seem to be popping up all too often, are lying.

“I’d like to thank coach (Bob) Babich, my linebacker coach for most of my eight years here, for playing as integral a role as anyone in my development as a player. It’s been an honor to play for such a professional staff and with such outstanding teammates. We had a very special group in our linebacker room. While I was always like Ringo of the Beatles, next to such a talented pair, I think we have had the best and deepest linebacking corps in the NFL for a long time. As long as Lance (Briggs) and Brian (Urlacher) are out there together, expect the Bear’s defense to remain elite.

“While I won’t be filing any retirement papers tomorrow, if I’ve played my last football game, I’m glad it was with the Bears. Even though I was drafted elsewhere, I have absolutely loved my time as Bear. I love the city, I love the culture; the fans here make it especially easy to feel very at home in Chicago. I think guys like me who spend all of their career here don’t realize how good they’ve got it. It’s been a great ride nonetheless.”

Class. Respect. And all heart.

And now it has been squashed.

And all over $900,000. In pro sports that is chump change. The Bears have redefined cheap.

Hunter has changed his tune. And rightfully as well.

Read here:

“It makes me sick to see (the league) claim it is driving concussion research and putting player safety first,” he said.

“The whole system is designed to do one thing: make owners money. …

“The fact that a case as black and white as mine can’t even get resolved is indicative of a much, much deeper truth. Owners know what the game is doing to players, but once they fully acknowledge it, the gig is up.”

This is an absolute disgrace.

Hunter followed the football player’s code of honor. He played hard. Followed his orders. And sacrificed for his team. And ours.

All for one, and one for all?

Apparently not.

Because the Bears won’t pay him his $900,000.00 owed. That is his money. Not theirs. And it is a debt to be paid. It must be collected.

In militaristic terms, the soldier has fallen. Leave none behind? And his chain of command turned its collective backs.

The Bears failed Hillenmeyer. And continue to do so.

And we as fans of the Bears fail him as well by remaining silent.

Sorry but I will not shut up. Hell no, I have not even begun.

It is a f*cking disgrace from the Bears ownership. And its President. And its General Manager. And its Head Coach.

They are all gutless weasels. The lowest of the low. Pay attention as the weasels are raising ticket prices. For themselves. Not the fallen.

Undoubtedly, this is coordinated completely with the NFL. League council is in charge of this matter, so Virginia does not even need to pay for her own lawyers.

So in short, f*ck Roger Goodell and the other owners as well.

I am ashamed of pro football. And until this matter is rectified, I denounce my NFL fan card.

But Hunter should not be battling this alone. I do not care how he gets what is owed to him. I only care that this injustice is rectified.

And if it goes to court, so be it. If Hunter wins his case and the NFL is open to endless concussion civil lawsuits leading to its demise, so be it.

I do not care anymore.

Hillenmeyer is not the problem. He is the aggrieved.

The fault lies with greedy ownership.

Let them all put on the helmets just for once and ram each other with their heads.

And just for once, common sense might finally prevailed.

Go get them Hunter. Make them pay. All of them. And then make them pay some more.