Jeff Fisher's Picture of Walter Payton? As Perfect Teammate

One picture of a football player hangs in Jeff Fisher's office. It is of his former teammate, Walter Payton.

Ten years after Payton's death, he still serves as an inspiration to Fisher. That was true last season at this juncture when Fisher's Tennessee Titans were 6-0. It remains true this season with Fisher's team 0-6.

"It is the only picture in here, other than of the stadium and some family pictures," Fisher said in a recent interview from his office at the Titans' facility in Nashville. "I had so much respect for him as everyone did. Players come in and it's good for them to see his picture in my office. Especially young players. When they first come in here to talk, it's one of the first things they see."

Payton's Chicago career spanned from the 1975 season through 1987. Fisher was a Bears defensive back from 1981 through 1985.

He witnessed up close a portion of Payton's Hall of Fame career -- the bruising yet ballet-like running style; the Super Bowl XX championship shuffle during the '85 season.

The sweetness.

Fisher broke his ankle in training camp before the 1985 season, and was placed on injured reserve. But, back then, such players could later practice with the team -- Fisher did just that, taking a spot on Chicago's scout team defense.

The Bears forbid anyone in practice to tackle Payton. "And he knew that,"' Fisher said. "But that didn't stop him from running over you."

Fisher marveled over Payton's precious talent. He remembered Payton standing at midfield, throwing a football to the end zone and purposely nailing an upright. He remembered him walking across the field on his hands, feet high, never touching the ground.

Explosive. Tremendous vision -- eyes always on that second or third defender, always downfield. A punishing runner. A guy that induced a myriad of missed tackles. A forearm that would knock you out.

Those things, said Fisher, were only a portion of Payton's gifts.

"I kept bugging our trainer about in-soles for my cleats," said Fisher (pictured in his Bears days). "One day the trainer said, 'Come with me.' So, we walk over to Walter's locker. He had 8 1/2 Spot-Bilt shoes in there. They had screw-in cleats, about seven of them. The trainer had me put my hand inside the shoe. There was no in-sole. He said Walter always wanted to feel his cleats, the spikes coming through underneath his feet. His feet were calloused. I stopped bugging the trainer for in-soles.

"Walter set the single-game rushing record while playing with a 102 [degree] fever. When I hear one of my players is under the weather, the first thing he hears from me is 'Walter Payton played the best game of his life with a 104 temperature!' Sometimes it's 106. I use him as an example a lot.''

Anyone who was around Payton remembers his soft-spoken manner.

Fisher remembers the jokester in the man. The goof. Fisher said during his playing time that most of the Bears' rookies were in a locker room a floor below the veterans. Players might nap between training camp practices, only to be awakened by an M-80 firecracker dropped into the room from above. Pure Payton.

Love for his teammates was real for Payton, Fisher said. He said Payton gave respect -- and he received it.

"I was a late-round draft pick, sort of on the perimeter,'' Fisher said. "But Walter and I had in common that we liked to hunt. We would go duck hunting in northwestern Illinois. The last game I spent as his teammate was the Super Bowl. There was some frustration by everyone who wanted to see him score a touchdown in that game. Walter was OK that he didn't. His championship was the most important thing.

"I remember his heart and passion for the game. His love for the game. His consistent approach every day. It was the greatest experience for five years to stand on the sidelines with the defense and watch Walter run.''

Every day in his office, Fisher glances at the wall and remembers how hard Walter Payton ran through the winning seasons and the losing ones.

It inspires Fisher, as a coach, to do the same.