Scabs
During the first days of the strike, the league pondered what to do, as most teams' players were deeply divided over whether to strike or not. This was not 1982, everyone learned, as the league decided to hire replacement players (referred to as "scabs" and "spare Bears"), among them, quarterback Sean Payton, who would later coach the New Orleans Saints to victory in Super Bowl XLIV. Cancelling half the season was not an option. Mike Ditka decided to make his feelings public about the strike, as he fully backed management on the work-stoppage. He referred to the spare players as his "real" players,a move which angered the true Bears out on strike. This turned out to be a wound not healed easily or quickly in the months to come.
Read more about this topic: 1987 Chicago Bears Season