History lesson: First-round success a must for Ryan Poles

UPI

The Bears’ road to Super Bowl XX started when general manager Jim Finks (foreground) drafted Jackson State Walter Payton fourth overall in 1975 for new head coach Jack Pardee (background).When Jim Finks was hired as the Bears’ general manager in September of 1974, he didn’t meddle that much with the on-field product. He let a 4-10 season play out and reaped the biggest benefit of that failure — the fourth overall pick in the 1975 draft.

And he made the most of it, selecting Jackson State running back Walter Payton — a player he would have taken with the first overall pick if he had it.

Payton, of course, was a terrific building block for a new general manager. But for Finks, it was just…