Nicholas Sparks Producing Film on Chicago Bears Greats Gale Sayers and Brian Piccolo

As a devoted Chicago Bears fan, the story of the relationship between Gale Sayers and Brian Piccolo is sacred. Sayers, a future Hall of Fame running back, became friends with fellow backfield mate Piccolo when when both were part of the main roster in 1966 (Piccolo was on the practice squad in '65). When Piccolo came down with terminal cancer a few years later, Sayers was by his side the entire time helping him through the illness. Their friendship was chronicled in the classic 1971 film Brian's Song, one of those movies guys aren't afraid to admit crying at. Now that story is coming to the big screen again, courtesy of Nicholas Sparks, the guy behind sappy romance novels The Notebook, Safe Haven, Dear John, and every other film adaptation guys loathe. Could there be a worse combination? What would Ditka think? Chill out, fellow Bears fans, we can hold off the revolt......for now.

Sparks and Theresa Park have picked up Sayers' life rights, which include his memoirs I Am Third and Sayers: My Life And Times. They will produce the feature film but, at least at this stage, Sparks is not expected to write the script and there is no director attached. The story is not intended to be a remake of Brian's Song, either, but an original screenplay based on Sayer's writings.

The Sayers-Piccolo friendship was special not just because of the way they supported one another, and let's not forget Piccolo helped Sayers through a terrible knee injury in '68, it came at a time when racial segregation was still prominent in the NFL. There was something symbolic having Sayers and Piccolo lined up together in the backfield as more than just teammates, but as genuine friends.

Obviously this is one film I'm going to be watching like a hawk, and ideas are already floating in my head about who can take the two lead roles. Chadwick Boseman for Gale Sayers, maybe? [Deadline]