Bears QB Caleb Williams responds to 'Iceman' critique

Bears quarterback Caleb Williams struck back at one prominent critic in the wake of his attempt to copyright the “Iceman” nickname, writing that the move was about “knowing business and being smart about it.”

Earlier this month, Williams moved to copyright his “Iceman” nickname on sports apparel and other items. Four days later, former San Antonio Spurs star George Gervin, who was nicknamed the “Iceman” in 1973, filed his own trademark application of the name. In his first interview about the subject, Gervin told the Sun-Times earlier this week that was “really the ‘Iceman’ in sports.”

Friday, former ESPN and Fox firebrand Skip Bayless wrote on social media that, while he is a fan of Williams, he’s a bigger fan of Gervin. He wrote that Williams was trying to “steal George’s all-time nickname.”

Williams quickly reposted Bayless’ social media post with a rebuke.

“I was trying give you and everyone else the benefit of the doubt,” he said. “About knowing business and being smart about it. But I guess not. Foolish of me! “

He wrote that “words matter, Skip Bayless,” and posted a screenshot of the definition of “steal,” which was “to take the property of another wrongfully.”

Williams was given the nickname "The Iceman" during the Bears' playoff run.