bears game nine, lions at home at 3:15

[XZero771679666304]

i DO agree that he holds the ball a long time, but that's not a bad thing. i don't want a quarterback who picks a receiver before the ball is snapped and throws the ball before the play can develop. i want a guy who can buy some time for his receivers get open down the field, a brave quarterback that can take some abuse.

 

that said, it's ridiculous to say that he takes so much abuse because he holds the ball so long. some of the sacks are undoubtedly on him, but most of them are because of the line.

 

I know he tends to hold the ball, but for people to just dismiss the number he takes as a result of that obviously aren't watching enough. He's definitely not perfect, but if you give Jay a solid line and a legit #1 and people will be referring to him as an elite QB.

[Guest]

If still holding the ball before you are done dropping back is holding the ball too long, then I guess Mangini is correct.

[jersey cubs fan]

i'm starting to like skip bayless a lot. he's the only one that ever advocates for the bears on the boo ya, besides ditka, obviously.

 

maybe it's just because he's contrarian, and he loves having trogolodytes like hugh douglas criticize him so he can retort and make himself look smart, but people seriously hate the bears. what did jay cutler ever do to them?

 

Oddly enough I figured out a couple weeks ago that Mike Franceca (mike and mad dog fame, complete Yankee homer, giants/parcells lapdog) is a Cutler fan and doesn't understand the nonstop criticism he receives.

 

 

He also hung up on a caller who he thought was mocking him when he asked about Francesa's opinion about Al Alburquerque.

[SouthSideRyan]

i'm starting to like skip bayless a lot. he's the only one that ever advocates for the bears on the boo ya, besides ditka, obviously.

 

maybe it's just because he's contrarian, and he loves having trogolodytes like hugh douglas criticize him so he can retort and make himself look smart, but people seriously hate the bears. what did jay cutler ever do to them?

 

Oddly enough I figured out a couple weeks ago that Mike Franceca (mike and mad dog fame, complete Yankee homer, giants/parcells lapdog) is a Cutler fan and doesn't understand the nonstop criticism he receives.

 

 

He also hung up on a caller who he thought was mocking him when he asked about Francesa's opinion about Al Alburquerque.

 

You must mean Alberto Jose Alburquerque.

[Banedon]

ESPN has the Bears ranked #9 this week. The Lions are #6. Fine.

 

But the interesting thing is that 2 of the 5 voters have the Bears ranked higher than the Lions.

 

Oh, and John Clayton wrote the little blurb for the poll, and was nice enough, but he had the Bears ranked 14th and the Eagles 15th. He's also a much bigger believer in Cincy than the others.

 

http://espn.go.com/blog/nfcwest/post/_/id/50848/nfl-power-rankings-how-they-voted-7

[jersey cubs fan]

Receiver Earl Bennett has been fined $5,000 by the NFL for wearing orange cleats during the Chicago Bears' 30-24 victory Monday night over the Philadelphia Eagles.

 

Wearing the cleats violated the NFL's uniform policy.

 

Bennett said the orange cleats were doubtful for Sunday's game against the Detroit Lions at Soldier Field, even though the Bears will be wearing their alternate orange jerseys. Wearing the cleats again would increase the fine to $10,000.

 

"I don't think my wife would like that," said Bennett, who had five receptions and a touchdown against the Eagles in his first game back since a Week 2 chest injury.

 

I forgot about that part.

 

I enjoyed the orange cleats, made it easy to spot him on the field.

[UMFan83]

Time for a return to power ranking obsession!

 

-Bears move up from 10th to 9th after a big road win over Philly on MNF on ESPN's version. (Mike Sando had them 6th, and John Clayton had them 14th)

-Yahoo sports has them 11th, although I will say that the Jets are the only 5-3 team ahead of them, so if there are 9 teams at 6-3 or better, no complaints.

-Fox sports has them 12th, with the Falcons (who we beat by 18), Jets and Patriots (at 6th!?!) as 5-3 teams ahead of them

-CBS sports has them at 14th, up from 16th, behind 5-3 teams, Cincinnati, Atlanta, Jets, Buffalo, New England, making the Bears the lowest rated 5-3 team.

 

Also on Clayton, here his NFC North team grades:

Packers: A, Lions: A, Bears: C, Vikings: D

 

Also...Eagles: C

 

Not sure why the Bears, who all the experts picked to miss the playoffs and have instead landed themselves a playoff spot through 9 weeks, should get the same letter grade as the 3-5 hugely disapointing Eagles, and 1 letter better than the 2-6 Vikings who the Bears beat by 30 points.

[bukie]

Go look at Sagarin ratings, feel better.

[jersey cubs fan]

Also on Clayton, here his NFC North team grades:

Packers: A, Lions: A, Bears: C, Vikings: D

 

Also...Eagles: C

 

Not sure why the Bears, who all the experts picked to miss the playoffs and have instead landed themselves a playoff spot through 9 weeks, should get the same letter grade as the 3-5 hugely disapointing Eagles, and 1 letter better than the 2-6 Vikings who the Bears beat by 30 points.

 

One of those lists attempted to lump the Bears with the Eagles and some other team I don't recall as teams with huge expectations going into the season that have disappointed. A) I don't remember many people outside of Chicago that expected much out of the Bears - some even listed them as the worst team in the league. B) They are 5-3, currently the 6th seed in NFC playoff picture, which was, the best any prognosticators had for them.

[bukie]

Also on Clayton, here his NFC North team grades:

Packers: A, Lions: A, Bears: C, Vikings: D

 

Also...Eagles: C

 

Not sure why the Bears, who all the experts picked to miss the playoffs and have instead landed themselves a playoff spot through 9 weeks, should get the same letter grade as the 3-5 hugely disapointing Eagles, and 1 letter better than the 2-6 Vikings who the Bears beat by 30 points.

 

One of those lists attempted to lump the Bears with the Eagles and some other team I don't recall as teams with huge expectations going into the season that have disappointed. A) I don't remember many people outside of Chicago that expected much out of the Bears - some even listed them as the worst team in the league. B) They are 5-3, currently the 6th seed in NFC playoff picture, which was, the best any prognosticators had for them.

The Jets were the third team, I think. Or the Pats.

[UMFan83]

Another ESPN thing. That new QB rating system they created HATED Jay Cutler at first. But he's slowly moving up the season totals. Here is his SEASON standing through each week of the season:

 

1: 13th

2: 28th

3: 28th

4: 27th

5: 26th

6: 22nd

7: 20th

8: 20th

9: 16th

 

He's now ahead of QBs like Flacco, Rivers, Freeman and Dalton, and right behind Cassell and Stafford.

 

Here is his individual ranking for each week

 

 

1: 13th (W v ATL)

2: 29th (L @ NO)

3: 24th (L v GB)

4: 31st (W v CAR)

5: 11th (L @ DET)

6: 3rd (W v MIN)

7: 9th (W @ TB)

8: BYE

9: 6th (W @ PHI)

 

Good stuff

[UMFan83]

Go look at Sagarin ratings, feel better.

 

I saw that yesterday, and it did :)

[jersey cubs fan]

Good stuff

 

Not really.

[UMFan83]

Receiver Earl Bennett has been fined $5,000 by the NFL for wearing orange cleats during the Chicago Bears' 30-24 victory Monday night over the Philadelphia Eagles.

 

Wearing the cleats violated the NFL's uniform policy.

 

Bennett said the orange cleats were doubtful for Sunday's game against the Detroit Lions at Soldier Field, even though the Bears will be wearing their alternate orange jerseys. Wearing the cleats again would increase the fine to $10,000.

 

"I don't think my wife would like that," said Bennett, who had five receptions and a touchdown against the Eagles in his first game back since a Week 2 chest injury.

 

I forgot about that part.

 

I enjoyed the orange cleats, made it easy to spot him on the field.

 

Dammit the last time we wore the orange jerseys against Detroit we looked [expletive] awful and lost something. Of course Griese was our QB but still. Why can't we go back to those throwbacks we wore last year? They are one of the few throwback jerseys that I like when my team wears them. Also one of the only throwbacks I've ever considered buying. The Blackhawks winter classic jerseys are the only others.

[UMFan83]

Good stuff

 

Not really.

 

I'm still not sure I believe in the integrity of ratings that measure "clutch performance" and discredit QBs for sacks taken, but it's strangely nice to see Cutler doing well in them.

[jersey cubs fan]

Good stuff

 

Not really.

 

I'm still not sure I believe in the integrity of ratings that measure "clutch performance" and discredit QBs for sacks taken, but it's strangely nice to see Cutler doing well in them.

 

I'm absolutely certain I do not believe at all in that ridiculous stat.

[Guest]

Last year's throwbacks were so awesome. They should never use the orange ones.

[tfarks]

Last year's throwbacks were so awesome. They should never use the orange ones.

 

Yup. Still rocking the Cutler throwback from that game.

[Mark Priors Calves]

Last year's throwbacks were so awesome. They should never use the orange ones.

Orange jerseys should never be worn.

[Banedon]

Last year's throwbacks were so awesome. They should never use the orange ones.

 

Yup. Still rocking the Cutler throwback from that game.

 

I've got a Hester one....it's been gameday jersey all season.

[rawaction]

Last year's throwbacks were so awesome. They should never use the orange ones.

 

Yup. Still rocking the Cutler throwback from that game.

 

I've got a Hester one....it's been gameday jersey all season.

 

Where'd you get the Hester one. I've been looking for one but can't find it.

[Guest]

Last year's throwbacks were so awesome. They should never use the orange ones.

Orange jerseys should never be worn.

 

Correct.

[brinoch]

Last year's throwbacks were so awesome. They should never use the orange ones.

Orange jerseys should never be worn.

 

Correct.

 

Yes.

[JonJayCutler]

http://espn.go.com/nfl/sportsnation/ratings

 

Lovie leads coach approval ratings by quite a large margin going into Week 10. I'm sure it has something to do with the fact he apparently hung 330 points on the Eagles on Monday.

[brinoch]

http://espn.go.com/nfl/sportsnation/ratings

 

Lovie leads coach approval ratings by quite a large margin going into Week 10. I'm sure it has something to do with the fact he apparently hung 330 points on the Eagles on Monday.

 

That's too awesome.