rawaction

I'm not knowledgable enough to make a top 20. But here's my top 10 1. Brett Jackson 2. Josh Vitters 3. Chris Archer 4. Hak Ju Lee 5. Jay Jackson 6. Trey McNutt 7. Chris Carpenter 8. Dae Eun Rhee 9. Junior Lake 10 Hayden Christensen

Wow. Hester really getting a bad rap in the last few posts. For as dumb as he supposedly is, he has been this team's best WR for 2 years. He has led all the WRs in catches, yards, and YPC for 2 straight seasons. While you can argue that he's been given the most opportunity out of all the WRs, he has put up respectable numbers for a guy that went from kick returner to cornerback to gadget play WR to #1 WR overnight. He's only been a full-time WR for 2 years and has 100+ catches for 1300+ yards. And Lord knows he hasn't had the greatest coaching on how to play WR. Playing under Martz and working with Ike Bruce should help him take the next step. Even if it doesn't and guys like Aromashodu and Knox overtake him, he's still shown he can be a solid #3 WR. As for Cutler's INTs, I do believe a large number of them were because of the WRs not being in the right place, reading the defense wrong, or being pushed off their routes by CBs. However, Cutler can't be free of the blame on all of those. At some point, he has to adjust. If your WRs aren't getting to the spot, maybe he should stop throwing it to the spot. Throw it to the WR and make them adjust. Peyton Manning doesn't throw those types of INTs. Drew Brees doesn't. Are Hester, Knox, and Bennett that much worse at getting to their spot than Pierre Garcon or Robert Meachem who nobody heard of before this year either? The OC has to make adjustments too to his WRs strengths.

And? Just because he was closer to Russell doesn't mean "downright putrid". It's like you have 2 classifications: good and downright putrid.

You have absolutely no idea what you are talking about. What am I wrong about? Just because Cutler has a lot of talent doesn't mean he didn't play badly last year. He most certainly did for big portions of the season. I don't even see how this is debateable. I believe 77.2 is "average". Only the 2 games that were already pointed out are far enough from average to be considered "downright putrid". In 2009 the average rating of qualified QBs was 83.4. Cutler's was 76.8 for the season and 65.62 for that stretch of games. That's really pretty awful and more than a full standard deviation below league average. You also don't give up a king's ransom for average to bad play. Going into the 2nd Minnesota game the Bears were 5-9 and Cutler had 19 TDs and 25 picks. Then he went 8-1 TD/INTs in the final two games when the only thing to play for was Lovie's job. 83.4 last year, just means the average QB was above average in 2009. It's like saying the average grade for a class of 100 students was an 83.4% when the actual average grade would be a "C".

You have absolutely no idea what you are talking about. What am I wrong about? Just because Cutler has a lot of talent doesn't mean he didn't play badly last year. He most certainly did for big portions of the season. I don't even see how this is debateable. I believe 77.2 is "average". Only the 2 games that were already pointed out are far enough from average to be considered "downright putrid".

Ochocinco will, barring injury. He's never had a season where he started 14+ games and had fewer than 1000 yards. Maybe, but it'll be more because of TO than Chad. I think it would be more because of Carson Palmer. I actually think it's going to work out. Mainly because T.O. is playing for his career. If there is a circus in Cincy and T.O. complains about not getting the ball, nobody will sign him again. I think this re-creates the Ocho/Housh/Henry combo with Ocho/Bryant/Owens, but on a lower level of production. Palmer won't throw for 4000 yards like a few years ago. Ocho won't catch 80 for 1400. T.O. won't catch Housh's 100+. Bryant won't get Henry's 18 ypc and 9 TDs. But I think we can reasonably expect 70/1,000 for Ocho, 50/700 for T.O., and Bryant to get 40/600 ish. Andre Caldwell is a good looking young WR who gets screwed though. He caught 50 last year, and now will be the #4. And they still have Matt Jones and Jordan Shipley. And Dezmon Briscoe. Matt Jones will probably be looking for a job again soon. Shipley can return punts (I believe) so I think he's safe. Plus, T.O. only is gonna be there 1 year.

Ochocinco will, barring injury. He's never had a season where he started 14+ games and had fewer than 1000 yards. Maybe, but it'll be more because of TO than Chad. I think it would be more because of Carson Palmer. I actually think it's going to work out. Mainly because T.O. is playing for his career. If there is a circus in Cincy and T.O. complains about not getting the ball, nobody will sign him again. I think this re-creates the Ocho/Housh/Henry combo with Ocho/Bryant/Owens, but on a lower level of production. Palmer won't throw for 4000 yards like a few years ago. Ocho won't catch 80 for 1400. T.O. won't catch Housh's 100+. Bryant won't get Henry's 18 ypc and 9 TDs. But I think we can reasonably expect 70/1,000 for Ocho, 50/700 for T.O., and Bryant to get 40/600 ish. Andre Caldwell is a good looking young WR who gets screwed though. He caught 50 last year, and now will be the #4.

Yep, longest current and longest in history at 44 years, 321 days as of today. Second longest was the Yankees at 44 years, 263 days that ended in 2003. The Cubs were no-hit twice in two weeks in 1965, the latter of which was on September 9, 1965 by Sandy Koufax, and haven't been no-hit since. The 1965 Cubs had Ernie, Billy, and Santo in the lineup....but also 5 regulars and their top 3 reserves with OPS's under .735.

Those games were pretty bad. The Baltimore game was along the lines of Grossman's bad games. But Rex had 5 games worse than Cutler's SF game, QB rating wise.

That's not true. He only had 2 awful games in that stretch (Baltimore and SF). He was pretty good vs. St Louis (only 17 throws) and vs. Arizona (though the game was already out of reach). The rest were about average.

Is DMC gonna get it together in the backfield? Lot of pressure on him without Jamarcus Russell taking all the "high 1st round draft pick" pressure off of him. They have a pretty decent shot at 8-9 wins, though as they play a pretty weak schedule. SOS based on last year's record is middle of the pack, but that includes 2 games vs. Denver who could be pretty bad this year, and Arizona who probably won't be as good. They could conceivably sweep thru the NFC West. They could conceivably sweep Denver and KC in their division. Then, I think they have a decent shot to stay with Tennessee in the opener and Jacksonville late. Plus, they played giant-killer last year, beating Cincy, Pitt, Philly and Denver. I don't think they will win 8, but as of right now, I would project 7 wins for the Raiders. But if a couple of the 1000 bodies they brought in for the OL step up, and McClain can play at a high level right away to help the run D, the Raiders could be a force. Still skeptical of their coaching staff's ability to get the team in playoff contention this quickly.

Lots of changes to my lineup the last 24 hours. Due to trade Cabrera in at U. Castro traded, out at SS. Tulo off the DL today, in at SS. Colby Lewis will get one of my 7 starts.

#5 this year. That's ridiculous. The 14th time this year a P has had a no-hitter thru 7.

i'm thinking that note about the orioles is wrong since he was 13 in 2001. Maybe it means July 26, 2010 and the Orioles signed him today?

I see about 4 or 5 winnable games this year for the Lions... Bears at Home Redskins at Home Bears at home Bills on the Road Bucs on the Road Plus, Dolphins on the Road? I was going to say the same thing. I don't think they would beat the Bears twice, but they did beat the Redskins in Detroit last year. And generally played pretty decently at home last year. Both wins were at home. Played the Steelers to the wire at home. Led at the half vs. the Vikes at home. They also only have 6 outdoor games all year. Two of them are Miami and Tampa in December. They go to Chicago, Green Bay, NYG, and Buffalo all before the halfway point in November. Edit: don't mean to mislead. The Lions play at most 7 games outdoors in every year. Point is, they probably won't play a game under 50 degrees all year.

I guess, but he's not good at basketball anymore.

Boozer, Korver, Redick, Brewer....I understand what the Bulls were doing there. Kurt Thomas and McGrady seem to be contradictory moves.

Wells and Gorzellany have been pretty good this year. They've earned nearly as much right to a rotation spot as Dempster.

Been down for me too.

What about re-signing Werth?

What happens if Dunn gets traded? If you lose him if he goes to the AL, I'd pass.

Hmm. Starlin Castro had a SLG of .569 in 109 AB with 9 walks thrown in. In the Southern League. At 20 (only 3 days older). As a SS. Starlin looks to have more filling out to do, than does Lake also. Granted Castro hasn't shown the HR power that Lake has, but he's also never spent an entire year at any 1 level. Just saying, don't rule out Castro yet. Hanley's 18-20 year old minor league seasons look a lot like Castro's.

A #4 starter for Jayson Werth? Really? Silva for Werth! I'd kick in Wells, too. Get it done, Jimbo! Werth is a FA after this season. I would not "kick-in" Wells. What if it's just Wells? And if they're really desperate to move him, would they? I'd almost be inclined to trade them Wells just so we can let Werth walk and take the draft picks, assuming he'd be a Type-A Having a cheap young SP, that has had ML success is worth more (to me) than 2 prospects that may never make it and a couple months of Werth.

A #4 starter for Jayson Werth? Really? Silva for Werth! I'd kick in Wells, too. Get it done, Jimbo! Werth is a FA after this season. I would not "kick-in" Wells.