rawaction

Trade Hinrich, Salmons, and other crap to match the salaries. I'd be for it. I wouldn't think they would require any real young talent like Tyrus or Noah, because they weren't getting anything out of McGrady anyway. So, if they could improve their role players they should be fine. Houston could use some size, so I'd imagine Brad Miller and his expiring contract would be of interest. I think one of 2 deals could interest the Rockets: McGrady for Miller and Hinrich McGrady for Miller, Salmons, Jerome James

Tracy McGrady anyone? He's going to be traded in the near future. Bulls might as well gamble that he can stay remotely healthy and try to make a run at their usual 7th or 8th playoff seed with him (wow they actually are the 8 seed now in the sorry East). He has an expiring contract and would be $23 Mil coming off the books in this offseason.

The more I read about Heimerdinger, the more I like him as the next Bears coach. This is a new position for the Bears. They have the QB. Now they have to give him everything he needs to be successful. I have campaigned for a coach Cutler has worked with in the past, and Heimerdinger would definitely fit. He was the Asst. Head coach under Shanahan and if he was smart he picked his brain often. So, the transition to head coach should be easier than if he was just a coordinator. He is credited with developing Cutler. He has worked 7-8 years under Jeff Fisher, who I think is the best coach in the NFL. He developed Steve McNair into an MVP QB. He helped Kerry Collins find the fountain of youth last year and has helped Vince Young take a step forward this year.

Not a bad choice at all. If the Bears do fire Lovie, I think this is the route they will go. They probably won't want to pay Lovie AND another coach big money. Heimerdinger has worked with Cutler before and at this point, getting Cutler someone he is familiar with is probably the best way to make sure his interest doesn't stay gone. But I think a coaching change is necessary at this point. We have seen in recent history that coaching changes can turn a franchise around very quickly. Recently, we've seen teams like Arizona, Atlanta, Baltimore, Miami and to some extent SF (decent but not contending), Pittsburgh (1 down season to playoffs then title), and Denver (from ok to good). And as horrible as this season has been, the Bears aren't that far off. Superbowl, 7-9, 9-7, and this year they were pretty close to beating GB x 2, ATL, and SF which would completely change the season. At this point, the best hope for the Bears is that Cutler, Urlacher, and Tommie are motivated by the change; the new staff will develop Gilbert, Melton, Iglesias, and Moore to the point that they are usable parts; and the new offense allows Forte and the WR group to maximize their abilities.

The Bears have become a victim of their own success. Angelo put together a team that was crap, made them a contender in '05 and a Superbowl participant in '06. Lovie almost instantly had success with his system. However, that success led to the poor decisions to get rid of Rivera as the DC and promoting Babich. It led to overconfident personnel decisions, as Angelo basically punted on early picks because he had so much faith in his ability to find late round talent. I don't know if this is still the case, but there were only 5 teams that exclusively did their own scouting a few years ago. Colts, Ravens, Steelers, Patriots, and Bears. The Bears scouting thought it was elite like those teams and was not. Those poor personnel decisions included the Bears allowing guys like Berrian, Ayanbadejo, Thomas Jones, Tank Johnson, and Cedric Benson to go for basically nothing. Also included was blind faith in aging players like John Tait, Fred Miller, and Kreutz; and the reliance on mediocre players who could have been easily upgraded or pushed with young competition such as Vasher, St. Clair, Hillenmeyer (until late last year), and the QB position (until this March). Angelo did a great job of building this team.....but he stopped. He signed his young nucleus on defense long-term, but failed to realize they weren't always going to be young. The Bears have consistently been a day late and a dollar short since the SB. Late on trying to upgrade the OL, resulting in a patchwork unit consisting of veterans on their last leg, a rookie who was a reach, and an overpaid FA pickup. Late on getting quality backups on the DL and DBs. A dollar short on Bazuin, Okwo, Wolfe, G. Adams. Late on recognizing the need for a franchise QB. A dollar short on realizing even the most talented QBs need help from the line and WRs.

I would start the Vikings D. Cutler isn't even trying anymore and either he will throw a couple picks if the playbook is close to opened or they will shut out the Bears as they attempt to minimize the embarassment offensively.

Brett Favre will get benched in this game..... after the Vikings build up a 30-3 lead in the 3rd quarter.

Hester is a legit #2 WR. He's fine. The thing to me though is that Johnny Knox can do everything he can. Hester's return skills are not special to the Bears anymore. But maybe they can be to another team. With Knox, Bennett, and Manning, you have a solid group of returners. Knox is every bit the deep threat that Hester is and should prove to be a similar type WR. Bring in a legit #1, Bennett can stay a #2, Knox is still the 3. Then you hope Aromashodu and Iglesias can improve and get on the field more. As for the #1. I know everyone wants Vincent Jackson, Boldin, or Brandon Marshall, but I don't see them happening. Don't sleep on Antonio Bryant. While it can be argued that he has tanked after getting big money, he has been injured a lot and had the worst QBs outside of Oakland throwing to him. He still has put up 17+ YPC and is a reliable WR with some size. Also, I wouldn't mind seeing T.O. brought in for a year, with the hopes that Iglesias, Aromashodu, and possibly another draft pick can take over as top WRs after that. As for a sleeper, what about Malcom Floyd. He's 6'5", 225 lbs. He has been a big play guy and starting to become a reliable WR for the Chargers. Probably not going to be a star at 28 years old, but could be a guy that could shine if featured with a good QB.

Yeah, well....but what about the time before that? Mark Derosa was pretty decent.

I'm usually pretty confident in my ability to pick the correct players, but I'm really nervous this week, in my league's Final 4. The lineup I have been starting all year is: QB- Cutler RB- Rice, D. Williams WR- V. Jackson, R. White WR/TE- Dallas Clark Def- Colts But with Cutler's struggles, I have picked up Vince Young. I would typically start VY, but he pulled a hamstring for this week. We have team QBs so if he doesn't play, I do have Kerry Collins still as a fallback. Do I start Titans QBs vs. Miami over Cutler vs. Baltimore? Also, Deangelo faces the Vikings this week. He has had some very weak games vs. good run defenses, but is 6th in the NFL in rushing, having even missed a game. Do I start Williams vs. the Vikings or Beanie Wells vs. Detroit? Other option is Pierre Thomas vs. Dallas. Also, would you start Colts D vs. Jacksonville or Arizona D vs. Detroit? Does it matter if Stafford plays or not?

You typically don't see a lot given up for defensive players who aren't elite pass rushers or pass defenders. Briggs is great in his own right, but there wasn't that much return for Julian Peterson, Will Witherspoon, or Jonathan Vilma. Briggs is better than all 3, but again 4-3 OLB isn't a complete team changer like a shutdown CB or double digit sackmaster would be. I still think the route to go if you are going to trade is see if anyone thinks Hester still has elite return ability and like his upside as a 2 WR enough to give up a 2nd. Knox can do everything he can do. And it gives you the $ to get a legit #1 and a pick to get a lineman.

Lance Briggs is inactive today. Sitting along side him are: TE- Desmond Clark OT- Orlando Pace DE- Gaines Adams and the usual non-factors, WR- Iglesias, DB- Steltz, DT- Toeina, CB- Moore Jarron Gilbert is active for the 3rd time this year.

I agree with the original post. I've never paid for a PPV fight, because I wasn't old enough to when the last fight worth purchasing happened. I will pay whatever Comcast asks of me to see Mayweather and Pacquio

No. I'd bet 7-9 keeps him here for another year, and then 6-10 is up in the air. I guess that makes sense since 7-9 means that they beat the Packers or a disinterested Vikings team. But they have to at least fire Turner and also bring in a new defensive coordinator. If that happens I can live with another year of Lovie at the helm. I can "live" with it, only because I don't want to die. But I am so sick of Lovie's cowardly decision making and the horrible coaching on this team. 8-8 might give me some hope that they can fix things, but I don't see it. I just don't see how they can keep tweaking things like coordinators but keep the men in charge. People forget this but Lovie's already had 2 offensive coordinators. He started with Terry Shea, then went to Turner. He's had 3 defensive coordinators, Rivera, Babich and himself, and the defense has just gotten worse. He was given greater personel authority after 2006, and personel just got weaker. He already had to demote his buddy and take over the D coordinator spot, which should have been the "last chance" option for him to save his job. What more can you do? If he keeps taking these hits, but remains the head coach, how does he maintain credibility? I think he's already lost it. Players talk about their respect for the guy, but I think it's much more clear that they like him and appreciate his easy going ways, but their lack of effort displays something other than respect. Coaches who keep getting demerits and power taken away from them will always lose the team. I think you have to cut him lose or keep the status quo. And status quo can't work. I agree with that point. I think getting rid of Rivera was strike 1 against Lovie. Hiring Babich and his failure was strike 2. I think we all agree that Babich was probably on the chopping block and Lovie saved his arse by agreeing to take over the play calling and keeping his buddy on as an assistant. To me, that reeks of "one last chance". The very public failures of 3 blowout losses, and late TDs given up by the defense to lose vs. ATL, GB, Philly (all national primetime games) should mean the end for Lovie. I really like Lovie as a person (without knowing him personally), but I hope his likability and remaining contract don't provide incentive to keep him around. I understand the financial hit in a recession, but I just don't think you can justify keeping Lovie around when Shanahan, Cowher, and others have made it very clear that they are willing to coach again in the right situation.

That's pretty much it. As upset as I get about his INTs, it's not all his fault. He threw 18 INTs last year on 616 throws. He has 2 more this year with 200 fewer passes thrown. He didn't become that bad of a QB overnight. When you think about him having a star WR, one of the great offensive minds of our time, and a top 5 offensive line in Denver...and then see the league's worst line, worst OC, and bottom 5 WR corps, there's no wonder he has struggled this year.

That's one option. I really don't want Shaffer starting. In limited time this season, he has shown how bad he is. And I think the only way to salvage anything out of Omiyale is to move him back to tackle, where he at least had 1 very good game in Carolina. The Bears absolutely must sign AT LEAST one free agent lineman. I don't know what is greater, the need for a T or a G. I'd love Evans (NO) or Mankins (NE). Gaither in Baltimore, I would absolutely adore, but he's restricted. He could be allowed to leave though, if a team pays him like a LT, because Baltimore has Oher who looks like he could be a star LT in the NFL. Winston Justice and Marcus McNeill would be nice too.

Yeah, this is not a good idea. Big contracts to relievers is not a good idea. It's even worse when that reliever is 40, regardless of the stats.

Good post. Cowher, though, is likely to bring a good OC with him. Simply based on his reputation as a winner. Good OC's will be willing to work with him, because it could be a springboard to a head coaching job. As for the NFL being a passing league, I could not agree more. Even the teams that pride themselves on being run first teams (Steelers, Ravens, Bengals, Giants) haven't played well when they haven't been able to throw the ball for 250. Realizing that you need to throw the ball and put up points is paramount to the Bears for a couple reasons. One of course is you have Jay Cutler. Talk about the INTs all you want, but you can't tell me those INTs would be that high with a sophisticated scheme and some legit playmakers to throw to (didn't throw as many last year and threw the ball like 800 times). Secondly, I don't see any way for this defense to be a "carry-the-team" type of defense again any time soon. They can add a few parts here and there and be a defense that is as good as the Colts in recent years, and like NO is this year. That is good enough to win tons of games if your offense is good enough.

Soriano, ARam, and Zambrano have a history of injuries. So, saying the Cubs were over .500 with them being injured doesn't mean much, when it should have been reasonably expected that they would get injured anyway. They are a .500 team if they don't have contingency plans for when players get injured or underperform again.

I just can't see the Bears eating 11Mil and then paying another coach more money to come in. I think Lovie stays one more year (along with Angelo). But I think most of his power is taken away, making him a lame duck coach. After all, he got rid of Rivera and the D hasn't been the same. He promoted Babich and stuck up for him. He kept Turner around. He took over the defense, and they still aren't very good. Lovie has shown he cannot be trusted with personnel and coaching decisions. If Lovie stays, what I would like to see is an established NFL OC who has worked with and developed a QB. Doesn't even have to be an expensive, older coach with 20 years experience. Even a young mind with experience who has learned from one of the great minds. The Bears put so much into getting Cutler. Now they need to put everything into getting the most out of Cutler. Defensively, it may be tough to bring in a DC with a different philosophy. But that may be what needs to be done, as I don't really want Hoke or Marinelli to be promoted.

Sick to my stomach. He might be all you can get, other than a young unproven guy who is looking for a shot. Or Martz. i'm just saying, it seems to be the general consensus that turner is awfu, while a lot of people still think that weis is a good offensive mind who was just not cut out to lead a college program. I'm indifferent on how think Weis would do as this team's OC. I do think he is a better fit though for a team with a firm head coach who's offense needs an extra boost. The Giants come to mind as a really good fit.

Would anyone trade Hester? He's the only player on the roster likely to get the Bears a 1st day pick (other than Briggs or Culter), if teams still value his return skills after 2 down years. Plus he has upside as a WR. Other than the need for a day 1 pick, my thinking is that Knox can do the things that Hester can. Bennett is a solid WR. And Iglesias can still develop into a decent player. But that could open the door for the Bears to pay for a legit #1 WR (read Brandon Marshall), while also allowing them to fill other needs.

Real bad. I had given Jerry and Lovie a free pass for a couple years, and after the Cutler trade I extended that for Angelo, but man, that is going to hurt big time in April. Now they'll be picking somewhere around 75, I guess. *cough*itoldyouso*cough* 6 games and he only has 1 more (solo) tackle and 1 more batted pass than the 2010 2nd round pick has for the 2009 Bears. The only way the Bears are competitive next year is if they get huge sophomore seasons from Melton, Gilbert, and probably DJ Moore. Oh and Urlacher and Tommie Harris have to raise their level of play back to what will be 3-4 years ago by next year. The Bears can't possibly patch up enough thru free agency, and odds are they won't get much better thru the draft.

Tiger Woods' face (in still pictures) gives me seizures. Kinda like Mary Hart's voice to Kramer. Maybe some lacerations may make him more bearable to look at.

No he does not. He's most of the way through his prime and he's had a SLG over .500 once, and that's as a guy whose OPS value is very SLG dependent. As he ages, and slows, he might be moved to RF, but I think the need to platoon him will be even higher, and whoever gets him should probably just plan on getting the most value they can out of the next 3 years and then maybe consider picking up the option if he beats expectations, otherwise cut him loose. Guys who strike out a lot, don't walk much and depend on their speed don't tend to age all that well. I see him having Garrett Anderson's future, good while it lasted but staying and getting paid well past his expiration date. I don't know what you expect from the guy, but he has over a .200 ISOP each of the last each of the 3 years. His power is top 50 in baseball. And his walks are just fine, just outside of the top 50, and he's been at both levels for the last 3 years, his prime years. I can go with you that he will likely be getting paid past his expiration date, but he should be at least be a similar player for the next 3 years or so and should continue to be a top 50 player until then.