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Wow. Ask and ye shall receive! I actually liked the trade to get Hughes (because of Gooden and getting rid of Ben Wallace). Starting the season without Hughes can be good. Despite what I said earlier in this thread, I don't wish him gone for the year. I think he can help the team when he gets back, hopefully as a role player not as a guy counted on for double digits scoring.

If Boldin is back, defenses won't be able to stack up on Fitzgerald as much as they have have been, and that should make Warner a more attractive option. I don't think the WRs make a difference. Warner threw for 450 w/o Boldin. Jerame Urban had a 100 yard game. Breaston hasn't missed a beat from Boldin. The thing that will stop Warner is a pass rush and a good defensive backfield.

Colston. Should be close to 100% now and SD's pass D is dreadful.

Matt Forte has touched the ball 176 times this year. That leads the league. Only Clinton Portis is close. Forte has also taken a lot of hits in pass protection. Being a rookie, I think it's important to start limiting his touches. He's getting over 25 per game and is on pace for over 400 touches this year and 336 carries (had 393 and 361 last year at Tulane). Last year NOBODY ran the ball that many times. In 2006, Larry Johnson, Tomlinson, Steven Jackson, Rudi Johnson, Edge and Willie Parker all ran at least 337 times. In 2007, only Edge put up numbers that were even comparable to the ones from the previous year. LJ, Rudi, and Parker have missed tons of time and are shadows of their former selves. LT looks like he is headed that way too. Kevin Jones got 0 carries last week (I don't believe he even saw the field). That has to change after the bye. Against the Lions, there's no reason Jones shouldn't be a big part of the game plan. I'd like to see the Bears limit Forte to 15-18 touches on Nov. 2, giving Jones about the same. That will help keep Forte fresh for the Titans game the following week, and possibly save him from falling apart at the end of the season.

Isn't Peavy under contract for awhile though? If so, the Braves would be acquiring him not only for 2008 but with an eye towards 2009-2011. As for 2008, if Smoltz is back, a front three of Peavy, Smoltz, and Jurrjens is nothing to sneeze at. Their offense isn't that bad with McCann, Chipper, Johnson, and Escobar. While Kotchman isn't great, he could conceivably contribute an OPS+ of 115-120 if given the opportunity. They do appear to be weak in the outfield, and if they have to deal away one of the five players I mentioned to get Peavy, that could put them in a bit of a bind offensively. But again, Peavy wouldn't just be acquired for next season only. They aren't in such bad shape that they can't make this team much better by 2009 or 2010. 2008 is over. Smoltz won't be back, at least not as a starter. If he makes it back it will be in the pen. Not to mention that Chipper most likely won't be back either. Really? Where are you getting that?

One of the hardest decisions is what to do with Wood if he's not signing a team-friendly contract. He may be the only player in my lifetime that it would be truly sad to see leave. Guys like Sosa, Grace, Maddux part deux, Sutcliffe, all ruined their nostalgia by age, suckiness, or their mouths. I'd lean toward signing Wood for that 3rd year, provided the contract is no more than about $20Mil total. If it's more than that per year, I'd look elsewhere. The Fuentes/Cruz combo is a very attractive alternative, that wouldn't cost much more than just Wood alone.

I was wondering if he would be able to play after the bye. That was always best case scenario to me. He won't crack the lineup, but if he can get a good week or 2 of practice and just suit up Nov. 2, that would be great. Luckily no OL have gone down, but if one does, it would be great to have a 1st round pick be able to step in. How much stock do you put into the idea that "you can't make changes on the OLine because it's a chemistry thing?" Personally I don't think in this situation it should stop the Bears from making the change. Especially since they haven't been all that good in the run game. They're getting by in the pass game largely because Forte is a wonderful blocker and they're giving both tackles help on the outside. I don't see that changing just because we put Williams in. And I have little doubt CW would be able to move people off the ball better than St. Clair right out of the box. I don't buy the chemistry thing for the group of 5 on the line. I do buy the concept of keeping the lockeroom together though. Fourteenth pick or not, Williams has not played a single snap in the NFL. He didn't even have a camp. I don't think you can just dump someone out of the lineup so you get your money's worth out of Williams. If Williams outperforms people in practice or there is an injury, that's another thing. I understand that people shouldn't lose a job because of injury, but Williams never had a job.

I'd be ecstatic with just a Pie/Ceda for Hermida deal, but IF we could get them to throw in Gregg for Castillo and Cedeno, I might be interested. That said, you're probably right about the history closing overvaluing him and at that point, I'd lose interest. That's a lot to give up. I think that might be pushing it on Hermida, but I'd do the deal because Hermida would conceivably fit a need and be a Cub for 3-4 years.

Isn't Peavy under contract for awhile though? If so, the Braves would be acquiring him not only for 2008 but with an eye towards 2009-2011. As for 2008, if Smoltz is back, a front three of Peavy, Smoltz, and Jurrjens is nothing to sneeze at. Their offense isn't that bad with McCann, Chipper, Johnson, and Escobar. While Kotchman isn't great, he could conceivably contribute an OPS+ of 115-120 if given the opportunity. They do appear to be weak in the outfield, and if they have to deal away one of the five players I mentioned to get Peavy, that could put them in a bit of a bind offensively. But again, Peavy wouldn't just be acquired for next season only. They aren't in such bad shape that they can't make this team much better by 2009 or 2010. 2008 is over. Smoltz won't be back, at least not as a starter. If he makes it back it will be in the pen.

I'd be very tempted to start Warner over Manning. But when in doubt, I always use the philosophy that if a guy was good enough to draft in the 1st 2 rounds, start him at all costs (if healthy). You aren't likely to win w/o that top draft pick performing anyway, so start him in hopes that he has a big game.

Panthers have done it to everyone. 2nd best pass D in the league. I still think it's a coin flip. I'd probably go w/ Delhomme because he and Steve Smith are really clicking on all cylinders right now.

Had some real good players in that series. Manny Ramirez, Jim Thome, Hersheiser, Vizquel are all likely Hall of Famers. Borderline guys are: Sheffield (500 HR), Alou (2100 hits, 6x AS), Robb Nen (300 saves), Tony Fernandez (2200 hits as a SS), Jose Mesa (320 saves)...though none will get in. Then you have guys like Bobby Bonilla, Brian Giles, David Justice, Matt Williams, Kevin Brown who put together multiple elite seasons. Sandy Alomar Jr. was near the top at his position for a lot of his career too.

Games like this can get me to really start liking this team. Sadly, the Bulls would be a lot better if Larry Hughes gets a season ending injury. He's pretty pointless right now. He's shot 30% from the field in preseason and 8%, yes 8 from 3. He's not a good passer or defender. Del Negro will be well served to get Hughes and Hinrich out of key spots in the rotation as soon as possible. Hinrich will probably be the de facto starter, but Rose, Gordon, Thabo should play about 80 of the 96 guard minutes whenever possible. The front court should be serviceable enough with Deng, Noc, Tyrus, Noah, Gooden and Gray.

I was wondering if he would be able to play after the bye. That was always best case scenario to me. He won't crack the lineup, but if he can get a good week or 2 of practice and just suit up Nov. 2, that would be great. Luckily no OL have gone down, but if one does, it would be great to have a 1st round pick be able to step in.

Singletary finally gets his job! I hear they are working out a long-term deal for him to be the permanent head coach.

Wow, how the mighty have fallen. At one time, people were arguing that Vasher was a better CB than Tillman. Now he's not as good as Graham? Tillman and Vasher are still the best 2 CBs on the roster. Graham has been better this season, so far though.

That is so not true. I recall a lot of people wanting TT around here. Really? Huh, I thought Aldridge was the choice of most people (obviously you) and Roy was #2 on most people's wish list. I wanted Roy. A big guard would have done the Bulls wonders when they were good a couple years ago.

If Boldin plays, start Boldin. I agree on Graham and Evans.

I had Campbell, Gore, Cotchery, and Edwards all starting this last week for me, which ended up contributing to my worst performance of the year. Thank goodness I also had Portis, and I was playing one of the weaker teams in the league, otherwise I would have been in for an upset. I'm hoping Willie Parker can get healthy and return to form, then I'll have Gore, Portis, and Parker for my RBs on any given week, which would easily be the best RB alignment in my league, which I need because I've got some gambles at WR with Boldin and Edwards going into the playoffs. Those 3 are my RBs in another league I'm in.

If the Bulls are that bad, the team needs to be blown up.

Some great pitching lines in that 28-1 game. 2 IP, 9 hits, 9 ERs (40.50 ERA) 1.1 IP, 6 hits, 7 runs (2 ERs) (47.37 RA) 1 IP, 5 hits, 6 runs, 5 ERs (45.00 ERA) Also fitting how the last guy to pitch for Surprise (who actually held a 1-0 lead) was named Laughter.

If all you want is a guy who snaps the ball to the QB, sure. But pro bowl caliber centers are not easy to replace. The Bears have gotten by with less than great lineman in part because they have had a really good center. As Kreutz ages and declines, they will have to rely on the guards that much more going forward. The point is offensive line is still a huge work in progress. It's essentially a 5 man position that needs a constant influx of young able bodied players to fill it. The Bears are still playing with fire by going with status quo on the line. I dont think you draft a rt in rd 1 unless the guy is a stud this year. as you pointed out yourself, they arent likely to get anyone who would make an immediate impact where they figure to draft in rd 1, so why even bother unless the guy is ready now? and since Tait is till around next year, why not find a good prospect in rds 2-4? rd 1 might provide a much better option at gaurd, or even DL, DB, See, I would draft the best OL in the draft in the 1st (again provided no defensive playmaker of my liking is there). Whether he plays LT, RT, or G. We don't even know if Williams can play LT at this point. If you can draft a stud who can definitely play there, you move Williams to the right side or inside to guard. If you get an OT who doesn't prove to be as good as Williams, you let him compete at RT w/ Tait or inside w/ the guards. I'd love a line of interchangeable parts who can all play. Assuming the line is the same the rest of the year, (l to r) JSC, Beekman, Kreutz, Garza, Tait w/ Buenning, rookie, Williams on the bench should be able to change to: Williams, Beekman, Kreutz, Rookie, Tait Rookie, Williams, Beekman, Buenning, JSC Rookie, Buenning, Beekman, JSC, Williams or whatever the Bears need on any given week.

There are plenty of guys who could play G or RT. I'd take a guy who can compete w/ the players the Bears have now at OG. Preferably, he would also be big enough to move to RT at a moment's notice and most certainly be penciled in there in the future.

Exactly. Hester went out yesterday and the Bears didn't miss a beat w/ basically just Booker and Davis as the only WRs. Olsen and Clark gives you 2 more options w/ almost certain matchup problems. BTW, what are the chances Lloyd and Williams are ready after the bye? I'd imagine Tillman, Manning, and Vasher will be ready barring setbacks.

OL defensive player (preferably a DE) WR In my mind are the top 3 needs. There is a lot of talent of high end OL talent that will be gone before the Bears pick and I'm afraid that Angelo won't go OL two straight years in the first round even though it's a deep position in the 2009 draft and the biggest need for the Bears. I'll be happy as long as they get an OL in one of the first two rounds. WR isn't that big of a deal to me. Hester should get better. Davis and Lloyd have shown flashes. Bennett should be better. Booker should be there to provide a veteran if needed. You can go out and get someone via FA, who has talent but has underachieved ala Lloyd.