USSoccer

If you want the real scoop, check out Terry Bradshaw's column on Foxsports.com. In one sentence he says he can't pick this game. In the next sentence, he picks the Bears. He spends about 15 paragraphs saying that he's just not comfortable with Rex Grossman, but he really likes him.... Oh yeah, and he doesn't like that Rex was honest...he think Rex should've lied, even if what he said was true, because that's what Terry would've done. http://msn.foxsports.com/nfl/story/6346862 Dan Marino said something similar yesterday during the pregame, i.e. "you don't say that-even if it's true and it's how you feel, don't say it".

Mark Schlereth continues to prove that the national media have no ability to properly analyze a quote: Can someone find me the quote where Rex said that he didn't think the game was important and didn't care what happened? Because I think he said that because of the circumstances, he didn't prepare as hard as he should have.

The fact that we've played and easily handled Seattle earlier this season gives me great optimism for this game. I really think Rex will have a solid, if unspectacular game. Something like 14-25 190 1 TD

Oh come ON. I'm going to probably miss the end of the stupid game. Hopefully, the Bears will be running away with it so you won't miss anything important. Got to look on the bright side here. That's basically my only hope, is that the game will be well in hand by about the 9 minute mark in the 4th.

Oh come ON. I'm going to probably miss the end of the stupid game.

Anyone else think Seattle had a shot to block that kick anyway?

-No. It's a bye week. Practices should be light. They should be tequnique and fundamentals only. -Rex didn't admit he didn't care. He said that because the game was meaningless, he didn't prepare like he should have. Big Difference. -Coordinators interviewing isn't going to hurt them during a bye week.

I'll agree with your basic point, but our defense can't be counted on to stop anything right now. The offense has to be productive.

Gooch and Fulham couldn't work out a deal, so he's back with Standard Leige.

The problem is also that when Bad Rex appears Ron Turner seems to be intent on throwing THIRTY FIVE FREAKING TIMES THAT GAME. Can we just buckle down and run 45 times if Grossman isn't having the best game? The adjustment in game plan when Rex is clearly struggling with his reads is something that is lacking. Usually it's clear in the 1st quarter what kind of game Rex is going to have. If he's making stupid decisions and getting pressured, Turner should have a couple run-only series, if only to allow Rex some time to settle down. This usually doesn't happen.

This would be the only reason I would be upset about Turner leaving. I'm just really underwhelmed by his playcalling. I'm not enamored by it, but there's still a part of me that's astonished everytime they complete a 20 yard pass. Turner has brought in the only legit NFL offense for the Bears since the 80's. Cubs fans have been conditioned that since we're usually so bad, that mediocrity is improvement. But Goony, you love to argue that Cubs fans shouldn't be happy about mediocrity, they should expect more. How is that different than this situation? We've had some terrible offenses in the past, no doubt. And it's improved for sure. But as fans don't we have a right to expect more than a mediocre offense? I'm not sure who I'd want to bring in, as I'm not really an expert on all all of the NFL coordinators and whatnot, but while the offense is most definitely improved, there are some jaw droppingly dumb calls made and it frustrates me. For example, we'll have success running the ball, then suddenly have to punt because we decided to throw 3 straight times. Completing the occasional long pass is nice, but I'd much rather see a game plan that attacks an opponents weaknesses, and I just don't see Turner having been able to do that. That's a good point. When we find a weakness in a defense (especially rushing), we seem to not exploit it, but instead use that success to try and spring deep passes. One other beef I have is that Rex seems to have a ton of success with crossing routes and timing routes downfield, yet we don't always use those strengths.

Craaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaap. That's all kinds of suck. The Sunday times are like 11am CST and 3pm CST, right?

This would be the only reason I would be upset about Turner leaving. I'm just really underwhelmed by his playcalling. I'm not enamored by it, but there's still a part of me that's astonished everytime they complete a 20 yard pass. Turner has brought in the only legit NFL offense for the Bears since the 80's. He's actually brought them a legit NFL offense twice. Once in the mid 90's and now. His playcalling does leave a lot to be desired but as Goony said, the alternatives the Bears have been bringing in for about 20 years have been awful.

I'm fine with Turner. He's nothing special, but then again, special OC's don't spend much time as the OC. The trouble with letting him go is two-fold. First, the stability with him and the QB position is important right now. I wouldn't feel comfortable having Rex going into next season with a whole new gameplan. But second, and perhaps most important, is I don't trust them to come up with a better option. I really don't envision Wade Wilson as an innovative quality OC right now. There isn't a Bob Babich type waiting in the wings as a Lovie disciple poised to take over the job. Nor is there a Mike Singletary. I think Hiestand, who has worked with Turner for several years, would probably go with him wherever he went. The internal candidates would then be Drake, Boras and Spencer, and I don't think any of them are obvious coordinators. I feel comfortable losing Rivera, because the system in place is Lovie's and he is the key. Turner is the offense though. If the Bears want consistency out of Rex, they ought not to allow Turner to leave. This was the first year since Rex's junior year at Florida that he's had the same coordinator from the previous season.

TMQ weighs in: And I also can't wait until the self appointed Guardians Of Playing The Game The Right Way at ESPN go bananas over the Grossman press conference statements.

My wife decided to schedule it around a weekend where I had some family in from out of town. Problem is, no one consulted me when it came to this whole thing. When it finally dawned on me that they were potentially on the same date, it was too late. I've done everything I can to try and minimize the chances that I'm going to either miss part of the game, or having to DVR it and risk some goof telling me the score, but it's really going to hinge on the date and time of the game. divorce That's cold as ice, Goony. :D

My wife decided to schedule it around a weekend where I had some family in from out of town. Problem is, no one consulted me when it came to this whole thing. When it finally dawned on me that they were potentially on the same date, it was too late. I've done everything I can to try and minimize the chances that I'm going to either miss part of the game, or having to DVR it and risk some goof telling me the score, but it's really going to hinge on the date and time of the game.

I believe the speculation is that if the Giants win on Sunday, the Bears game will be Sunday. But if they lose, the winner of Seahawks/Cowboys will play the Bears on Saturday. This kinda sucks because the Bears might only have 6 days to prepare for their opponent. I really hope that they play Saturday. I don't want to miss chunks of the game. I can blow off what I'm doing Saturday, but Sunday will be trickier. I'm hoping it's Sunday, because that's when football should be played. Hoping for the 4:00 game too, because my house should be empty then. 4pm on Sunday would be slightly better than the early Sunday game. My daughter's baptism was stupidly scheduled for Sunday at 3pm. What are the times for the weekend games?

I believe the speculation is that if the Giants win on Sunday, the Bears game will be Sunday. But if they lose, the winner of Seahawks/Cowboys will play the Bears on Saturday. This kinda sucks because the Bears might only have 6 days to prepare for their opponent. I really hope that they play Saturday. I don't want to miss chunks of the game. I can blow off what I'm doing Saturday, but Sunday will be trickier.

So is the date of the Bears game going to be determined by their opponent or the network?

Well, he has a good eye for talent then. Seriously, Hester needs to be a kick returner and occasional offensive weapon. Having him on defense is really bad. And they need to draft defense this April. A safety and another corner would be nice.

As much as fans want to beat the Packers, the game was meaningless to the Bears. It's completely understandable why they couldn't beat the Packers. New England couldn't beat Miami a few weeks ago when they had their division all but wrapped up. Good teams can lose games when there is no obvious motivation. It doesn't matter if that is what he said was his number 1 goal. The #1 goal is winning the super bowl. And the result against GB had absolutely zero baring on their ability to win the SB, aside from health. Lovie's "#1 goal is Beat Green Bay" mantra was likely fashioned to appeal to the lowest common denominator of fan. It's a stupid goal to have, like "competing within the division" was for the MacPhail Cubs. If the Bears go 14-2 every year and lose to GB twice, I won't bat an eyelash if we win championships.

I'm sorry, but you're an NFL QB. Don't blame New Year's Eve for a reason why you sucked. Some of these excuses are pretty funny. He should've just said he sucked and moved on. Now everyone is going to say how he shouldn't start because, mentally, he might not be "prepared" for the playoff game. Right. So again, you're going to rip him for saying what everyone already knew about the entire team's performance. The game meant nothing, they prepared and played like it meant nothing to them, and he said as much.

Ha quit being on the west coast and then ESPN and Full Court will pick you up. What a joke. Meanwhile Duke's practice will be shown tonight, you know cause of their program's history. Maybe it's due to the clean history at Duke. Do you know who Myron Piggie is? Ask Coach K about him and Corey Maggette then get back to me with their clean history. awesome response, thank you. Unfortunately, ESPN doesn't talk about that whole thing because they've cast their financial lot with Duke. Yeah I find it ironic that most people don't know about it, yet feel free to rip on other schools. Who's Myron Piggie?

The entire team sans Benson sucked. At least Rex had the guts to stand up to the podium at a time when there is incredible pressure on him and admit the truth about his performance. The rest of the offense should stand up and admit the same thing, especially the O-line. He's saying out loud what everyone knew. It's unfair to rip him for that.