USSoccer

I think it's spot on and completely accurate. With some very glaring needs and a ton of cash to spend, the Cubs did squat. Bullpen improvements don't come close to the importance of everyday positions, which the Cubs completely botched, but they are what makes it a D instead of an F. You're correct IMO that the pen is the only reason this offseason didn't get an "F". Below average is exactly where it should grade out, and for a top 5 payroll to address none of it's offensive deficencies is embarrasing.

That "D" is about right, although to be fair they did gloss over the bullpen improvements, costly as they were.

that's gangsta that's bear-awesome.

You saw that mess at the bar? Talking crap about being stuck behind Dempster for three years. You've got to be kidding me....

Yes, it was very much legal and he openly admitted using. so people are basing their non-vote for McGwire on Canseco's book and the general increase in HR's during the 90's, coupled with his congressional statement, and through no basis of fact?

minor point here, but wasn't androstiene legal in 1998 when he got "caught" with it?

why would we want more squeeze plays? i tell you that he could have won more games by playing guys with a better chance of not making outs. 10-15 extra wins just by using the squeeze more? Methinks that's waaaay unrealistic.

So did anything else of note happen at the convo?

I think the Bears need to completely start over at TE. Draft one early. Sign a FA. Draft one late. I don't think they need a possession WR. I really don't know what that means. I think Muhammad, Berrian, and Bradley are a very good start. I don't understand the love for Randle El. He's not better than the first 2 and I wouldn't want to play him over a healthy Bradley. And you still have Currie. I don't want to pay Twan for his punt returning abilities and being a #4 WR. Gage needs to go, though. I agree with the defensive needs. Brown and McGowan are a good start at SS. Harris should be back at FS. It would be nice to get a veteran FA to start over Harris though. I want a new SS. You want to get rid of Mike Brown? Why? Replace with who? Brown cannot stay on the field, even after taking 7 weeks off for what should have been a very meh injury. He's great when healthy, but in football (unlike baseball), every game means so much more, and you can't rely on a guy who just cannot complete a season (or a PLAYOFF game) in that kind of role. The SS in that defense is so important, and it has to be played by a regular, not a backup. I'm not saying spend money on a SS. Draft a SS on day one, along with a TE and a O lineman. No matter what we say, there's no way the Bears will not have Mike Brown on there team starting the 2006 season. I'm not sure if us fans, truly know the extent of the injury. For the first two weeks that he missed, the media still wasn't sure what he was suffering from. I'd rather have an injured player on the bench than an injured player on the field. I'd rather have a hurt player on the field than on the bench or in the locker room. I think this team has bigger holes to fill than SS and I hope the front office addresses those first. I agree that it should not be priority one, or even priority 3, but it should be something they address.

I think the Bears need to completely start over at TE. Draft one early. Sign a FA. Draft one late. I don't think they need a possession WR. I really don't know what that means. I think Muhammad, Berrian, and Bradley are a very good start. I don't understand the love for Randle El. He's not better than the first 2 and I wouldn't want to play him over a healthy Bradley. And you still have Currie. I don't want to pay Twan for his punt returning abilities and being a #4 WR. Gage needs to go, though. I agree with the defensive needs. Brown and McGowan are a good start at SS. Harris should be back at FS. It would be nice to get a veteran FA to start over Harris though. I want a new SS. You want to get rid of Mike Brown? Why? Replace with who? Brown cannot stay on the field, even after taking 7 weeks off for what should have been a very meh injury. He's great when healthy, but in football (unlike baseball), every game means so much more, and you can't rely on a guy who just cannot complete a season (or a PLAYOFF game) in that kind of role. The SS in that defense is so important, and it has to be played by a regular, not a backup. I'm not saying spend money on a SS. Draft a SS on day one, along with a TE and a O lineman.

I think the Bears need to completely start over at TE. Draft one early. Sign a FA. Draft one late. I don't think they need a possession WR. I really don't know what that means. I think Muhammad, Berrian, and Bradley are a very good start. I don't understand the love for Randle El. He's not better than the first 2 and I wouldn't want to play him over a healthy Bradley. And you still have Currie. I don't want to pay Twan for his punt returning abilities and being a #4 WR. Gage needs to go, though. I agree with the defensive needs. Brown and McGowan are a good start at SS. Harris should be back at FS. It would be nice to get a veteran FA to start over Harris though. I want a new SS.

Offensive Needs: Pass Catching TE Pass Cacthing FB Possesion reciever. Defensive Needs: Nickel corner LB depth A new safety

Charles Tillman is bad against fast, shifty wideouts. He can cover the Moss type wideouts who are bigger, but not as quick. No idea why Riviera put him on Smith. In fact, I have no idea why Smith wasn't double teamed from the start. Make DeShaun I'm Soft Foster beat you. What an idiotic game plan bu Chico, who might have kept himself here after today's crapfest.

The first series was idiotic. Your defense just got owned, take the air out of the ball for a bit. Run. Put a drive together and score, don't chuck the ball downfield twice.

It was almost like the coaches didn't even know of Smith. Man, I know all were going to hear from Smith is how good he is. It's not just that. They never bothered to make adjustments to put two guys on him. How you can possibly justify putting Chris Thompson on him in single coverage is beyond me. That's like PH Macias with the bags loaded, 2 out in an LCS game. You should know better. And AFTER a timeout, no less! Also, I hope someone calls out Mike Brown. He missed like 7 weeks and couldn't heal a calf pull.

As long as it includes Ron Turner's baffling playcalling and Ron Riviera's nonexistent scheme, and does not include second guessing Kyle/Rex, let it commence.

They only had 3 on the line. Since Grossman was running the drill, that one is probably on his. That's an experience thing.

well, let's get back to business breaking down the Convention.

Oh yes. I expect Chico to get lambasted something fierce for interviewing all week last week instead of preparing a gameplan. *ding*

That was total crap. Grossman could have snuck in between the b and c gaps and gained 1 yard. But the defense hosed us today. Tillman got exposed-he sucked all game, and Mike Brown is just soft. The coaches didn't have them prepared for Smith, blew calls, blew substitutions... what an unsatisfying end.

Post of the night.

Remember the early game! It's not over til we miss a 2 point conversion!

and we prolong the inevitable!

I didn't expect the Bears to win, but I did expect the defense to show up. that's the sad part. we played baaaaad

It all comes down to this...