USSoccer

[expletive] Sunderland. The last thing we need is another core NT player sucked into that vortex of [expletive]. I'd rather he go to TFC than Sunderland. Of all those teams, Schalke make the most sense to me.

I'm with you. I wonder how JK feels with 3 of his best players now in MLS. He must feel like he's getting trolled. You know what it is? We've been trained to see the American career arc play out one way. Come up in the US (MLS/college/Bradenton) and work your way to Europe. Play in Europe as long as you can. Try to move to the biggest club you can. Come back to MLS to get your last pay day. The huge amounts of money being thrown around are throwing a wrench in that and it keeps us from being able to contextualize a player's development and the American player, as a whole's progress. Mike and Deuce were the avatars of this generation doing it "right" (I guess making Landon the poster boy for doing it wrong) and even though on paper, they climbed higher than anyone before them and probably higher than we could have expected when they left MLS, we still don't know how to process them coming back this early. Especially in Bradley's case. For completely understandable personal reasons, they moved the goal posts on us. We need to adjust our expectations going forward as long as this kind of cash is getting thrown around in our league. Yeah, I'd agree with that. It just seems odd that this player of all players choose to do that, but I suppose we're projecting what we'd ideally like to see from a developmental point of view on these guys, when they are making decisions that are ultimately about what's best for them personally. Those two points of view aren't always compatible, hence the disbelief. I can't honestly say that I wouldn't turn that money down; that's setting you and your family and your children up for multiple generations. It's also weird because we should be accustomed to athletes following the money, because that's what MLB and NFL free agents do; it's not like they always choose the best destination based on their game, or development, or whatever. So yeah, we're certainly accustomed to/trained to see it a different way when it comes to soccer and our NT players. The concerning thing, from a league perspective, is that MLS needs to do something about the low and middle-end salaries, because ultimately that's what's going to raise the level of play.

I'm with you. I wonder how JK feels with 3 of his best players now in MLS. He must feel like he's getting trolled.

Yeah, I just saw that. Jesus. This kind of money is going to make it hard to cry 'Not Profitable' come CBA time.

Yeah, I'm uneasy about the news, but part of me wonders how material the difference will be in the quality of MLS and another Euro club that will play Bradley 90 mins regularly by 2016-17. By then, hopefully the difference will be akin to the gap between Ligue 1 and the EPL. The next MLS CBA is going to be huge in terms of how much progress can really be made.

I thought the issue was he wasn't playing at Roma. He's playing pretty regularly as a sub, and Coppa Italia hasn't really started yet (I think) which is more potential time. But Roma are rumored to be bringing in another CM, which would cut his time down quite a bit.

It would be bewildering either way, but if it was KC, or LA or SSFC, it would be a heck of a lot more tolerable than TFC, where he's going to play with a bunch of mediocre to bad players, and maybe Jermaine Defoe. From the perspective of a fan of the league, though, it's very cool that MLS is acting like a big boy league and willing to pay money to get these guys in their primes. I'm just concerned for the NT. He's such an important piece; maybe the best player right now.

Plus, TFC don't start until March. What's he going to do until then? How is 2.5 months at TFC better than 4.5 months with Roma?

I would lose all faith in everything if Michael [expletive] Bradley moves to [expletive] TFC. Everything except Tim Leiweke's baller status. No kidding. That's the last guy in the pool I'd think of when it comes to chasing a check. The only reason that I'd even give it consideration is because Deuce would be the second to last guy you'd expect it from and we all know how that played out. Even then though, there is a WORLD of difference between playing in Seattle and in Toronto. Not only the immense gulf in the quality of the organizations, but Clint and Mikey are at really different points in their careers. Clint's 31 and SSFC drove a dump truck of money up to him, and his wife chimed in and wanted to move back home. I ultimately understood it after the shock wore off. I know MB's married and has a baby, but at his age, he should have at least 4 more years overseas before considering this move. I find it impossible to believe that Roma is being so obstinate about his sale price that the only suitor is TFC.

I would lose all faith in everything if Michael [expletive] Bradley moves to [expletive] TFC. Everything except Tim Leiweke's baller status. No kidding. That's the last guy in the pool I'd think of when it comes to chasing a check.

Taylor's either trolling, or the concussions have gotten to him, because that would be the single worst career move that a core NT player would ever make. Toronto FC is where careers go to die.

Baseball writers are idiots; I'm not sure why anyone is surprised. The only player from this era that has any chance of being elected unanimously is St. Jeter, because Yankee Magic and dynasty and ball flip. And I bet there will be some jackass who will pull the same crap that Don Knotts up there did to get his name talked about for a week.

Jesus, Man United are really, really bad. I figured there would be regression, but not like this. Moyes is really being exposed here. His team isn't doing anything but forcing the ball wide, crossing in, and repeating. That's mid-table [expletive] right there.

I'm not at all surprised that a guy his age would rather make money in Madrid than in cold ass Chicago.

Andy Dalton is what everyone thought Rex Grossman was

That really sucks for KC.

Oh Andy Reid. How are you so bad at managing time?

How do you blow a 28 point 2nd half lead?

I like Klute as well. If Yedlin and Klute both showed strong here and earn a trip to camp in May, that would be fantastic. Those two and Gil would be great assets next summer. Clint went 90 in a 1-1 draw at Norwich. He was rusty. Arsenal have just torn Spurs up today. They have just no midfield control whatsoever. Walcott probably tore his ACL, though, so there's that.

I'm assuming you know he meant Earl there and because it would save the Bears like 2.5 mil. You can sign a cheaper WR who can most likely produce or even outproduce what Earl has done and stay healthy. I also think Trestman/Emery/etc thinks Wilson can fill in that #3 spot and it's why he's going to work out with everyone else in Florida. Yeesh. My brain didn't even think of Earl. My bad.

Why would they cut Bennett?

Gil is my dark horse to make the roster next June. I love his game.

It's BPA to an unnecessary extreme, especially considering the incredible depth of this year's WR class. In other words, it would be completely unnecessary? Wilson hasn't done anything and was a very late pick who may never do anything. Bennett hasn't done much and may be gone, and Marshall turns 30 this offseason. If you can get a 1st round WR to be productive within a year or two you can get away with not paying Marshall ~$10m/year as you prepare to sign Jeffery to his first big post rookie contract. It would hardly be crazy to draft a highly touted WR with the first round pick. With a deep WR draft, though, isn't it just as possible you can get a productive WR in the 2nd or 3rd round? I'd rather they find an impact DT or S in the 1st.

It's BPA to an unnecessary extreme, especially considering the incredible depth of this year's WR class. In other words, it would be completely unnecessary?

Why would the Bears use the #14 pick on a WR with Bennett, Marshall, Jeffery and Wilson already on the team and under contract? Shouldn't fixing the terrible defense take priority?