BigSlick

Nice to hear Lou actually cares about his pitchers and won't over abuse them again like a certain someone... Prior and Wood aside, I still remember last season when there was barely any time left in the season and we were obviously out of any race, and Dusty left Zambrano out there for like 130-140 the game after he was skipped because his back wasn't feeling right (By the way, Zam was at the Bulls game yesterday sporting dreads, and was alot slimmed down and said he worked hard this offseason to make sure the back or anything else wouldn't be a problem in 07). Zambrano's highest pitch count of the season, which was in the final game, was 128. I'm more shocked about him even playing the final game that long. I hate you, Dusty.

Hhah, fo-sho, bro. How can there be pass interference if the guy doesn't TOUCH the other player? I don't care if he dives in front of him and doesn't turn around....he didn't TOUCH THE GUY. Either way. The calls didn't make the Patriots give up 32 points or whatever in the second half. Any defensive stand on any number of drives and they'd be in the Super Bowl. That is a clearly defined rule. You cannot just turn your back and stick your hands up. Thats face-guarding and its against the rules. Its not even a controversial call. Was not aware. Either way, its a dumb play by the DB, because even if he didn't touch the guy, he made no attempt to play the ball at all, and left himself exposed to the PI. Why is this a rule anyway? If he doesn't touch the receiver, how is he interfering with his ability to get the ball? First of all, I think I over-reacted a little bit, so sorry for that. I'm not sure why its a rule. I remember having it called against my high school team several years ago and being a little confused, but I've seen it called in the NFL a few times since then. I think its just so people arent just sticking their hands in the receiver's face to try and block their vision and stuff like that. Gotcha. Either way, Hobbs knew he was going to get called for playing like that, that was flat out playing the receiver and not the ball. Some of my hopes for the future of officiating: NFL adopts NCAA rules for PI, that means: 15 yard penalty, not a spot foul. Giving the ball to the offense on the 1 yard is basically giving them a touchdown. And with how ticky-tack PI gets called nowadays, I don't think it should be penalized that hard. Or maybe it should. Either way, be more consistent with these calls. Get rid of running into the kicker/punter. Forever. (I guess roughing should stay, but be real conservative calling it. And by conservative, I mean, only call it for picking up the punter and pile-driving him into the ground) Get rid of roughing the passer. Stop it. I'd rather see quarterbacks hit IR week after week instead of seeing games hinge completely on one call like that. Or at least make it a stiuation where the 15 yards is tacked onto the play (as in, if its a 3rd and 10 at the 30 yard line, its now 3rd and 10 at the 45 yard line)

(Pats back in slightly arrogant smugness) Over at ESPN Bears MB, I go under the name of doctazycrazy. In the last couple of days, I decided to make my "predictions" of the Bears/Saints game. Originally, I said the Bears would win 28-14. But after doing some research, and looking at the score of previous Conference Championship, in which a dome team on the road was involved, I averaged out the scores, and my second predictions was 27-10. http://boards.espn.go.com/boards/mb/mb? &tid=444610&tsn=6&rls=Chicago+Bears And I made that post, HOURS before the game even played. But alas, I am not the only Bears fan, who believe the Bears would hold the Saints to below 10 points. A guy by the screenname of noonthirtyjoe, "prediciting 31-10" and was closer them my predictions. Nonetheless, there was atleast TWO Bears fans who believe the Bears would hold the Saints to below 20 points. (Tooting my own horn) BTW, I know it was fortunate that it worked out the way I wanted it to, but....I played on the fact that dome teams on the road in the NFC Championships +rookie head coaches leading teams to the NFC Championship +Saints playing all but 1 game in the last 5 friggin' yrs, in cold weather like the game they just played +Drew Brees being 0-3 lifetime (before Sunday) in his pro career in weather below 40 degrees +SI's Dr. Z picking the Saints to win (we ALL know who Dr. Z is, right fellas? Equals, Bears beating the Saints down. I wish Dr. Z picked us to finish last in the NFL every year. Seriously. He's like some kind of reverse jinx.

Hhah, fo-sho, bro. How can there be pass interference if the guy doesn't TOUCH the other player? I don't care if he dives in front of him and doesn't turn around....he didn't TOUCH THE GUY. Either way. The calls didn't make the Patriots give up 32 points or whatever in the second half. Any defensive stand on any number of drives and they'd be in the Super Bowl. That is a clearly defined rule. You cannot just turn your back and stick your hands up. Thats face-guarding and its against the rules. Its not even a controversial call. Was not aware. Either way, its a dumb play by the DB, because even if he didn't touch the guy, he made no attempt to play the ball at all, and left himself exposed to the PI. Why is this a rule anyway? If he doesn't touch the receiver, how is he interfering with his ability to get the ball?

*pinch* Enjoy it, Bears fans. I love all you guys, and I love the whole Bears team. I love you Rex. I love you Thomas Jones/Cedric Benson. I love you Offensive Line, you scrappy veterans. I love you Bernard Berrian and Muhsin Muhammad (and you too Rashied!). You guys have made the plays when they needed to be made. When they needed to be made. I love you Defensive Line. You guys circled the wagons and have regrouped since losing your best player. Keep it up. I love you Linebackers. You guys are the best in the league. That means you too, Hillenmeyer. I love you Defensive Backs. I'll always have a love hate relationship with you guys, but you're constantly put into tough situations and have come out victorious more often than not. See how good our DB's can be when we have Tillman, Vasher and Ricky Manning all healthy? I love you Robbie Gold. I love you Devin Hester. Most of the time.

delete this thread and start a new one! I hear Modzilla is a Bears fan. You hear correctly. :D What movie is that disturbing avatar from?

Hhah, fo-sho, bro. How can there be pass interference if the guy doesn't TOUCH the other player? I don't care if he dives in front of him and doesn't turn around....he didn't TOUCH THE GUY. Either way. The calls didn't make the Patriots give up 32 points or whatever in the second half. Any defensive stand on any number of drives and they'd be in the Super Bowl.

Don't forget Alex Brown!

Putting 2002 up there is being a little dishonest to yourself. Everyone knows that was a complete waste of a draft. One starter and 2 back ups is a successful draft? Not quite. 2004 will probably go down as the best. 4 Solid starters? 3 pro-bowl apperances. One player who has just been money in the playoffs. (Check Berrian's stats in the Panthers game too) Hell yeah. (I guess I should say 2003 over it, but I expect it to be soooo good that we lose Lance Briggs because of it :lol: )

Did you make your sig? I'm digging it. Nah, but I didn't steal it either. :-$

He's a tool. Dur. Isn't everyone at ESPN? I do find it funny, though, how the biggest tool in Bristol (Berman) was the only one right about the game. Couldn't you call the computer (accuscore) a tool...literally? :lol:

That was a pretty heavy-handed apology. He's basically saying that although the Bears were better than he thought they were, they still aren't that good, and that he somehow was responsible for Lovie Smith's increased emotions or something. He's a tool. Dur.

I'm riding such a high right now I can't see the Bears losing the Super Bowl, and I honestly don't know how I'll feel if they do. I could be destroyed, or I could be content with how the season has gone. Either way I don't want to see how i'd react. :lol: I've come to terms with the Colts being our opponents, and honestly, you gotta play the best to be the best. We got our challenge here. If we are to be champions of the NFL, we gotta beat these guys.

NEW HAMPSHIRE HAS FALLEN! The Bears are now underdogs in every state except Illinois, where our stronghold stays ... er... strong!

:? They better if we want a shot in this game. The really really scary thing is that whatever Peyton needs, that is what he'll get. Down 18? He'll get you 21. Down by 3 at the end of the game? He'll get you 7. This Colts offensive is so absurdly powerful its almost unstoppable. We're gonna need to keep them off the field. Even so, I don't even know if we can keep them under 28 points. (I know I said the same thing about the Saints, but we got er, "luckY" with some key fumbles early, and they kept testing us with the passing game. I don't think that Dungy will be that unbalanced in his playcalling, nevertheless the defense came to the challenge) I would have much rather preferred the rematch with the Patriots. Oh well. It would be glorious to dash Peyton's only Superbowl hope.

I would think so. He did practiced at the end of the week. We can use every healthy body honestly. Except Dante Wesley. I'm not sure why he's even on the team. (FLAG FLAG FLAG FLAG)

I might be getting ahead of myself but: Is Mark Bradley ready for this game, y'think?

For all that he has learned from Deuce this year, he apparently hasn't learned Deuce's modesty. Honestly, I must be the only Bears fan that didn't care that he taunted the Bears. Obviously he was excited he just made a huge play and just pulled his team within 2. This is a competitive game, theres going to be some taunting. Oh well.

Honestly, whichever team looks worse in this game is the team I want to play in the Superbowl. The Colts are so explosive, they've come back from 18 to tie the game (twice in fact) I really don't want to see Peyton against our defense.

After sobering up, I've been coming to several realizations: 1) This is only the 8th winning Saints season I've seen in my lifetime. We got to the NFC Championship game for the first time ever. My grandfather, season ticket holder from 1967-1995, never got to see them get this far, so i guess I should be feel blessed. 2) I'm encouraged for the future. Drew Brees is 28, Reggie is 21, Deuce is 28, Colston is 23, Henderson is 24, Copper is 25. They'll be back and I'm just glad that I can look forward to expecting them to do well. 3) I'm glad we were beaten by a franchise with a long and proud history like the Bears, as opposed to being beaten by some nappy expansion team like the Panthers. That would have been like the Cubs losing to the Marlins. It just wouldn't be fair. 4) I'm an NFC person and I'm not a sore loser, so I'll be pulling for the Bears in the Super Bowl. That Reggie is gonna be special for you guys. I doubted him earlier in the season, but he truly could be the next Gale Sayers. You guys played hard, but honestly, there was no doubt which team was the better one at the end of the day. I'll look forward to playing you guys next year.

? He pretty much did what was asked for him. There were some deep throws that were a bit overthrown, but he also had to deal with some drops. Grossman had a B game, not B- not B+, but just right there.

Karma is a...well you know. I'm not predicting a Saints win (although I did pick them to win) but, being a Cubs fan, I wouldn't even think the possibility of these being sold if I was a Bears fan. I'm pretty sure they make both shirts before the outcome of the game is decided. A-DOY!

There is only one word that sums up Tom Waddle's little pre-game skits for his pre-game shows. Gay. Really really gay.

Less than 12 hours remain until zero hour. Hopefully I'll sleep through most of it. (And hopefully I wont have any nightmares, I've just seen 2 really messed up movies back-to-back) Plan on getting up, getting some breakfast/brunchy type food, maybe killing some time with NCAA 06, check the boards and watch the game. Have fun guys, Go bears.

I recently got into heated discussion with one of my friends over how much I hate the Colts. he was just baffled that i disliked a non-conference, non-divisional rival opponent. I just don't like the Colts. *shrug* I'd love to see Peyton Manning finish his career without a Super Bowl appearance. I don't even know how I can explain where it comes from.