jersey cubs fan

Is it 1996? How hard is it to not make this thing look horrible?

You don't get points one-at-a-time when you win shootouts. You get 2. They've gotten 6 points from OT wins, another 8 from SO wins, and 7 points from OTLs. They've outscored their opponents by just 17 goals. I don't really get that they've been wildly inconsistent as much as they just haven't been very good. They had a nice stretch in the middle of November, but that's about it as far as impressive success. Their longest win streak is 5, and that started with 3 OT/SO wins and was against some pretty weak competition. They've lost 3 games in a row on 3 different occasions already. They aren't a bad team by any stretch, but they just aren't impressive. It's disappointing to me that after all the turnover they haven't been able to take a step forward yet. To date they appear to be a pretty clear tier below the elite teams in the league like Boston, Detroit and even the Rangers. And it's not like they've dealt with the issues that a team like Pittsburgh has had to deal with, missing MVP caliber players for extended periods of time.

He signed a 5/25m extension with Carolina. It was a stupid move by the Bears. It's nice that they have an extra 3rd, but if they go out and spend more in free agency or spend a first half of the draft pick on one, it'll be a real shame. Sure, I would like it to be a higher priority than the negative priority it was last season. But there are far bigger needs that would have a more substantial impact on Cutler and the offense than getting a tight end.

those offenses have been in overdrive for quite some time.

And yet those offenses were producing outstanding passing numbers long before either player showed up. Those TE didn't make themselves. Right so they are so dominant athletically that they pretty much force their hall of fame QBs to get them the ball. The Patriots offense was was pretty good but it only went into hyper drive when they got uber freaks like Moss and Gronkowski. That is completely wrong.

And yet those offenses were producing outstanding passing numbers long before either player showed up. Those TE didn't make themselves.

Me either. Even Jermichael Finley. While having a Jimmy Graham or Rob Grontkowski would be very nice, it's not at all necessary. What people fail to mention about these great TEs is that they play along side 1000 yard WRs. How many TEs are putting up huge numbers with WRs like the Bears who can't put up 600 yards at any spot? Plus, I think the matchup issues are overrated also. Take any 6'3-6'5" TE and most LBs won't be able to cover them, if for nothing else but simply the fact that LBs can't cover all that well for the most part. And DBs won't be able to cover them, because none of them have that type of size. There's no reason Kellen Davis couldn't be a big factor in the offense if he was used properly. That being said, I would completely expect the Bears to draft a TE early and/or re-sign Davis because of the unnecessary emphasis everyone has put on the TE position. I'm on board with resigning Davis and/or taking one in the middle rounds, maybe. But as you say, not only do the most productive TEs play alongside productive WR, they are largely really good TE because they play with really good QBs. If the QB/OC choose to feature a TE, they can make a lot of them look a hell of a lot better than they are. Dallas Clark was a nice player in his prime, but take him off of Indy and his career would look nothing like it turned out to be. I would not go as far as saying they are a luxury, but you are right, they aren't necessary.

I don't see how this team's plight isn't worrisome. They had a young core that many people thought could be elite for years, and all but Toews have regressed. The team took a couple (expected) steps back after winning the cup, and after the GM made a massive overhaul, they have yet to taken a step forward. When they were racking up points earlier this season they weren't playing particularly well. They look to me, at least, to need an impact acquisition on defense to really have a good chance this year. Not making the playoffs would be unacceptable at this point, but their play has still been worrisome for a good year and a half. Lat year, it seemed like they had no sense of urgency through the first half of the season, then they had to go max effort just to make the playoffs. This year they can afford to coast a little and save their best effort for when it counts. This team seems to rise and fall to the level of the competition. With the exception of that last game against the preds, they've played the good teams close pretty much all year. It's a long season, can't expect game 7 effort every night. 15 games from now, that changes. Right now they're fine. I'm not talking about game 7 effort, I'm talking about not looking mediocre for months at a time, which is what they've looked like to me. They've been lucky to win several games in OT and even rack up points in OTL. They've barely squeeked by and I think in a lot of ways they are lucky to be in the thick of things. I think pretty much everybody they acquired this past offseason has been close to worthless, except maybe Mayers. They look so much slower than they did when they were rolling in 2010. It's not about a couple game streak, I don't think they've looked good at all this year.

I really don't want to see this team throwing big resources at the tight end position.

I don't see how this team's plight isn't worrisome. They had a young core that many people thought could be elite for years, and all but Toews have regressed. The team took a couple (expected) steps back after winning the cup, and after the GM made a massive overhaul, they have yet to taken a step forward. When they were racking up points earlier this season they weren't playing particularly well. They look to me, at least, to need an impact acquisition on defense to really have a good chance this year. Not making the playoffs would be unacceptable at this point, but their play has still been worrisome for a good year and a half.

To Timmy's post? No the opposite one. This is hilarious. I think its a Toffee fan pulling some sort of protest. http://deadspin.com/5881025/a-madman-handcuffed-himself-to-the-goal-during-the-everton+manchester-city-match I like how some players are in there trying to talk sense into the guy or something not sure what they thought they were going to do.

I'm generally in favor of getting the kids acclimated to the big leagues, but since they are already punting this season I think you might as well fill out your bullpen with some veteran help instead of wasting cheap years for bullpen roles. It's not like the Cubs are loaded with arms that need to pitch in the bigs today. Plus, the veterans can be turned around in trade in July if all goes well. As long as you stay away from big money or multiple years, there's nothing wrong with guys like this.

Rutgers is keeping their interim head coach. He was their tight ends, offensive line and assistant head coach. Kyle Flood.

Huh What do you mean by huh? Are you asking why would the Cubs have interest in another middle reliever? My guess, and hope, is that the Cubs view that type of player as easy to acquire trade bait for July. I'd hate to see them go out and sign middle relievers to 3-year deals, but there's nothing wrong with spending a million here or there for a guy you might be able to turn into a B prospects in July.

I don't really get why so much of the conversation with regards to Emery is about his ability and willingness to fire Lovie Smith. It's as if people just don't pay attention to how the NFL works. There is no blueprint for how winning teams operate, other than employing reall good QBs. There is nothing wrong with the way the Bears are structured. There is nothing wrong with keeping Lovie around this year and hiring a new GM who is going to work with Lovie for a year. This is not that awkward. The question is whether Emery is just a glorified scout who can only speak in cliches and won't be able to carry out the management level game plan he needs to implement. The Bears can win with Lovie. The Bears have won with Lovie. The Bears can win with the core group they have. My main concern is that Emery will implement a draft only approach to rebuilding this team, something that probably won't sit well with Cutler and runs the risk of forcing this team into a renewed search for that franchise QB that's already here. If Emery brings in some offensive talent via free agency and is a solid drafter, then all he has to do is make sure Cutler is happy enough to stay on board and this team will win. It's not about forcing Lovie out, even though I'd be perfectly happy with that idea if they bring in some offensive minded coach who can get the most out of Jay.

Another in a long line of Tampa based management consultants?

We won the WS of Mark DeRosa trades though And all you guys were too busy complaining to enjoy that title.

You can't evaluate an executive by ticking off good and bad moves he made. He was in charge for a decade and a major part of the organization for a decade before that, and they lost far too many games during that era. That's all that needs to be said.

Wait, he's probably the best hitter in his class at school but you are worried about his ability to make the junior high team?

those aren't spring training pics

One might think that, but most everybody I've met in ny/nj area remember it fondly. Nobody thinks of it like the ravens win. It was first memorable sb for anybody under 40

Theo's don't exist in the nfl. There was no top notch candidate they didn't have a chance with.

I don't even know what this means. We knew the lovie status coming in. He's the gm, the real gm.

say pretty again

The only two things I really take away from this is that the Bears will be even more obsessed with character guys in the draft and are even less likely to show up on Hard Knocks.