jersey cubs fan

Bolland is untradable because he has a sizeable contract and nobody is going to give the Hawks something for him.

The refs were on edge because of the terrible field conditions. I didn't think it was any worse than every other NFL games which features missed helment to helmet hits, phantom holding and pass interference calls and everything else.

As soon as they lose a playoff game those same critics will just say the same thing.

Don Banks: Between last week against N.E. and shaky start tonight, methinks J. Cutler isn't too comfortable playing in the cold. Bad news for Bears. about 3 hours ago via web

Don Banks just moved Bears down two slots in his power rankings

when does the storybook start?

That game will mean something even if Chicago wins. GB would conceivably still be fighting for a WC spot and Chicago should be fighting for a first round bye. And it could be a precursor to a first round rematch with the Packers.

Who freaking cares what Packers fans are thinking? It's a Vikings game in Minnesota, the storybook atmosphere just isn't there. It's already been pointed out in this thread at how ridiculous and/or amusing it is that the Packers have to cheer for their jilted lover tonight. I don't know how that's not worthy of some sort of storyline. Of course it's worthy of a storyline. What I'm not buying is the supposed storybook atmosphere. Favre coming out of retirement to face the Bears with the Packers on the last week of the year would be a crazy storybook atmosphere. But he's thinking about playing in a meaningless game for the Vikings, a couple weeks before he's gone for good. It's really not that big of a deal.

Who freaking cares what Packers fans are thinking? It's a Vikings game in Minnesota, the storybook atmosphere just isn't there.

It's not like that crowd is insanely in love with Favre. they would be in this setting I still wouldn't call it anything like storybook. It's a sub .500 team going nowhere with a hired gun QB who hasn't played well all year and is banged up.

It's not like that crowd is insanely in love with Favre.

Probably because they've feasted on the NFC West.

Wait. You are suggesting that Tyler Colvin should start ~75% of the games in right field with Fukudome in center and Byrd should only face lefties?

This makes no sense to me. If they declare for the draft and hire representation then there's a lockout and new agreement with changes to rookie wages before the draft, aren't they also subject to the new wage scale? It's possible that the new wage scale could go into effect for the 2012 draftees and not 2011. But most likely it's just an agent acting in his own self interest. Same with coaches telling people to stay.

So before people expressed concern about player safety you didn't want to win the game? You are a strange person.

Tennessee is still alive? That's awesome. I'll be rooting for that scenario just for kicks. The mediocrity of the AFC South has been overshadowed by the two western divisions.

What the hell are you talking about?

Who is probably going to be even worse in those conditions. It is probably easier to be a quick and shifty aggressor in those conditions rather than a quick and shifty pursuer. Yeah, but he/they suck. Hopefully.

Who is probably going to be even worse in those conditions. It is probably easier to be a quick and shifty aggressor in those conditions rather than a quick and shifty pursuer.

He's being fired but will coach in the bowl game, apparently. Isn't Wanny doing the same in Pittsburgh?

Unless they make a major leap up in the standings they absolutely should keep building for the future by the time the trading deadline arrives. Two wins are much less meaningful than 40% of a disappointing season. They are only 2 points ahead of 2 teams with 4 games in hand each. The playoffs remain very much in doubt. Yes but based on the fact that we won the Stanley Cup last year with a majority of the "key" players returning, it's more likely we play much better the rest of the year than how we have. Last year from January 9th to March 30th, the Hawks posted a 15-12-4 record, and a goal differential of -7. And yet somehow they put it together and started their playoff run to the Stanley Cup 2 weeks after that stretch ended. This year the Hawks are 18-14-3 and have a goal differential of +8, which is 5th best in the conference (albeit in 3-4 more games). No doubt we've played [expletive], but its a long season. Do I think the Hawks are going to go 37-10-4 the rest of the year, which is what the Hawks did around that mediocre stretch last year? Probably not, but I think they will play better at some point this year and will position themselves to be somewhere in the 4-7 range when the season is over. As we know the playoffs are a semi-crapshoot, so just getting in and being considered dangerous is fine by me. As it stands, the only team that I'd be less than certain we could beat is Detroit. As I've made clear, if they straighten things out and play great between now and the deadline, keep it status quo. But there is no reason why trading some of the key pieces can't be on the table if they continue on this uninspiring path. You can't keep expanding the untradable core. With Toews, Kane, Hossa, Campbell, Keith, Hjarmalsson and Bolland locked up longterm and unlikely to be going anywhere, names like Seabrook and Sharp can and should be up for debate.

That is terrible.

I don't think the Vikings are getting screwed at all. But how in the hell do the weather conditions favor the indoor team vs. an outdoor cold weather team? I'll take Adrian Peterson outdoors and in snowy conditions versus a Tampa 2 defense. The crappy team with a screwed up QB situation benefits from conditions that tend to even up talent and hinder passing anyway.

He's not right. The fact that it can occur on other fields doesn't change the fact that it can occur more easily on concrete. It is ridiculously stupid to try and claim otherwise.

There's no change in the burden on any pitcher. He's going to be counted on to make all his starts and pitch well, exactly like he was before the trade.