UMFan83

Well Jay and Caleb have both been injured enough to miss games already this season, and we've had a game where we needed our 3rd QB. Seems like a 3rd QB is probably the smart idea. Yeah fine. It just doesn't have to be a QB that's brought in to play over Hanie.

I agree on the good start. I do want to see us improve on SOG allowed per game though. I think we lead the league with ~25 SOG per game last year. This year in admittedly low sample size we've averaged 34 per game. This involves a lot of assumptions, but since Turco and Niemi had the same save% last year, we're looking at a 60 goal increase this year, or about 0.7 goals a game. I realize Huet played almost half the season at a lesser save%, but whatever, you get the picture.

Or we can just go with Hanie. We had to have kept him on the roster for the last 3 seasons for a reason. I don't see the need to freak out for a veteran QB to avoid playing Hanie without at least giving him at least 1 shot.

Ps not that it will likely matter but the jets CB should have just fallen on the field and the game would be over already.

Hahahahaha you lose Favre!

Based on what I've heard, it's very doubtful that the cameras would be able to see what it says.

It's the same ridiculous dancing across the field every TD. No other QB in the history of the NFL celebrates their TDs even half as emphatically as him. Just annoys the hell out of me. And sure he's allowed to celebrate his 500th TD. But his 500th TD celebration looked no different than his 274th or his 119th.

18 [expletive] years of this. Every Sunday that douchebag has to appear all over my TV. Not a single week without him. And you wonder why Deadspin worked so hard to bring him down.

What an over the top graphic to 'celebrate' his 500th TD pass. I hate that over the top douchebag. He's celebrated all 500 TD passes the same way - with an over the top celebrating and an announcer commenting on how much fun he is having. Seriously is it necessary to jump into the arms of your WR after you throw a TD pass to put your team down by 5?

Any guesses on how Hammer will be punished? The postgame show on WGN seemed to think he is due for a multiple game suspension.

Very possible. He's done it before. Hawks first win in Buffalo since 2001.

The NFL hates Rodgers for not being Brett Favre. It's going to be awesome watching Flynn play QB next week (although I hope they do. I'd rather Rodgers sit out if he has a concussion.) Lol this MIGHT be the first time in 18 years that you have to start a game with a backup qb and packers fans are acting like the universe is conspiring against them. Not necessarily you but I've heard from a lot of Packers fans today.

Awful pp just a minute ago.

Speaking of Detroit, Calvin Johnson spent the day getting tests for his shoulder, something the Lions coach is "very concerned" about. And has anyone seen GBs upcoming schedule? This is probably their hard part of the season: Week 6: Miami Dolphins Week 7: Minnesota Vikings Week 8: at New York Jets Week 9: Dallas Cowboys Week 10: Bye Week 11: at Minnesota Vikings Week 12: at Atlanta Falcons If they come out of that better than 3-3 with the injury issues they are having that will be a success. With the Bears looking at an opportunity to start 6-2 or 7-1 the pieces are in place to build a divisional lead. That said things change quickly in the NFL and nothing is guaranteed.

Detroit is good, but they are in my opinion still one of the 3 worst teams left on our schedule. Due to the fact that we overwhelmed them statistically in our one game, and the fact that we play so well at Ford Field, I think it's a game we should win. That said, if I was playing Devil's advocate, I could easly explain the Bears statistical dominance because they had to throw Shaun Hill in there without much time to mesh. When Stafford was in the game it was much more even. When Hill got in there, they really dumbed down the offense and went completely stagnant until the Bears finally scored and they had to air it out. Since that game Hill has played pretty well. Stafford should be back by the time we face them again. Before sneakypower sees this since he already hates me for my lack of respect for Motown, trust me I'm not ignoring the Lions performance. I just don't think they will be a challenge if we are playing as well as we should. They are definitely much improved over last year and are finally putting some great pieces together. That defense especially is improved over the previous 2 years, which were pretty much the worst defenses I've ever seen.

http://espn.go.com/nhl/powerrankings Hawks drop from 4th to 22nd on ESPN's power rankings for some reason.

From an ESPN.com chat today regarding Briggs:

I've heard that it's harder for a west coast team to head east for a game than vice versa. Part of the explaination is that for a West Coast team to play a noon game in the east, that's 9AM Pacific time. Throws them out of rhythm. If that is a legit issue though, it makes the Cubs/Day games issue seem more legit.

Yeah a lot of that was partially in jest, with things made up where I couldnt make a good connection to the World Series champ. The only ones that really apply are 2005, 2006 and sorta 2009. 2005 and 2006 for sure because I think there were quotes or speculation that Hendry was trying to emulate the Red and White Sox those years after they won it all.

I wouldn't think of Seattle or Detroit as locks. Again, like I said....If they aren't locks for us, we're in a world of trouble. No doubt Detroit and Seattle are decent teams, but we *should* beat them if we want to make the playoffs. They are the 3 easiest games remaining on our schedule. Detroit we dominated in a game already everywhere but the scoreboard, an Seattle on the road has been awful, losing their 2 road games by a combined score of 51-17 (and they played Denver and St. Louis, not exactly the 98 Broncos and 99 Rams). We should beat all 3 of those teams. Maybe lock was a bad word. I meant it as "if we are a playoff caliber team, these games should be locks for us."

this site: http://www.sportsclubstats.com/NFL/NFC/North/Bears.html says that if we can finish the year 6-5, to end with a 10-6 record, we have a 97% chance at making the playoffs. If we finish 56, to end with a 9-7 record, we are looking at a 65% chance. So how likely are 6 more wins? Well, let's assume the following 3 games are locks. If they aren't we're in a world of trouble anyways: 1. Seattle 2. Buffalo 3. Detroit So that leaves us with needing to go 3-5 vs. these teams: Washington Green Bay Minnesota Minnesota New York Jets New England Miami Philadelphia I can definitely see us being good enough to win 3 of those games. I count 3 of them as being moderately difficult (Washington, Miami, Philadelphia), and the other 5 being challenging. Win 2 of the 3 moderately difficult and just one of the 5 challenging ones, and we're good.

That's exactly what he's been like as a Hawk. Infuriatingly inconsistent.

Was that 2004 or 2005? 2005 - post end of year meltdown, boombox, walkout, corked bat, fighting with broadcast team, etc. 2005 we looked for good character guys because of how 2004 ended and because the "idiot" Red Sox won the world series taking body shots off each other. 2006 after the White Sox won the World Series with speed and small ball, Hendry somehow decided that he needed to win with speed and small ball as well. So Pierre, Fast Freddie Bynum, Angel Pagan, Ronny Cedeno, Jerry Hairston, Tony Womack, and Neifi Perez all had roles on the team. 2007 after the Cardinals won the world series with gritty fielders like David Eckstein, Yadi Molina, Aaron Miles, Taguchi and Rolen, Hendry made the statement that he decided he "likes guys that can catch the ball". Thus guys like Jock Jones, Caesar Izturis, Koyie Hill, Ryan Theriot, Mark DeRosa found roles on the team. At some point here, Lou bitched out Hendry for being a reactionary bitch and the theme seemed to die down a bit as Lou was allowed to have his own input in the process. However, after the Red Sox won the WS in 2007 with multiple Japanese players playing a role, he went out and got Fukudome, and after the 2008 Phillies won the World Series employing several key lefty hitters, Hendry did start a mini-obsession with acquiring lefty and switch hitting bats in order to have a balanced lineup. Unfortunately, in order to get more balanced, we had to downgrade in several positions.

As a Titans fan, how do you feel about Vince Young as a whole? I don't know what to think of him. His passing numbers are mediocre for the most part, and doesn't seem to be a much of a running presence as I thought he would, yet when he plays the team wins. Is this in spite of him or does he play a big role in the Titans offensive success?

You state injuries as an issue that might keep the Packers from the playoffs yet despite this excuse you want McCarthy canned if he can't lead you to the playoffs?