Soul

And they ended up winning 94-86 :) Dallas next on Thursday. If we can find a way to win that game, I will be extremely pleased. If they can't beat Atlanta, they don't even deserve to wear Bulls unis. As for Dallas, obviously I always root for them but I see little chance of a win.

I thought he was being canceled. They've already removed him from the ESPN radio affiliate here in Madison...

Manning's actually one of the better QB's in the league under pressure due to his quick release and timing. Of course if you can consistently pressure him, it's going to be a much harder day for him, just like it will be for every QB. One thing that Manning has done a lot better this year though is throw on the run. Two great examples of this were the NYG and NE regular season games. Both teams had Manning running a decent amount (especially since the running attack hadn't fully gelled then) and Manning was making much better passes while on the move then ever before. I still do agree though on bringing pressure against Manning. At least you have a chance at flustering him then-sit back in the zone, and the Colts will play ball control up and down the field. Yeah they can't just sit back and let Peyton tear them to shreds. I think the only option is to dial up a few blitzes and hope he doesn't find too many open receivers streaking down the field. It's going to be rough, no question. I do fear the Colts just whooping up on us---I think every team that faces Indy fears that.

It'll definitely start out much more exciting than '06, no question there.

That explains much yeah guess the rule about personal attacks doesn't apply when bears fans make them LOL, yeah right. Touchy touchy.

I don't think that's true at all, especially on this board, where fans tend to be more informed than the average fan. From what I've seen, the Bears have the best defense in the league, but a below-average quarterback and an offensive line that isn't always good enough to keep pressure off him - which is when he really struggles. I think the Colts will win because I think they're a bad matchup for the Bears - they're the best passing team in the league, and that's where the Bears can be beat. I hope for the Bears' sake that they don't buy into the "let's just run the ball all game like Jacksonville did" bull. This isn't 1994-95 Nebraska versus Baylor, these are two really good NFL teams playing in the Super Bowl. I'd like for the Super Bowl to be competitive, especially since I won't be able to watch until the second half. Actually, New Orleans was the best passing team in the league, and it didn't help them much. I think the weather will be a little different in Florida than in Chicago though. Won't be turf though.

Will you be easy when the package price becomes $350+ per year? When sports bars refuse to pay the huge package price for baseball like they do Sunday Ticket, as I'm sure DirecTV seems to think sports bars will value a baseball package as much as football, the price for the everyday consumer will skyrocket. I hear what you're saying, but I find it unlikely sports bars will refuse to carry the baseball package. They'll lose business like crazy to those who do. It's the whole reason they're in business. They'll be ponying up.

We have two weeks to discuss this game. Some media articles and who they choose and what they think is going to be prime discussion. It's less a matter of caring what they think, than an observation of a trend in reporting. Well it seems to help the Bears as they seem to like this "I have a chip on my shoulder" thing. I'm concerned that the Bears will have no chance whatsoever if people start picking them. They play much better when disrespected. It's completely clear they listen to the media reports, and Lovie has admitted to using it as material to fire up the troops. I'm praying for widespread disrespect.

Hell, we had two posters on this message board who said similar things, one of which said the EXACT same thing that poster said. That said, I certainly hope that posters like that weren't allowed into the stadium. And it was addressed and handled in that thread was it not? I didn't see it. I'm not a mod but I definitely would have called it out. I admit I was moving between the room where my TV is and my computer room alot on Sunday.

That explains much

There always one insensitive prick who has to take it too far... I don't know anyone who felt that way, so this is just one idiot.

If the Cubs are reviewing his medical records it could take awhile. Ouch. I didn't think of that, and I should have... Now I'm starting to get spring training fever. Why do I do this to myself every year? 8-) I've had spring fever ever since the Tribune started running 8 pages daily about the Bears. I'm a Bear fan, but the over-hype on the Bears is driving me crazy. Why do people consider this overhype? They are going to the Super Bowl. That's what happens. I'm just amazed (and maybe even a little dismayed :)) because I figured with the Bears in the Super Bowl I wouldn't even think about baseball until Feb 5th. But, here I am, mulling over whether I want to plan a trip out to Arizona or not. LOL, I'm hopeless. The Trib may as well have my checking account routing number.

That's cool. I figured there would be a celebration of what the Saints have accomplished. They still made a lot of people happy this year.

Clearly the Bears must establish the run in this game to have a legitimate shot.

I was at training camp a few years back and some borderline WR(crap I can't remember his name) was screwing up in WR drills, and the WR Coach Darly Drake just went off on the guy big time. I mean he really reamed his arse, I was standing like 20 feet away. It was pretty funny to be honest...Edell Shepherd...I think thats who it was. Drake's a firebrand. I've seen him lay into people too---he's also quick to call out good performances. I'm of the belief he's done a good job with talent that wasn't very polished going into the season. The Bears do get alot of rah-rah from certain players as well, such as Kreutz, Mike Brown, Tillman...

Let's stop with the Bush thing. It really wasn't all that bad, and he did apologize for it right after. Urlacher didn't even seem to really care (but then again, he never seems to care about much else than the game). It was Ogun who came out and chastized Bush, but he hadn't heard about the apology yet. I think it's a non-issue. As is Hester's nearly identical taunt.

If the Cubs are reviewing his medical records it could take awhile. Ouch. I didn't think of that, and I should have... Now I'm starting to get spring training fever. Why do I do this to myself every year? 8-)

I don't have a problem with it. I do have a problem with this win 3 drop 2 mentality that seems to have invaded the Bulls lately though. We're in the mid-season doldrums now.

Lovie's definitely on top of it when it comes to player performance and discipline. He grades every player's performance on an objective scale every week and has shown a willingness to replace starters who don't grade out. Obviously he gave Rex more rope than most, but others such as Mike Green and Chris Harris found their starting jobs on the chopping block pretty quick once there was a better option. People will point to Benson/TJ as an example of Lovie just sticking with the veteran, but to be honest there was nothing in TJ's performance that indicated he wasn't getting the job done. And man, did his faith in TJ pay off big time once the playoffs started. Wow.

Anything but the black-on-black, guaranteed-you'll-play-bad, nightmare unis

LOL, they're such wimps. Lovie's going nowhere. Bears are about to make him a very rich man, and he loves it in Chicago.

Well, he IS a Packers fan :wink: But seriously, he's under house arrest. If he isn't granted permission to go to Miami with the team, people shouldn't be in an uproar about it. Really? I think if Tank is held back in Chicago it blows the doors off every news outlet in the city. If he's under house arrest, doesnt he still have the right to make a living? Who's your backup DT? Idonije? You could do a whole hell of a lot worse than that. Of course the media will make a big deal out of it, but I don't think it would really hinder the outcome of the game. Losing Tank would be a huge loss. With Harris out, Tank is the only DT we have who has a shot to put pressure on the QB. Tank was missed in the 2 games he was out for at the end of the season. Even if Tank is under house arrest, doesnt he still have the right to make a living? To be honest, if I was Tank I would seriously weigh the punishment of skipping out with the once-in-a-lifetime opportunity if it comes down to that. Seriously, what would the punishment be? You would be arrested upon return, whereby court hearings would ensue and you would probably spend a couple months in jail after all is said and done. Worth playing in the Super Bowl? I think so. Ultimately I think that's why he won't be kept back in Chicago by the courts. Illinois wouldn't have the ability to get him back in time for the Super Bowl, and the punishment wouldn't likely outweigh the benefit anyway. They'll just let him go.

Wow, I certainly hope that's not the case. Norv is a trainwreck as a head coach. He's 58-82 in 9 seasons. I was thinking Jones would go with a hot, young HC he can use to bring fresh ideas to the club while still allowing himself to have a hand in the strategic on-field decisions----that's what Jerry has always wanted anyway. To be honest, I was baffled at the Parcells hire from the beginning; it was oil and water, doomed to failure.

LOL. Ahh, the Packer fan who will remember all the negative Bear details and whip them out to be a thorn in Bear fans' side. :lol: Yes, that's what I'm here for :wink: I just don't think people should be too upset about it. The Bears won the game. Who cares what Reggie did? The final score is all that matters. And personally, I don't care about taunting. I took a lot of heat from saying this to fellow Packer fans in 04, but I didn't mind Randy Moss mooning the fans at Lambeau. Maybe the defense should've actually tried to stop him and that wouldn't have happened. That's just my whole take on the situation. Yeah, I didn't mind it too much either. The only reason I think it was ill-advised was because it's never a good idea to give your opponents ammunition. Not that the Bears should need motivation----it is after all the biggest game of their lives. I noticed Peyton Manning last night in his press conference: "The Bears have a great team.....we're excited for the challenge....we've been watching the Bears in the NFC and have been impressed......." yada yada. That's the smart play: kill 'em with praise. I expect the Bears to do the same.

*pokes head in* Deal done yet? What's the holdup Cliff, you know you're coming here :wink: