Soul

I want no more injuries more than I want a win Sunday. I know Bear/Pack rivalry and all that----I'll take a healthy squad for playoffs more than a sweep of the Pack. That said, 2 quarters of starters playing should be fine. Put Griese in for the 3rd & 4th quarters, and get our backups some more play time.

Crap. Looks like we have GOT to tie things up this year. Next year will be a BITCH. 10-6 is something to shoot for. Anything better and i'll feel reaaaaaaaal positive about the postseason. Hopefully our helpless division rivals wont make any huge strides and we'll still be able to take the division down easy. Why are you worried? Everyone's assuming next year we'll be bad for some reason. Looking at those teams, there's only one that I could see the Bears having nearly no shot to beat---SD. The rest? Flawed teams just like all the rest, who the Bears should have a decent shot at. We could easily go 11-5, 12-4 on that schedule. We'll still be a team that has been together for longer than these other guys. One more year with most of our players in the same system = big dividends. Just like this year. I would tend to agree with that. While the Bears schedule has been incredibly easy this year (with yesterday's action, the Bears schedule holds a total of 3 opponents with winning records)-that doesn't mean however that making the schedule harder will automatically make a 13 or 14 win team a 9 win team. The Bears are still a very good team, and Grossman with another year under his belt should make the Bears 11 or 12 game winners next year at least. All those receivers back together for another year. Cedric Benson now getting the bulk of the carries. Grossman's continued maturation. That equals top 10 offense, easily. The defense might slip a bit, but even if they do lose Briggs it's not going to fall out of the top 10. This is a Super Bowl contender next year too. The only thing that could stop that is the injury bug. Add to all of this the fact that Angelo is the single best GM in the league at finding gold in the mid rounds. We should be enjoying another Bear playoff run this time next year. Probably not 14-2 or 13-3.....but what does that matter?

Ahhhhh... Another package of dumb. How did they know? Edit: Repost! What a bunch of idiots. If they can't even show the competence to get the real story for the NFL team in the 2nd largest NFL market, then they shouldn't be allowed to write about the Bears. I hate ESPN. At least Clayton came on SportsCenter this morning and set the record straight (for the most part).

Crap. Looks like we have GOT to tie things up this year. Next year will be a BITCH. 10-6 is something to shoot for. Anything better and i'll feel reaaaaaaaal positive about the postseason. Hopefully our helpless division rivals wont make any huge strides and we'll still be able to take the division down easy. Why are you worried? Everyone's assuming next year we'll be bad for some reason. Looking at those teams, there's only one that I could see the Bears having nearly no shot to beat---SD. The rest? Flawed teams just like all the rest, who the Bears should have a decent shot at. We could easily go 11-5, 12-4 on that schedule. We'll still be a team that has been together for longer than these other guys. One more year with most of our players in the same system = big dividends. Just like this year.

Gordon sucks when he starts, so I guess Sef would be the only option. I'm not sure a rook is ready for a starting job, hence Duhon starts. It appears to be working anyway, so why mess with it. As Stacey King said last night on the telecast, Duhon is a guy coaches like for his on court presence, etc. His stats don't look great, but he calms the team down when he's on the court, distributes the ball, etc. Chris Duhon! What a player! What a man! I do like Duhon. He's a great role player. The problems I have are that starting 2 undersized guards can create problems on D. Also, Duhon puzzles me sometimes with his shots. He always passes up open shots. It's better than jacking shots that aren't there, but it also creates problems with the offense. Sefolosha can actually be a very solid player, maybe even a star. And he seems pretty mature to me. Long season yet, let Skiles season Sef a little more. Maybe by the playoffs we'll have a 2nd option to use that opposing teams aren't expecting.

Why not just jump off the bandwagon right now? Why wait? Has the Bears D regressed yep, but the NFC sucks. And I don't see the Aints or Cowgirls coming into Soldier Field and getting a victory. You are a funny guy, you were saying the one and done last week You forget where you're posting? Opinions can change so fast on this site it makes your head spin. I'm sure I'm just as guilty when I was still posting regularly. I've made it no secret I'm a little leary of our playoff chances, but I would have to agree that drawing any conclusions from today's game is out of whack. I mean come on. Griese put in just for the exercise in a 1-point game? Tillman held out when he clearly could have played-----same for Todd Johnson, and Tank will be in there. They're resting guys, going vanilla------having Hester call fair catches even when there's nobody within 10 yards. This was little more than a preseason matchup. We beat these guys with one arm tied behind our backs.

I seem to remember a certain white flag trade which had everyone scratching their heads, but turned out alright. I also remember a few moves such as the Pod move, Uribe, and Contreras, which everyone also raised an eyebrow over at the time. Yet it yielded a WS champ. Williams knows exactly what he's doing.

I'm a smidgeon away from scoring 2 club seat tix to the Bears divisional playoff game......at face value. I just thought you should all be aware. Feel free to alert the media if you get a little extra time today 8-)

Gordon sucks when he starts, so I guess Sef would be the only option. I'm not sure a rook is ready for a starting job, hence Duhon starts. It appears to be working anyway, so why mess with it.

They don't. I vote the title of this thread should be changed. There's no denial of anything, only a no comment on the contract talks. Floyd is still clearly in serious talks with the Cubs.

There must be a little demon who sits on his shoulder or something. He's fragile as the finest crystal. I've never seen anything like it. Well, OK, outside of Prior & Wood I've never seen anything like it.

If that's Favre's last home game then he went out with a fizzle. Terrible, terrible football game. Nearly unwatchable. NFL Network's broadcast is the worst I've ever seen. It's worse than the lowest-grade CBS or FOX team. You know, the team they send to cover those Cardinals/49ers barnburners. And NFL network isn't even offering a simulcast to the home market. What a joke. I actually felt sorry for Packer fans last night, especially when Favre waved at the crowd at the end. To miss that moment after all these years because of the NFL Network? What a disgrace.

He says he'll play 'em, but I hope he rests anyone who has even the slightest injury. Honestly, who cares about this game? People are being silly----rest the players. If we want to stay warmed up for the playoffs then fine, play more starters against Green Bay.

You don't see a difference between Murton fighting for time with Ward, and fighting for time with Ward and Floyd. I do, but it's because Ward isn't up to par for that kind of situation, not Floyd or Murt. I thought this thread was about complaining that we were acquiring Floyd. Sounds like the real beef should be with Ward. I thought the thread was about the Cubs interest in Floyd and the pros and cons that go along with it. The beef is with splitting up Murton's potential 700 PA of solid production among 3 guys, who, when combined, might be no better than Murton alone. The negative to that is you have a need for help in other spots, and 3 guys who aren't going to play any other position. Plus, you are hurting Murton's value by putting the platoon player stigma on him, or, by failing to let him develop as a full-time player. I don't see why anyone would think a healthy Floyd would suck. From what I see, a healthy Floyd has historically been a productive Floyd. Why would that suddenly change? As for a 3-man situation, I agree that would be stupid. I don't see where Piniella or anyone else has said they plan to 3-man ANY position, including LF. If they are, then no argument here.....dumb. As for taking away Murt's precious at bats.....he's 24, with barely a year's experience under his belt. No danger of stunting his growth. None whatsoever.

Well known, solid CF's aren't in short supply. They're in NO supply.

You don't see a difference between Murton fighting for time with Ward, and fighting for time with Ward and Floyd. I do, but it's because Ward isn't up to par for that kind of situation, not Floyd or Murt. I thought this thread was about complaining that we were acquiring Floyd. Sounds like the real beef should be with Ward.

It's not as simple as picking a number and saying good or bad. I think if Murton is only getting 300 PA, that's really bad, for anybody who wants Murton to be the regular LF soon. But if he's platooned with somebody who puts up a 900+ OPS in the other 400 LF PA, then it's not bad for the Cubs. It's about a balance. Then I don't see what we're arguing. Floyd's last healthy season yielded a .863 OPS---close to your .900 bar. He hit 34 HR and had 98 RBIs in 2005. That's a decent injection of power. If he's not healthy, then Murt plays anyway. If we want to throw Ward into the mix, then that's fine----I don't like that. But it's because WARD can't hold up the other end of the bargain, not Murt or Floyd. A Murt/Floyd platoon just doesn't sound all that bad to me. Sure, it doesn't address CF, but I didn't think that's what we were talking about.

Not sure how you can say that. Even if Floyd plays a lot and breaks down, that still leaves Ward in the mix for some playing time in LF. If Lee is fully healthy, he'll play 155+ games. If Soriano stays healthy, he'll play 155+ games. That leaves LF as Ward's only position to get some playing time. With such a RH dominant hitting attack, I can definitely see Ward and Floyd gobbling up a huge percentage of the at bats Murton should get. I like Floyd. I really wanted him in a trade for Sosa. However, the wrong guy is going to get pine time due to Floyd's presence. I don't see how that's the same issue. Even if Floyd is not acquired, Ward's still there and Lee/Soriano will still get their games. That will still leave Murton vulnerable, in your scenario. But it's got little to do with Floyd. Personally I don't think Lee is going to be playing 155+ games. I think they're going to try and rest him some early in the season, and give Ward some starts at 1st. Anyway, nobody mentioned a 3-way "platoon" (or whatever it would be called) between Murt-Floyd-Ward, they just talked about Floyd. If Ward has been acquired to spell Murton, then the damage is done and we should be more worried about the fact that Ward's numbers when healthy don't figure to be better than Murt's----possibly worse.

Preds are one of the best teams in the league. I was actually heartened to see that the Hawks really played with those guys----even dominated the play for much of the game. Moral victories? No. But I think this team is figuring out they don't need to fear anyone when they take the ice.

Yes, he's a junior and is coming soon to an Oakland Raiders or Tampa Bay Buccaneers near you. Thanks. I assume that Tampa would get him and the Raiders would want a QB or is Simms done for his career? Simms is probably done in Tampa, but I doubt they pick until #3. If the Lions lose their last two, they have the #1 pick and likely go with Brady Quinn. There's not another really good quarterback on the board, so the next two picks are probably Joe Thomas (T, Wisconsin) and Johnson. Both Tampa and Oakland could use OL and WR help, so I doubt those guys get past #3. Didn't Millen just shell out a bunch of cash for 2 QBs this offseason? Here he goes again, picking up a ton at one position and forgetting about the rest. The Lions need so much more than just a QB. I'd try to assemble an actual, you know, football team first---lest the "Great QB" I draft wind up just like Joey.

LOL. Teachers on full tenure are jealous of the job security of former football players turned color commentators 8-)

He's a whimp! Get on the bump and pitch! :wink: I've got a feeling he's going to this year. I just feel good about both Rich Hill & Marky Mark. Hill's ready to show what he can really do. Prior's got the motivation of knowing he's on the cusp of losing all that he wanted to achieve in this league.

In my non-stat supported mindset, I've got the Cubs hovering somewhere from 5 over to 5 under .500 It's too early for me to start pushing my opinion, though. Too much can happen. I'll need to see who actually reports to ST healthy and ready to go, and who didn't bother to prepare for the season (I wish I didn't have to say that, but with this club it's a factor).

Thanks. I didn't click the link :oops:

Give me 2004 Loretta any day. 2006 Loretta? Less so.