Soul

Have any of you heard that guy who comes on Murph every week? I think he's from Baseball InfoSolutions, or something like that. Anyway, he thinks Hill is going to blow up this year. Apparently James does too. That does it. Hill will officially rock this season. Can there be any doubt?

Rex leading now 37% to 36% with only 2 hours to go!! Where can we scare up a few more votes? 8-)

What does that even mean? They are a football team that has been in cruise control because of how thoroughly they dominated the conference this year. They haven't played at their peak in every game, but they've won 3 straight, and only 2 teams have won more consecutive games. They have the largest PF-PA differential in the league. They've beaten playoff contenders at home and on the road, have come from behind, blown teams out and everything in between. What are they? They are clearly the best team in the NFC, that's what they are. Most important point of your post. They find ways to win even when they aren't clicking on all cylinders. Good teams don't have to be playing their best to win every game. How can he say the Bears should be ranked poorly becuase of how they are playing, when the Saints just lost to a terrible team and we won? How are the Saints playing then? Worse than the Bears. He makes no sense whatsoever.

Alright Larry, you wanted him, you fix him. Here's hoping we aren't sitting here in August talking about how Marquis is stealing from the team.

I voted just now, and it showed Manning at 42% of the vote, Grossman at 34. His numbers are definitely better. Manning definitely had a good week too, just not as good as Rex. I'm okay with the Bears being underrated, as long as people shut up when they're the last ones standing in Miami. Eh, in truth, Manning's numbers last night were probably better.. same amount of completions in fewer attempts, 4 TD's to Rex's 2... On the other hand, Rex did have a better yardage total and yards/attempt. Good to see that Rex is slowly catching up, though. He only had 32% earlier. I just voted. Rex is really catching up now. It's 37% for Manning to 36% for Grossman. Go Rex !! All tied up now!! VOTE VOTE VOTE

That's cool. I'm still angry at Tank for making himself a distraction, but now that the facts are coming out little by little, it's starting to look more like he was just unable to sever a friendship that was poisonous to him and his career. I can certainly understand this. It's difficult, but you have to part ways with bad people. But----I don't think people should be thrown down the toilet because they have a close friend who is trouble. It's a hard situation for everyone involved. From now on, Tank, please no more guns. That is all.

I am also considering retirement in 2010. Also, I think I will eat more strawberries starting in that year. And leafy greens.

It was never Sosa, people. It was the damn voodoo 30/30 necklace which started everything. Keep those custom jewelers away from Soriano. They're the devil.

Appearently. And with the monumental loss of Tank Johnson our team will simply fall to pieces, unable to even imagine winning a playoff game. Don't forget RMJ and Hester will be their starting corners in the playoffs will certainly help make the team fall to pieces. It's ok, I like that the team will be playing with a chip on their shoulder. Vasher will be back. If Tank isn't, I don't see how anyone could think that doesn't hamper our chances. It's not just the loss of tank, it's having only 3 DTs in the rotation, only 2 of which are NFL-grade players.

Appearently. And with the monumental loss of Tank Johnson our team will simply fall to pieces, unable to even imagine winning a playoff game. Don't forget RMJ and Hester will be their starting corners in the playoffs will certainly help make the team fall to pieces. It's ok, I like that the team will be playing with a chip on their shoulder. The Bears wish they lost 4 more games this year, that would mean they'd be on a relative hot streak by winning late in the season, and proving themselves against other near .500 teams. At 12-2, their record in the past 7 games is just 5-2, worse than their overall record. If they were, let's say, 8-6, and won 4 of their last 7, that would mean they would be on a hot streak, compared to their first 7 games, when they were just 4 of 7. Winning 3 in a row is not impressive when you've won 7 in a row already this season. 3 in a row would be really good though if you had lost 3 in a row at one point as well. Philly must play Dallas this week, so one of those clubs is going to be coming out the new ESPN golden child, and the other will now be "finished" or at least no longer the latest hot commodity.

I'm glad to hear that. If they make it clear to Tank this is his absolute last chance, then I think we can all be satisfied if he still won't clean up and we need to let him go. Looks like they might not let him play the rest of the year. I know of few, if any, other franchises that would so seriously hamper their chances at a championship.

There's nothing wrong with going out. But it is insubordination if your employer explicitly tells you to not do something, yet you do it anyway. Is that insubordination a fireable offense under the terms of the CBA? We don't know. But it's still insubordination. I think we're speculating that the Bears actually TOLD Tank "do not go clubbing." How do we know that? I haven't heard Lovie, or Angelo, specifically say that he should not go out or do anything. And anyway----you gave the guy the weekend off. What's he supposed to do? Coup himself up at home like a prisoner? Does an employer really have the right, after telling someone they aren't working, that they must also do nothing but sit around? This whole thing is wacky. I know Tank is a problem, but I don't see how the Bears could have made all these specific prohibitions during one meeting Thursday. Or even that they really have the right to do that. I don't think it has anything to do with clubbing, I think it's specifically hanging out with a felon that pissed them off. We don't know if they said that, but every indication is that they were adament about him disassociating himself with known felons. Hanging out with felons simply increases your chances of getting in trouble. That's why people on parole are told to stay away from other felons. It's not about the Bears telling him to lock himself in his home alone, and really, making claims like that just weakens the pro-Tank argument. It's about the Bears protecting their own assets and interests in trying to prevent a repeat offender from repeating his offenses once again. I believe the Bears have every right to try and influence how Tank handles himself outside of Halas Hall. I do not think they have the legal authority to enforce any of these rules, however, and I don't believe it will do the team any good to get rid of him at this point. Man that's rough. The guy was his best friend from childhood. He's a felon, it's bad. I can imagine it would be real tough to walk out of Halas Hall on Thursday, tell Posey "I don't ever want to see you again" and then by Friday there's no friendship. All his stuff what?---thrown out into the street? I can only imagine. What if it was a last night out together? Farewell----we've got to stay away for the good of your career, but tonight we will go out for old time's sake. Then this happens---some freak starts harrassing Tank. Tough break. I go back to the fact that Tank---who would be the most likely guy to freak out on this dude who was harrassing him---seemed to have deliberately not fired back. Seems like Tank was making an effort.

It's possible, but I have my doubts. Certainly Jerry has the right to tell a player in Tank's position what not to do when he leaves the facilities. But I really doubt whether they have any authority to actually enforce such rules. It would be insubordination, but, it's probably completely legal (if not justified) insubordination. But I'm sure there's a clause in his contract for something like that. Contracts can be voided for injuries from other sports played in the players free time. Or motorcycle riding, that kind of thing. I'm not a lawyer, so I don't know all the legalities of it, but I imagine that's the kind of thing they're finding out if they can do. I'm quite certain there's no clause in any contract on the planet that grants an employer carte' blance authority over someone's comings-and-goings after they leave work and are officially on their own time. Sure, if they represent the company poorly there are repercussions. But the Bears are going to have a tough time saying Tank was representing the Bears poorly by showing up at an upscale club unarmed, just dancing on the dance floor like anyone else. Also----when he was harrassed by someone in the club, it was Tank who didn't fire back. All reports I have seen say he did not involve himself, though his friend (probably quite predictably) went crazy.

DeRosa 3rd gives us the most RPG? I find that hard to believe. Maybe they're banking on another .360 obp rather than his career .330. Hahaha, the generator puts Izzy below the pitcher. Be afraid. Be very afraid.

There's nothing wrong with going out. But it is insubordination if your employer explicitly tells you to not do something, yet you do it anyway. Is that insubordination a fireable offense under the terms of the CBA? We don't know. But it's still insubordination. I think we're speculating that the Bears actually TOLD Tank "do not go clubbing." How do we know that? I haven't heard Lovie, or Angelo, specifically say that he should not go out or do anything. And anyway----you gave the guy the weekend off. What's he supposed to do? Coup himself up at home like a prisoner? Does an employer really have the right, after telling someone they aren't working, that they must also do nothing but sit around? This whole thing is wacky. I know Tank is a problem, but I don't see how the Bears could have made all these specific prohibitions during one meeting Thursday. Or even that they really have the right to do that.

Maybe the Bears will suspend him for the insubordination since they can't for the legal matters? How is it insubordination to visit a nightclub? If he had carried a GUN to the nightclub, then yea. But he was completely clean. So was Posey (miracle of miracles). Posey probably got killed because he was acting the way he always does----only this time he had no weapon to back him up. Tank obviously made an effort to steer clear of the situation. He wanted no trouble. Not his fault Posey couldn't do the same. Come on--I went out last week too. Probably to a place that's a heck of a lot rougher than the Ice Bar. Should I lose my job too?

Not sure how the Bears are "running the best one out of town". Last I heard, Ian Scott was just fine. Plus, the Bears have been pretty patient with the Tank situation thus far. It's been the media pundits that have been calling for Tank to be run out of town. Ian Scott lost his job to Tank because, well, Tank is just flat out better. Not saying I don't like Scott mind you. Until last week, no Bear fan would have seriously doubted this. It's funny how people start to doctor their opinions when they want to destroy someone.

I'm not even thinking about such a terrible scenario. Hendry coveted Barrett too long to trade him for Brad Ausmus. That's a nightmare scenario indeed.

Agreed. The Saints will be the only real NFC competition, and I'm not convinced that they'll be as tough as they've looked at some points. And the Saints just lost to a very bad Washington team at home. How anyone can say with a straight face that the Saints are better must be crazy. The Skins are certainly better than the Bucs. And it was fun to see NO's heralded offense shut completely down. If I'm playing NO in the playoffs, the first game tape I study is the Washington game. As for our game, the first half was great. I'm not sure why the massive breakdowns and turnovers all of a sudden in the 2nd half. But we should have won this game by 20 points. And-----it wasn't the DT's fault either. I don't think Tank Johnson not being there had really any effect at all. Maybe a little in the pass rush. Not having Vasher----that was obviously a serious handicap. For Nate's part, he says he is 100% and wishes he could play. It's obvious Lovie isn't taking any chances, knowing he absolutely is going to need the interceptor in the playoffs. You realize the Bucs beat the Redskins a few weeks ago, right? They both suck equally. Skins are better. Bucs caught them just right, while they were switching QBs and suffering the consequences (see Denver). Skins are a better club, as their record indicates.

Just stay healthy. We honestly cannot afford any more injuries. At all. One more DT injury and we're basically down to guys off the street. This is a heck of a way to run a railroad. Down to threadbare at DT and running the best one you have out of town. Only the Bears.

Umm... what happened to the 13-3 record from 2001? Did that just disappear into the ether? I saw that too. I guess that year really was a fluke since they stopped using it in record keeping The Y2K bug ate it, apparently. Poor Jauron. Not only did he get run out of town, but his one valiant accomplishment in Chicago has been erased from all memory.

I really hope he's not the Cubs starting CF. The Cubs can't afford anymore potential black hole spots in the lineup. I know this won't make you happy, but I thought for certain one of the quotes from Hendry in the last few weeks was that he wanted a terrific defensive CF with lots of range, and that he wasn't as concerned about the offense. I believe Oneri Fleita (sp?), the player development director, said the same thing when discussing Pie as an option for CF coming out of ST. I got the feeling that directive came down to him when I read his quotes in a Cubs.com article. It sounds to me like Hendry is working toward building a classic old-school team formula in the field: concentrated defense up the middle with suspect offense, but big time offense from most of the corners. Right now, only Murton, Barret, and DeRosa don't fit that thinking (but bench options Blanco and Theriot do). And Murton is a young player worth waiting on. Trouble is the pitching won't hold. We would need a very good offense to keep up with the runs that will likely be scored against us.

I agree, Manning has alot to learn. On that long play to Galloway, he was so out of position it was laughable. He wasn't even on his side of the field----almost like he literally fell asleep in his shoes.

It's starting to look like CF will be a major hole for us next year.

Agreed. The Saints will be the only real NFC competition, and I'm not convinced that they'll be as tough as they've looked at some points. And the Saints just lost to a very bad Washington team at home. How anyone can say with a straight face that the Saints are better must be crazy. The Skins are certainly better than the Bucs. And it was fun to see NO's heralded offense shut completely down. If I'm playing NO in the playoffs, the first game tape I study is the Washington game. As for our game, the first half was great. I'm not sure why the massive breakdowns and turnovers all of a sudden in the 2nd half. But we should have won this game by 20 points. And-----it wasn't the DT's fault either. I don't think Tank Johnson not being there had really any effect at all. Maybe a little in the pass rush. Not having Vasher----that was obviously a serious handicap. For Nate's part, he says he is 100% and wishes he could play. It's obvious Lovie isn't taking any chances, knowing he absolutely is going to need the interceptor in the playoffs.