Soul

You're right. I forgot about the DLine rotation because it doesn't seem to be tied to nickel vs. base. I imagine they'll start with the standard package Ogun-Tank-Scott-Brown, and then sub in Mark Anderson on certain drives along with Boone. The one thing I could see happening is, if Indy limits our ability to sub on the fly you might not see Idonije in the game at all.

I'm going to shamlessly bump my own post, only because I was silly enough to post it at 1:30 in the morning, and don't want it to get buried with only 1 or 2 responses. I really would like to know what defensive alignment Bears fans think they should stay in most of the time, and how they match up with the Colts in that particular alignment. The Colts don't allow anyone to substitute often. But the Bears really don't play that way anyway. We stick with our base defenses, or just run nickel, and then key off that for everything else. The Bears are fairly equal in effectiveness between their nickel and base packages. The only difference you will see personnel-wise is, in nickel Ricky Manning Jr. will be on the field, and the base package has Hunter Hillenmeyer. RMJ is basically a rough-guy, not a real good cover CB (that's why he's nickel) but he hits very hard. Hillenmeyer isn't the toughest linebacker, but his coverage is alright. Either way, we can key off those packages and run whatever we want, so I'm not sure this is the key you are thinking it is. Here's the key in my view: our safeties suck. Sometimes they do alright, but alot of times they're late in over-the-top coverage, and they don't stick in run support all that well (that's why the dropoff in defensive efficiency can be traced to Mike Brown's injury more than Tommie Harris). I think if Manning can call the plays that exploit our weakness at safety, he can get us going backwards. If he can't, I don't think the nickel vs. base package is going to help all that much.

And so she takes this non-football related social agenda of hers, and heads for Miami to push it on everyone else, and we don't care. Lame. Reporters who make themselves and their agendas the story: LAME.

Well, there are a few factors, nothing REAL big. * I have been a Dish Network customer for about 6 years, now - and I have been extremely happy. * I am locked into some pretty good deals with Dish Network. * There is a totally different channel scheme between the two dishes. This is a problem that would go away when we learn all the new channels, but after years of knowing where to go, it would be a royal pain in the arse to relearn hundreds of channels. * DirecTV has already served me a BAD taste. They called me telling me lies like Dish Network was shutting down, and I would never get a deal like the one they were offering me. I asked them if they could give me all of the programming I had with DN, plus the EI package that I had already paid for - and they said absolutely. The DirecTV contractors came out and took down our old dishes and put in theirs, then when they called in to activate the service, the DirecTV operator told me that my monthly bill would be almost $30 MORE per month, and I had to pay for the EI package AGAIN if I wanted it with them. We got the original salesman on the phone, and he crawfished - then admitted to offering me those rates (even though it was impossible). I told them "no deal" and made the contractors pull down the DirecTV stuff and reinstall my DishNetwork stuff. Quite the ordeal. I did tip the contractor for all his work, though. Wasn't his fault. Believe me, I will give switching a good look regardless. Whoa. That's bad news man. You actually had some DirecTV salesman on the phone telling lies about package pricing? Wow. I had no idea anything like that was going on. Strange, too. DirecTV doesn't really need Dish subscribers that badly. They already far outpace them in sales. I looked at the Dish network channel lineups once, and discovered I couldn't get the channels I wanted without going with a higher-priced package. That + the fact that DirecTV offers Sunday Ticket clinched it for me. I've never had any of these issues some are reporting here. In fact, the service I personally have received has been far, far better than the Time Warner guys and the Charter guys I dealt with.

BTW, if you woke up and turned on your usual TV channel to get your Today show fix or Good Morning America, you missed a bunch of live Bears interviews on NFL Network. Lovie, Grossman, Urlacher, and Moose were all on-----this time I think it was largely sports media because the questions at least made sense. Nice way to wake up before work 8-)

In Bill Simmons' column today (well, it's not a column but rather just a bunch of photos) he made a comment about how easy it is to get a pass for media day. He said that Jimmy Kimmel live decided to send a couple of the American Idol rejects to media day. Simmons didn't say anything about them singing with Rex Grossman but he said they forced Adam Vinatieri sing "Take Me Out To The Ballgame" with them. I see. Kimmel's resorting to "Howard Stern" type tactics now. Lame.

What was the deal with those fools singing take me out to the ballgame to Rex? They didn't look like reporters to me. Looked like Colts fans trying to get into Rex's head.

Respect is gained when they kick your ass. :lol: He said he thought the Bears were still the best defense in the NFL even without Tommie Harris :) He did say it was a huge loss though.

That actually sounds like a good idea to try, if you have a laptop or easy connectivity between your comp & TV.

*sigh* We shouldn't have to switch. Some people CAN'T switch. Goony just told DirecTV to shove it, so it sounds like he, I and a few others don't want to switch. My employee isn't going to switch. She's pissed about this. I have a feeling many won't be making the switch. This guy's already got a dish which means the service metric for dish vs. directv would be similar, if not the identical subcontractor. Goony will be back. He knows it; he's just stubborn. Wait til the cable guys give him the stiff a couple times.

That's exactly the case, assuming the deal doesn't fall through at the last minute. It will be just like Sunday Ticket. Everything else will be the same, in terms of getting your local team's games, national telecasts on WGN, TBS, FOX, ESPN, etc. Some here are suggesting MLB.tv as an alternative. Well, that sucks big time. Here in NW Louisiana - all we get is WGN, which is only good for a game a week. I loved being able to watch the Cubs whenever I had time, not to mention skimming other games to see who was doing what. This is a tremendous disservice to baseball fans, which is what we really have come to expect from Bud Selig and MLB. *sigh* I'm almost afraid to ask. I hate being a cheerleader for DirecTV, but I'm baffled by the big deal everyone's making here. You've already got a dish. If EI is that important to you, why wouldn't you just switch?

He was forced into retirement because of frequent concussions. I believe he sued the Bears for that, because after his last one, his brain had been damaged to the point where he was unable to read. He had to re-learn how to read. They told him to get back onto the field 1 or 2 weeks after a major concussion I think, and he got another one. I'm not sure if that's exactly how it happened, perhaps someone can elaborate more with the real news. I know he was also diagnosed with non-Hodgkins lymphoma back in 2003. But after treatment, he is now cancer free. I'm really suprised his wikipedia article makes no mention of the lawsuit. It was a pretty big deal: player successfully suing a major sports franchise and all. Anyway, he's gone through a lot of problems; it hasn't been easy for the guy. I just think it's important to realize the history between he & the Bears when he starts commenting on Chicago, that's all.

He's a former NFL running back or fullback, not sure exactly. He's been with ESPN for as long as I can remember, I believe since he retired sometime in the 90s. He sued the Bears for playing him when he was injured. Won a pretty good settlement. Anyway, it's no secret he doesn't like the Bears. He's a total Steelers homer, where he spent most of his career.

It's 1 bona-fide starter, 1 torn-up atrocious starter, 1 unknown new guy, and 2 spots to be filled with relievers or junk. It's going to take some serious managing & GM'ing (ehemjuiceehem) to win with that rotation.

Skip ATH, block out Kornheiser's mic, and watch PTI for the Wilbon. At least he makes an attempt to be reasonable. I guess that's the bar for "good sports journalist" these days, LOL.

Sorry to society? What? Did Tank kill someone or something? How did the charges against him adversely affect society? Wow. What a complete and total moron. just wait until around the horn when plaschke likely takes 30 seconds to talk about what a horrible person tank johnson is He's comes across as such a whiney, mewling, stuttering, wiener boy on that show. I just want to pound him. He wins on that show, too. I stopped watching ATH because it was too frustrating seeing these guys making absolutely no valid points on the subject at hand, yet that host keeps ringing them up. What a terrible show.

this is 100% a subcontractor problem. I've had the DirecTV guys at my house 3 times, and only once did they not do the job (due to not having a tall enough ladder....they did not return again). It is definitely not just a subcontractor problem. It's a directv/directech problem. Directv is setting up installation dates that they can't handle. It's not a matter of a guy showing up with the wrong stuff, it's a matter of directv trying to sell more hardware than they actually have, and putting a greater emphasis on getting new customers over keeping existing customers. I estimated I've spent about $20,000 on their service over the years, and they've given me all sorts of garbage about being an A-list customer. I've been given all sorts of rebates and crap in the past few months, but they aren't getting the job done. perhaps it's regional then. I can only speak for my own experience. Had the subcontractors out a few times, each time they were prompt and provided great service. I just upgraded to HD and the service was great. First appointment and the guy was right on time. Sorry some are having trouble. If they canceled out on me 4 times I would probably be upset too. Too bad, because DirecTV is really starting to push its 150 channel HD capacity in their ads. All the new HD channels that are launched as a result will be available to DirecTV subscribers, and not cable.

Dave Duncan juices veteran type pitchers very well who are coming off some kind of injury. Fixed.

Sorry to society? What? Did Tank kill someone or something? How did the charges against him adversely affect society? I've never liked Plaschke. He comes off like a windbag. I dunno.....like he's desperate for someone to listen to him. I understand he's won several journalism awards though. Not my kind of sports journalist I guess. Tank handled this appropriately. It was a stupid question. Nobody but this guy has ever suggested Tank has "harmed society" by failing to register a few guns in Illinois. There hasn't been a single crime that I know of where Tank has harmed another human being.

If it's Turner, I think Dallas is in trouble. And I'm suprised. Turner is the safe, blah choice. I didn't think Jones would go that way.

Probably. What is the relationship between Lovie and the Bears owner and GM'? lovie was with angelo in tampa and was brought in by the man, who was desperate to get rid of hatley-hire jauron, going so far as to sabotage the 2003 bears by cutting ted washington, and watching the defense fall apart. i'll never forgive angelo for that, he's a low-down dirty piece of human garbage for stabbing jauron in the back like that--it was as transparent as you can get. however, angelo is the best GM in chicago save for kenny williams, who i don't really think about as i can care less about the sox. it's really ted phillips' call, he'll re-up them both soon enough. lovie is not a free agent. I think the overall point is, Lovie is not some lame-duck coach or a holdover from another era. This is the hand-picked, chosen leader of this franchise as chosen by the current regime. Lovie, as they say, is Angelo's boy. To digress a little bit with you on Jauron-----I agree it was slimy the way Angelo handled that, but if you remember the McCaskey's hadn't given Jerry full GM control yet. There probably was little else he could do to try and get the control he needed to win with this franchise. The first step is always to put the people in place who you trust. Jauron, though a nice guy, was a product of the Hatley era and beholden to a completely different philosophy which Angelo didn't care about. And, if you'll remember from the Shoop madness, Jauron showed he was unwilling to bend for his new boss. So I forgive Jerry for that whole deal.

How does he become available? Cha ching. Money talks and if the Cowboys want him I'm sure they'll "contact" him and let him know that the money is there for him. If the Bears decide to go on the cheap or in their words a "fair" price they may lose out on Lovie. I know he has a year left in his deal but something may be worked out. I like Lovie and I think he is a very good coach but the Boys may make a very good offer that the Bears my accept. This all depends on 3 things: -Do the Bears lowball Lovie -Is Lovie really interested in going to Dallas -Is Jones willing to pay the picks for Lovie Lovie's not Nick Saban. Saban's a lying piece of trash. When Lovie says he wants to stay in Chicago, it's because he wants to stay in Chicago. The money may become a contention but there is plenty of time to work out a deal. You won't see Lovie skipping out on his contract. Not ever. That's probably why Jones & the Cowboys are interested in him----he gives something Dallas hasn't had since Landry: honest, straight-shooter. I think it's hilarious that NOW the country realizes what we've known all along: Lovie rules.

Apparently plenty of people. Those arenas are reasonably full each weekend, from what I've been reading. Personally I've never gone to a game.

Right, the Bears are just happy to be there. That must be why they have a giant banner that says FINISH at their hotel. I'm really happy that we don't have some homer jagbag like Simmons embarrassing himself and the city on ESPN.com. As opposed to writers from the Chicago papers (Jay Mariotti comes to mind immediately) routinely doubting and dissing the Bears week after week and never giving them respect. Unfortunately, we Chicago fans have only ourselves to blame for Mariotti. It's the readers who continue to read the guy, giving him carte blanche to spew his mindless rantings every day. Once he was proven 100% wrong about the White Sox in 2005 it should have been his waterloo. I'll never understand why so many people continued to read his column after that. His legs were completely cut off; it was a complete and total 'emperor has no clothes' moment, but even that didn't kill him. I personally apologize to the world for Mariotti.

He's saying that they probably won't go Cover 2 against the Colts? Or Man? He didn't make it clear but I'm pretty sure that he meant that if the Bears tried what they did against the Saints, against the Colts, it wouldn't work. I'm not sure I agree but I figured I throw it out there. Just me talking here, but I would imagine Drew Brees is about as clueless as an average fan when it comes to knowing what the Bears will do on Sunday.