Soul

It wasn't close to a good read. It's in his head now.

Damn. Here come the boos. I really think the scrutiny is getting to Rex. What a horrible, horrible decision.

Looks like Fox isn't in the mood to show replays today. No replay on the TJ pass drop. Then no replay on the Moose long pass attempt. I would have liked to see it, because it kind of looked like Moose stumbled a little, making that pass appear to be more overthrown than it was.

Rollout alert! Rex can move?!?

The only thing that matters is the Vikings. I doubt what the media says is going to impact the Bears' performance all that much. You don't think the media ragging all week might have caused just that little bit of lost focus by Rashied? I do. This is trouble. It's the media trying to be self-important. They say things and then they talk about how them saying things is affecting the team. It's pretty meaningless. I know what you're saying, and ordinarily agree. They listen to them though. It just takes that little teenie bit of someone in your head. Especially in Rex's case. His press conferences have been.......revealing. I think he's starting to let the media scrutiny get to him a little bit.

The only thing that matters is the Vikings. I doubt what the media says is going to impact the Bears' performance all that much. You don't think the media ragging all week might have caused just that little bit of lost focus by Rashied? I do. This is trouble.

Well, here we go. Bears under siege by just about everyone. At least the play-by-play guy opened up with the correct line: "I don't remember a more unappreciated 9-2 team than these Bears." You got that right.

So given the current market I suppose Lofton gets 3/27 or some moronic contract like that.

Kenny Williams is right. This free agent market is beyond ridiculous.

I must be the only one who sees this as a dangerous game for the Bears. I'm sensing trouble. Cold day, Vikes stop the run better than anyone, Vikes are a ball control type offense, Bears are under siege by the media trying to tear them down for some reason (not sure why some Chicago media would want to destroy their own team, but hey I call 'em like I see 'em and that's what they're doing), Grossman's confidence might be a bit shaken from all the negativity and trash talking.....

I can't believe it. :) Four in a row! 08's gloating because he said the Bulls would play better once they got off the road trip. And he was right--though I don't think anyone thought they wouldn't play better against the likes of the Knicks, Hornets, and Wizards than the Mavs and Spurs. I maintain these wins don't erase the disappointment of not being able to perform better on the annual "circus trip" when it was most certainly expected. We could be among the East's leaders right now with just a couple extra wins out there.

Or if they need an excuse to fire Bob Brenly.

Common sense would say that Bonds would go DH somewhere and an AL team would take advatage of that. What do the Yanks have for DH? Yeah I agree, that's what Bonds will try to do. He doesn't want to take the field anymore, just "break" the record. I'm really curious on how his knees really are. How did he hurt them in the first place? Nobody knows. It's all speculation, everything from "he works out so hard" to "he banged them against a locker"....... The only thing we really know is, he had the cartilege cleaned out and that didn't cure it, so he had a 2nd, separate procedure. Pretty serious stuff. I've banged my knee on a few things; never needed surgery. I think you're right. He wants to DH in the worst way. That's one of the things that I find very suspicious, this knee injury thing. Do you think his ego is too big to DH? I hope it is, at least bigger than his quest to the HR title. I think he just wants to stick it to everyone by breaking the record. If he thinks his best shot is by DH'ing to save his knees the trouble, I think he'll try to go that route.

Man Cuse. You are getting close to tin foil hat territory. Big East just needs to start scheduling the games. That's all. There's no conspiracy. When Bobby Bowden wanted FSU to get respect, what did he do? He started scheduling tougher games. Fresno State also has done the same, and has gained more national recognition. It's not the Big East's fault they don't have the history on their side. But they still need to work their way up.

That spin move was sweet. He was also in great position on another play that got him an easy dunk. Maybe Skiles can work him into better shape slowly. Then bring him off the bench when the rest of the team starts settling for the jumper too much.

Common sense would say that Bonds would go DH somewhere and an AL team would take advatage of that. What do the Yanks have for DH? Yeah I agree, that's what Bonds will try to do. He doesn't want to take the field anymore, just "break" the record. I'm really curious on how his knees really are. How did he hurt them in the first place? Nobody knows. It's all speculation, everything from "he works out so hard" to "he banged them against a locker"....... The only thing we really know is, he had the cartilege cleaned out and that didn't cure it, so he had a 2nd, separate procedure. Pretty serious stuff. I've banged my knee on a few things; never needed surgery. I think you're right. He wants to DH in the worst way.

Schmidt will probably draw things out ... ugh He's a top tier SP FA this year, so that gives him alot of bargaining power. It's pretty clear he's going to try and play the Cubs' offer against the teams he really wants to play for. Try to get more money from them. I wouldn't be suprised if the Cubs have absolutely no shot----Schmidt's agent just trying to get an overpriced offer from us to drive up the $$$$ from those West Coast teams. Well if that drives up an NL teams budget so they can't afford to get anyone else at least it may have some kind of benefit. That's true. Maybe there's a method to Hendry's madness. You either land Schmidt, or at the very least fix it so no one in the NL will be able to sign him without paying a huge price. All the while you keep solid offers on the table for guys like Lilly, and trade offers simmering for journeymen like Jennings. Hendry might be willing to be used in this case.

They have a couple skill players who are very, very good. But a larger, more physical opponent like OSU would just smother them. OSU also has plenty of speed---they are an atypical Big Ten team. I'd love to see Louisville match up with OSU. OSU would romp. No way should Louisville sniff the big game until they prove themselves in the regular season though. Wilting like a dead rose in the 2nd half to Rutgers pretty much proves how "tough" they are.

Michigan has the benefit of having other top teams in conference most years. They also take on ND many years, as they did this season. Sometimes they schedule USC -- and it's usually a great game. OSU took on Texas, the national champs and romped when they were ranked #2. They beat Michigan, a top 5 team at the time. USC plays many top teams, both in conference and out. The SEC is a top 25 war week in and week out. I'm sorry that the Big East doesn't have that history of being a top conference in football. But unfortunately, that does mean they will have to reach out and play their way in to that status. Right now, they aren't doing it.

Schmidt will probably draw things out ... ugh He's a top tier SP FA this year, so that gives him alot of bargaining power. It's pretty clear he's going to try and play the Cubs' offer against the teams he really wants to play for. Try to get more money from them. I wouldn't be suprised if the Cubs have absolutely no shot----Schmidt's agent just trying to get an overpriced offer from us to drive up the $$$$ from those West Coast teams.

Common sense would say that Bonds would go DH somewhere and an AL team would take advatage of that. What do the Yanks have for DH? Yeah I agree, that's what Bonds will try to do. He doesn't want to take the field anymore, just "break" the record.

but they aren't good enough right now. sorry, I'm not going to give Louisville props because South Florida might be good in a couple of years. and for pete's sake, how many times does it have to be explained to you that it is not just about the records, it is about who you play. no matter how rosey a picture you try to paint of the conference, the bottom five of the Big East all suck big time, right here, right now, and their non-conference schedule sucks. that's not to say the bottom five of other conferences don't suck, but I'd still take the bottom five of the Big Ten over the bottom five of the 8 team Big East any day of the week. congrats that the Big East beat a few dregs of the ACC and other power conferences. they are still dregs. if the ACC had teams with the BigEast records, it would be teams like Miami, VTech, BC, FSU. teams that have been, you know, good, in the recent past. teams that have quality bowl wins the over the past few years. teams that have great talent, coaching, and facilities. I really think that Cuse does overrate the Big East. I think you underrate them though. Louisville is a Top 5 team. If you were to put their schedule up against Michigans and Floridas it would hold up. Maybe not as tough but certainly was credible. Yeah, and I want to make it clear that I don't think Louisville, WVU, and Rutgers are bad teams. I just don't think they're on that top level yet, and I'll need to see them beat the best before I put them there. I'm not going to consider them great before they beat the established powers. Call me a good old boy all you want, but unless there's a playoff system I don't see any other way. Can't just hand someone automatic top billing.....they have to earn it somehow. I definitely agree with jig that the mid and bottom of the Big East is just really, really marginal. I strongly suspect those teams would struggle to be at the top of much lesser conferences. And I also strongly suspect a Louisville vs. OSU matchup would be a highway slaughter not worth watching on New Year's day. The mid to marginal Big East teams beat the mid to marginal Big Ten teams but yet that proves the Big 10 is better, why? Because the Big 10 schedule is much tougher, against bigger, more punishing players all year long. I already argued this with you, I'm not going to circle around and around on it. Beat OSU. Beat Florida. Beat USC. Then I'll give the Big East some more credit. That's it.

but they aren't good enough right now. sorry, I'm not going to give Louisville props because South Florida might be good in a couple of years. and for pete's sake, how many times does it have to be explained to you that it is not just about the records, it is about who you play. no matter how rosey a picture you try to paint of the conference, the bottom five of the Big East all suck big time, right here, right now, and their non-conference schedule sucks. that's not to say the bottom five of other conferences don't suck, but I'd still take the bottom five of the Big Ten over the bottom five of the 8 team Big East any day of the week. congrats that the Big East beat a few dregs of the ACC and other power conferences. they are still dregs. if the ACC had teams with the BigEast records, it would be teams like Miami, VTech, BC, FSU. teams that have been, you know, good, in the recent past. teams that have quality bowl wins the over the past few years. teams that have great talent, coaching, and facilities. I really think that Cuse does overrate the Big East. I think you underrate them though. Louisville is a Top 5 team. If you were to put their schedule up against Michigans and Floridas it would hold up. Maybe not as tough but certainly was credible. Yeah, and I want to make it clear that I don't think Louisville, WVU, and Rutgers are bad teams. I just don't think they're on that top level yet, and I'll need to see them beat the best before I put them there. I'm not going to consider them great before they beat the established powers. Call me a good old boy all you want, but unless there's a playoff system I don't see any other way. Can't just hand someone automatic top billing.....they have to earn it somehow. I definitely agree with jig that the mid and bottom of the Big East is just really, really marginal. I strongly suspect those teams would struggle to be at the top of much lesser conferences. And I also strongly suspect a Louisville vs. OSU matchup would be a highway slaughter not worth watching on New Year's day.

The disrespect being shown for Ben Gordon's abilities right now is astonishing. Who is the Wizards' coach again? This is probably the worst gameplan I've ever seen by any team, anywhere.

Hmmmm. I always wonder if Sweetney could be more of that low post scorer. He never gets any minutes, but that last spin move was very quick. He's not the slow poke that he appears to be.