CaliforniaRaisin

:) Don't smile Ohio St will be number 1 even though you guys deserve it. No matter, I only care about who's #1 at the end of the year. It's nice to see the team gelling together much earlier this year, playing so well and getting some attention.

Finally back at Soldier Field after a 2-1 road trip. Game is on FOX. GO BEARS!!

If Dopirak is dropped off the 40-man, a team can pick him up and stash him in the minors. It would be a bad move, better to trade him.

"I said this earlier today and I'll say it again: He's the best quarterback I've had since I've been here. And I'm talking about head and shoulders above everybody else. Talk about him if you want to, [but] he's that good." —Center Olin Kreutz on Rex Grossman

Amen. Also, go Florida. Judging by the newly released BCS rankings, Florida *may* be able to jump over Michigan with a win over Arkansas and of course a USC loss to UCLA. That's another reason why I don't like those playoff games. That extra game can give a team an advantage over one that just plays 12 games. Of course it can bite them too for example if Florida loses. Yeah I don't like that either. IMO Michigan is significantly better than Florida. Sorry CR, but your Bruins don't have one prayer in hell of beating USC----even though I would love to see it. We'll know tomorrow if a rusty Ben Olson will be cleared to play over the crappy Pat Cowan. Nope, they have little chance to win, given how weak the offense is. The OL will get completely manhandled, we'llbe lucky if Cowan throws more incompletions than interceptions and there are no playmakers on offense. The defense should hang in there for a while but won't be able to overcome the likely disperity in TOP and the short field from turnovers. Oddly enough, I feel the Bruins have a better chance to win this year than last. Heh, that's what I said about ND. ND doesn't have the defense to hang with USC, UCLA doesn't have the offense to hang. But UCLA's offense is worse than ND's defense, gotta hope for a letdown game, a la the USC-UCLA game in 2004. I'll be rooting for you, for whatever it's worth. My niece is also a student at UCLA right now ;) Good for her! :D You just moved up in my esteem all because of your niece. ;)

Ummmm, I think he gets guaranteed to be top 5 salary at his position. Then if anyone wants him, they must send 2 1st round picks our way. I know Angelo doesn't like the franchise tag, but I would seriously seriously consider it in this case. Briggs is extremely good, and he's as good as gone after the season. If that's the case, I'd be all over the franchise tag. The only other player up for FA in the next few years who'd be worth the franchise tag is Tommie Harris.

Amen. Also, go Florida. Judging by the newly released BCS rankings, Florida *may* be able to jump over Michigan with a win over Arkansas and of course a USC loss to UCLA. That's another reason why I don't like those playoff games. That extra game can give a team an advantage over one that just plays 12 games. Of course it can bite them too for example if Florida loses. Yeah I don't like that either. IMO Michigan is significantly better than Florida. Sorry CR, but your Bruins don't have one prayer in hell of beating USC----even though I would love to see it. We'll know tomorrow if a rusty Ben Olson will be cleared to play over the crappy Pat Cowan. Nope, they have little chance to win, given how weak the offense is. The OL will get completely manhandled, we'llbe lucky if Cowan throws more incompletions than interceptions and there are no playmakers on offense. The defense should hang in there for a while but won't be able to overcome the likely disperity in TOP and the short field from turnovers. Oddly enough, I feel the Bruins have a better chance to win this year than last. Heh, that's what I said about ND. ND doesn't have the defense to hang with USC, UCLA doesn't have the offense to hang. But UCLA's offense is worse than ND's defense, gotta hope for a letdown game, a la the USC-UCLA game in 2004.

What are the ramifications of slamming a franchise tag on Briggs?

You're referring to Jamar Williams out of ASU. Still gotta take a Day 1 OLB if Briggs is gone, preferably 1st-2nd round.

Bingo. Let's see how they look next week before pushing the panic button. They did a nice job coming back after the Miami loss. Did we really expect them to go undefeated; to sweep 3 straight East Coast roadies? Grossman has his issues; but let's wait and see. Agreed again. The Grossman haters will ride hard this week, but really, what can you accomplish by playing Greise? Greise was there as a BACKUP in case Grossman got hurt. Until that time I would be very disappointed with the coaching staff if they listened to the talk radio junk and benched Grossman. Grossman is the future, and he's showed a hell of a lot of promise in his first full year. We took down two tough New York teams, and lost to one of the best teams in the NFL, and a 3 time Superbowl QB. Their defense is stellar, and they were playing at home. I'm not saying there weren't things that went wrong, but I'm very far from the panic button. Preach it.

Amen. Also, go Florida. Judging by the newly released BCS rankings, Florida *may* be able to jump over Michigan with a win over Arkansas and of course a USC loss to UCLA. That's another reason why I don't like those playoff games. That extra game can give a team an advantage over one that just plays 12 games. Of course it can bite them too for example if Florida loses. Yeah I don't like that either. IMO Michigan is significantly better than Florida. Sorry CR, but your Bruins don't have one prayer in hell of beating USC----even though I would love to see it. We'll know tomorrow if a rusty Ben Olson will be cleared to play over the crappy Pat Cowan. Nope, they have little chance to win, given how weak the offense is. The OL will get completely manhandled, we'llbe lucky if Cowan throws more incompletions than interceptions and there are no playmakers on offense. The defense should hang in there for a while but won't be able to overcome the likely disperity in TOP and the short field from turnovers. Oddly enough, I feel the Bruins have a better chance to win this year than last.

I'm starting to worry about Grossman too because he has had mechanical problems for a few weeks and it doesn't appear to be improving. At this point, I don't trust the coaching staff at all.

At this stage, block better and become a better rec. out of the backfield. Imo, he's a better blocker than Jones already. At contact, they're pretty close, as far as knowing which guy to pick up and when to chip a guy, I think Jones has a better concept when to leak out of the backfield. I agree that Jones has a better concept of what to do...but his execution is lacking compared to Benson and Benson is starting to pick up the intricacies a lot more.

I wanted to hurt him when he did that (but I was also freaking pissed at #54 for getting deeked by Tom Freaking Brady). I agree that I'll worry if they play bad again next week or going forward until they clinch.

Bears played a good game, considering they were on the road and playing the Patriots (and considering poor reffing, imo) but shot themselves in the foot waaaaaaay too much. Poor coaching decisions (Lovie, Turner, playing TJ way too much), Grossman made too many mistakes and the defense was terrible for the most part of the fourth quarter. The game was there for the taking and I'm pretty disappointed with the Bears.

At this stage, block better and become a better rec. out of the backfield. Imo, he's a better blocker than Jones already.

Griese won't be an improvement.

They've had a supbar game and a terrible 4th quarter.Right by holding the pats to 17 points they stunk it up. Yes, they did and I didn't say stunk it up (you added glitz for effect), but it was subpar for them. NE was careless with the ball, not as bad as the Bears but pretty close. They allowed too many yards and when the game tied, got manhandled when NE drove it down their throats. Exactly.

Why go for the big play on the first effing play?

Wow. Fumble!! It'll be reviewed.

That should be game.

why? the bears have nothing to be ashamed of today. the pats are frickn good. they are bringing their best and the bears are right their Ok, he doesn't. But his in-game coaching decisions are ridiculously poor.

Oddly enough, NE doesn't get called for holding.

Great pass rush, defense.

Lovie deserved to be fired for this game.