NorthsideAvenger

How about: Cubs get: Church Pirates get: J. Jones Nats get: Duffy or McLoeth (and somebody like Novoa) ???

The flag was out so early, that I didn't get myself very excited about the runback. I didn't see the flag, so I was way too excited about a non-touchdown. I know Reggie Bush brings the sxcitement, but to me, Devin Hester has been "The Rookie" in terms of excitement all yr. He has done things as a punt returner that nobody has EVER done before. And I hope Lovie puts in some trick plays that uses Hester speed (reverses, etc). I really hope the Bears use Hester in the way the Steelers used Randel-El (who is glad the Bears DIDN'T say Randel-El, NOW?). I mean, using Hester more on offense against the Saints, would totally confused the Saints, and they would have to account for Hester, as the Bears will with Bush. I think Hester could totally impact the offensive side of ball, if Lovie choose to.

Saints offense is ranked higher than the Bears defense and the Saints D is ranked higher than the Bears offense. The weather is going to be the toughest thing for the Saints in my opinion. Considering the fact that the Saints have not played in VERY COLD WEATHER all yr (disadvantage for teams in the NFC/AFC South, come playoff time, IMO), I think it will be the "cold weather" that hurts the Saints. Playoff time plus cold weather in the midwest is a different brand of football, then regular season plus warm weather in the southern states. I just doubt the ability of the Saints to play smash-mouth football in January. My opinion is...the Bears/Saints game won't be a high scoring game. I believe the Bears will win Sunday, and I don't think it will be as close as some WANT it to be. I'm thinking something like 24-7. I love the Bears, but if they hold the Saints to 7 points, I'll...I don't know what I'll do. It isn't going to happen. The Seahawks scored 24, and the Saints have a much better offense than they do. I hope the Bears shut them down cold, but I can't see that happening. First: Seattle was/is more equipped to play in the cold that Chicago brought. I'm not convince Nawlins will be the "threat" people think they are. Second: 7 points might be a little bit ambitous, but I do think the current Bears D has the talent to do, regardless of how they've played recently. But I will revised my score....24-14.

The Seahawks are not a "pathetic" team. They had a healthy Hasselbeck and Alexander, and outside of losing Hutchingson to FA, they pretty much had their same offensive talent from the Super Bowl team. That is FAR from being "pathetic." The Bears beat a team that was underachieivng, who was dealing with injuries. In other words, the Bears didn't beat a "pathetic" team.

As a couple of posters already mention, it was a classless move by the Patriots. Doing another player's signature move on the LOGO is the picture of disrespect. TO did it to the Star in Dallas, when he was a 9er, and he got ripped for it, the players who copied Merriman should be ripped. And the Patriots are said to be "classy organization", and seeing as LT isn't one of those self-promoting jerks, I say he has some credence, and a reason to be mad. LT is mad about losing the game, no doubt, but this goes beyond the game, you disrespecting your opponent, which will be felt the next time the two teams play. Why couldn't the Patriots just shake the hands of the Chargers, and celebrate in the clubhouse, like the professional they are "suppose" to be. Patriots come off looking like jerks in the case, and I hope the Colts beat the stuffing out of them next week.

How exciting was the non-punt return of Devin Hester? And who else here think Devin Hester will have a "sophomore slump" simply because teams are going to kick the ball away from him?

Saints offense is ranked higher than the Bears defense and the Saints D is ranked higher than the Bears offense. The weather is going to be the toughest thing for the Saints in my opinion. Considering the fact that the Saints have not played in VERY COLD WEATHER all yr (disadvantage for teams in the NFC/AFC South, come playoff time, IMO), I think it will be the "cold weather" that hurts the Saints. Playoff time plus cold weather in the midwest is a different brand of football, then regular season plus warm weather in the southern states. I just doubt the ability of the Saints to play smash-mouth football in January. My opinion is...the Bears/Saints game won't be a high scoring game. I believe the Bears will win Sunday, and I don't think it will be as close as some WANT it to be. I'm thinking something like 24-7.

First: I don't like the "Won a World Series, thus should be an automatic favorites" theory. Sometimes it fits, most times, it don't. In the Cards case, it is not true. The Cards were a MEDIOCRE team that got hot at the right time. And the Cards haven't really improved themselves this off-season. Marquis for Wells, Bellard for Kennedy, losing Suppan keeping Mulder. Edmonds and Rolen are abit older. In other words, the Cards have made lateral moves AT BEST. And the Cards are going to need big contributions from Wainwright/Reyes and Duncan if they want to stay in the hunt. Second: I don't think there is a CLEAR cut favorite for the NL Central crown, simply because no team in the division have distinguish themselves as being better then the rest of the division. Each team has something that is great, and something that is bad. Right now, it's a two division, division, so to speak. In one division you have Cubs/Cards/Brewer with the Astros/Reds/Pirates at the other end. Now will this flip flopped through the yr, sure, but right now, I think on paper the Cubs are top 3 in the division---low expectations, great fun.

Worse defense? The Saints defense is ranked 4th in the NFC, with Seattle at 9th. Saints gave up 4.9 ypc this year, only team worse was the Colts. They did do well in ypc passing, but they gave up a 2nd worse 26 TD passes. I will give you that they are better statistically than Seattle. But I'm more confident with the Bears O against the Saints D than the Seahawks....especially outdoors. Well, I'll give you that. However, I think at this point the Saints O is better than the Bears D. Especially considering y'alls last few games. You'll have the top passing offense in the NFL up against a defense that, not counting this last game, has given up 283 yds and 3td's to Kitna, 268 yds and 3td's to Rattay, and 356 yds and 3td's to Bulger. Your secondary is suffering. The corners are playing well, but the safeties are struggling. I'm guessing it'll be a reasonably high scoring game next week. IDK about that. The Saints are a dome team that hasn't played in a cold weather site since Week 16 against the Giants, and they only played in 3 cold-weather sites all yr (Cleveland, NYG, GB). Cleveland sucked from the beginning of the yr, GB got off to a slow start, and Giants were finished the fall from grace. Not exactly world beaters. With that said, I have mad respect for the Saints, and I believe this next week, the NFL are going to try and make the Bears the "bad guys" so that the "Cinderalla" team can get to the Super Bowl. All I know is, the clock has strucked midnight, and the Saints "Cinderalla" season will be over in 7 days.

Absolutely. Similar to another underrated 1st base, who happens to be a ex-Cub.

Delino passed the torch to Macias, who in turned pass the torch to Nefti, who pass the torch, not just to Ceasr Izturis, but also Tomas Perez. Why must the Cubs be in love with non skilled middle infielders, who shouldn't be in the majors? With that said, I expct Tomas to be a last week of ST release.

I think Jones is slightly better for the short-term, but I actually think Church is a better fit for the Cubs, then Jones, because of his ability to reach base consistantly.

Cal Ripken, Jr is a first ballot HOF, because while his numbers weren't like Ruth, Ripken had as much impact on the game as Ruth. I mean Ripken changed the way people view SS from an offensive standpoint. Without Ripken, ARod and Jeter, and Nomar may have been forced to have to come up through the system as a 3rd baseman, or a CF, or perhaps even a 1st baseman. Because of Ripken, teams took a risk on "taller SS" and it paid off. You weresn't supposed to be 6'4 and able to play SS, they way Ripken did. Ripken clearly was impact player, and he did enough offensive to warrent the selection. I think it is abit crazy to think Ripken isn't a first ball HOF.

:-k

Actually, Marquis ability to hit, makes him a major leaguer....barely.

So, in retrospect the Cubs are paying about $500K more for en equal crappy pitcher? People get stuck in the W/L being the value of a pitcher's worth, but looking at those stats, and then look at their career numbers, Mulder has be more lucky then Marquis.

As Vance, and OleMiss can atest to, the SEC is the TOUGHEST and BEST overall conference from top-to-bottom in the nation. And after watching Florida manhandle the supossedly "best team" in NCAA football, I can pretty much say that is OSU was in the SEC, they would have ATLEAST 2 losses, if not three.

I doubt he gets is. I believe most teams have spent most of their money, already. And the teams that haven't spent much, are most likely not interested, so it's a odd time to make the case you want 4/$40 mill when there is hardly any money left. So, I think Weaver stays in St. Lou on a another 1 yr contract, and that deal may wait till near the end of January before it happens.

Actually, I think the HOF has the ball in question, or atleast check they were negotiating with Mintkiewicz for the ball. Besides I doubt Mintkiewicz would burn his bridges in Boston by selling the ball to Steinbrenner.

I disagree. I mean just because he pitched in the majors doesn't mean he lived up to his talent. TVP was an incredibly hyped up high school pitcher----a precursor to Kerry Wood, perhaps---and while that wasn't his fault he was hyped up, he never lived up to the talent he had. And pitching in the majors doesn't change the fact he was spectular bust, especially after watching Chipper Jones developed into a potential HOF candidate. Nash/Hamilton/Taylor there talents, like TVP, atleast garner some major league time, but the big difference between TVP and those three guys, is TVP was less stupid. I mean Nash (rape), Hamilton (drugs), and Taylor (a senseless fight) decision were incredibly STUPID and short-sighted. At least TVP sidestepped those decision. In that case, I won't group TVP with those three, but in the case of wasting an incredible gift like throwing a baseball 95 mph like TVP, then yes, TVP was as big and spectular of a bust as Hamilton/Taylor/Nash.

Waste of a first round pick. Watch him become the all star the Cubs hoped he would be when they drafted him. Two things about Montanez, Beer: 1: His SISTER is HOT, HOT, Jamician Hot. 2: Yeah, he'll be an All-Star at AAA.

Oh, the hilarity and the jocularity that sitcom would present? Sorry davhern, you're not thinking outside the box, you're thinking inside the TV tube. 8-)

I, too agree with this statement, but you also have to take into account the finanical obligations of the wood .v. alum bats. HS are not going to look at the how much safer a wooden bat is, compare to an alum bat, they are going to see the $$$ they can save by going with alum bats. Alum bats hardly breaks, meaning a HS can go yrs without having to get new bats, but wooden bats can break at anytime of any game. So, as much as I like the idea of HSers using wooden bats, alot of HS/colleges just don't think it is finanically responsible. I would disagree---cause I've been hit in the face with a line drive off an alum bat---but that is what they think.

Are you kidding me, kctigers? With the Cubs in a "win now" mode plus Tim Wilken as part of the org, if there is ONE thing the Cubs won't target is that RAW HS target with the 3rd pick. I think it will come down to either David Price and Wieters with the #3 pick.