Chisoxfn

Personally I think Edwards would of been the tougher candidate for Bush to go up against. I think this is goign to be a really good election. I put in my vote today (Used the new computer system). Of course I vote in the republican primary and I wrote in Bush Sr, just for s***s and giggles. Otherwise I grudingly voted in favor of a few bond bills, with exception to prop 56 (Which lowered the required % of votes to increase taxes). 55 was for education (if it wins, my school gets a few billion to build a new business building). I also was glad to hear the Bush called Kerry and congratulated him. Supposedly the two talked about the upcoming election and both want the each other to have a clean campaign and to focus on the issues.

Haaa...we know I'm the one and only SULTAN PIMP of Soxtalk Mark, I'm sure you'll have a kick ass bday. 18, so I'm guessing your already at the nudie bar Have a good one bud

So it could be as long as 5 years. I wonder how much the option years are for. If they are at a reasonable price, this could turn into an even better signing. Marte = THE MAN

Thats an outstanding signing. This is definately one of KW's best early resignings. They no longer have to worry about arbitration and Marte knows he has a future in the southside. I'm pumped, he's one of my favorite relievers and I Just hope he stays healthy and if possible, keeps getting better.

Wow, if Politte is throwing strikes, he's going to be NASTY.

That was a sweet play. Hinrich played another great game so did Curry, AD, and Dupree. Surprised Erob hasn't been seen lately. I figure the Bulls will play him a lot down the strecth. They may end up protecting him, or he could put up good enough numbers that the Bobcats come a calling and take his contract off the Bulls hands. I personally think Erob should be starting over JYD, who I hope is taken by the Bobcats in the expansion draft. These last two Bulls games have been fun to watch. Chandler played better on the boards as well as defensively, but he's really behind offensively. He made such good strides early in the season, but right now his form is just terrible.

Here's the thing, if they fail, what really have they lost other then Crawford and Blount. Fizer wasn't coming back anyway and its not like the Bulls don't have all that money still out there to throw around at a few players. Heck, bring in Qrich and Ginobli or Turkolu. That gives you two guys who I Think are as good as Crawford and both are better team players. To me the worse case scenario is things don't work out, you lose Crawford and now have money to go after another two or so young players. Or you could sign a few vets and keep your cap room for next year.

I figured Garner was gone, but either way Atrain is young and has been productive. Its quite obvious that he doesn't fit in with the Bears scheme, but that doesn't mean he wouldn't fit in somewhere else. Heck, how about the Patriots. They have been looking for a back and Atrain is easily as good of a player as Greg Jones, who has been rumored as a potential Patriot selection.

See, my thinking is Kearse stock seems to be slipping, but he is an amazing athlete and has so much speed, plus he is a pretty good player against the run and Brown has been good as well, especially for a young player. The question is, do the Bears see Haynes as a player that could be moved inside to the dt. I think the Bears are going to add YOung. All reports have him being on his way to Chicago. He put up quite a few sacks the year before last in St. Louis and this year I think he had like 4 or 5, but he's young and very quick.

Great to hear that Jay Will is progressing. I think the Bulls would probably tell him to hold out and wait another full year and then try to bring him on their summer league team the following year and work him slowly back into things. I do believe the Bulls will sign him once he is healthy. I wish the guy the best, he's a quality character who made one bad choice in life.

Baltimore, Dallas, the Raiders and I'm sure a few other teams would be interested as well, maybe even the Bucs.

The Bears also tendered Gandy, Tafoya, Edwards and Merrit. Holdman is still under contract, which leads me to believe the Bears may have a trade partner for him. Late reports by the score said they talked with Traylor and he said he was informed that the Bears will not resign him. THis miss that they will definately be signing at least one dlineman, personally I think they will bring in both Young from the Rams and Kearse from the Titans.

He missed one full season and then came back the next year and late in the season got beaten up. OTherwise, he's really alot more durable then people give him credit for. Thomas Jones, Kearse, Robert Young and an OT like Efram Salaam and I'd be very happy with the Bears offseason.

I'm with you. Russel is a fearless runner and he always was able to handle the burden with the Hawkeyes. I think he'd be an outstanding pick. I also do like Thomas Jones upside if the price is right. I think the Bears will deal AT, draft a back late and sign Thomas Jones.

Way to go Alex...hopefully you'll be wearing a state champsionship ring soon enough

If the Bulls renounce the rights to Jamal Crawford and Marcus Fizer this offseason and then decline Corie Blounts option, they will be roughly 12 mill under the cap. Now if you add that to the fact that the Charlotte expansion draft is going to happen before FA and the Bulls will likely leave AD, JYD, and Erob unprotected then the Bulls could end up putting themselves in a position where they could get Kobe Bryant without giving up any of their big guys. This all assumes that one of the three expensive Bulls is selected in the expansion draft and I think there is a possibility that one of JYD and Erob will be selected. This would then leave the Bulls with about 18 million under the cap, meaning they could offer Kobe Bryant a max contract. After signing Kobe, they would still have about 4 million to toss around in a market where guys like Qrichardson, Manu Ginobli, and Hedu Turkolu, etc. Those are all quality players, one of which would probably be willing to come for a little less, soley to play alongside Kobe and have a shot at winning it all. Now you also have the Bulls with one of the top few picks in the draft and they can then either take Okafor or deal the pick and keep Chandler. But one of the two will also be used as bait to bring in a good player. How does a starting lineup of Hinrich Kobe Trade/FA (Kobe could also play here if the Bulls signed a 2) Okafor or Chandler (One gets dealt) Curry AD is the backup center and power forward or JYD is because the Bulls would keep one of the two. They still have guys like Dupree, etc and would probably sign a guy like Baxter to be one of the back up big men. This type of lineup would be pretty damn amazing. And Kobe, Hinrich and Okafor alll are shutdown defensive players. So if I'm going to hope for anything, this is going to be it. It would be a way for hte Bulls to instantly make themselves contenders for the NBA Finals.

Great stuff Steff

They are supposedly going to go after Jones, sign Robert Young (DT of the Rams) and then I think they will make a push at a tackle. Most likely they will sign Villy if he doesn't get a huge offer from another team. After that I think you'll see the Bears maybe make a push at Kearse, although its no guarantee.

Happy Bday RPS. Hope your gig is still going good and that all is well

I'm so ready for the season

Yep, about 45 minutes ago.

I instead chose to watch Braveheart. Still going on with all this damn commercials its like 4 hours long, but its still a sweet movie.

Like Dan said, Baxter was just waived and the Bulls are reportedly going to be resigning him. Also, all I'm saying is that Crawford and Q are very similar players value wise. The Clippers will likely let him go and I think he still has enough question marks where no team will make a huge offer to them, at least not with some of the other players on the market. My thoughts are the Bulls go after one or the other, they may instead go after someone like Turkolu or for example Manu Ginobli and if you offer enough years you may get a team like the Spurs not to match. Its all a tricky business. I don't doubt that Pierce would be ridiculous. Now if the Bulls involved some sort of sign and trade deal with JC (Don't know how it works) but JC, Chandler, and then AD or JYD for Pierce and Capfillers would at least make the Celtics think. I think Paxson is going to go after a big fish this offseason via trade and then try to sign one (It very well may be Crawford who he resigns instead) secondary scorer.

Personally I think they had Miller over-rated. He has pretty electric stuff but is still very raw and I thought there were other players that produced better numbers, while also having pretty high ability that could of went higher. For example, I personally like Deininger quite a bit more then Miller. I realize Deininger is less raw, but I think he's one of the more talented pitchers in the Sox system - just my opinion. I also feel someone like Orionny Lopez could of been ranked higher then Miller. While I think Miller has the ability to be a top 15 guy, right now, I wouldn't have him that high. But BA is very high on him, just like I am high on Deininger.

This is assuming the Bulls get one of the 1st two picks. I think as long as the Bulls are 1 or 2 they will be able to get Okafor and insert him immediately as the starting power forward. With Okafor and Curry the long term answers down low, I look to move Chandler for an offensive weapon. I would offer two deals. The first deal would be AD-Chandler to the Celts for Paul Pierce and Michael Stewart (Bad contract). This deal works cap wise, although I am hard pressed to see the Celts doing it. However, not many of the Celts moves have made sense and if the Celts asked for next years 1st I'd gladly give it to them. IF the Celts don't accept, then I'd go to the backup and more likely plan. I'd deal Chandler and JYD to the Mavs for Antwan Jamison and Josh Howard. The Mavs finally get the low post players they need. Guys that will provide toughness and defense and possibly help the Mavericks get to the finals. This move works salary wise and gives the Bulls a legit 3 as well as a pretty good youngster in Josh Howard, who could provide some points off the bench. Then I'd either sign Jamaal Crawford or find a way to sign Qrich to the mid level exception. He's a free agent and from the Chicago area so the mid level may just be enough, especially if thats what the other teams are offering him. He plays better defense then Jamaal and would also be enough of an offensive presence. Either way the Bulls have a front court of shooters (Hinrich, Craw/Qrich, and Jamison) who would be great for Curry and Okafor to dish out too. They also have a pretty solid defensive team, minus Curry and Crawford and would have some damn good athletes. A starting lineup of PG - Hinrich, Craw, FA SG - Qrich/Craw, Josh Howard, Erob, Dupree SF - Jamison, Erob, Dupree PF - Okafor, AD, Blount, Lonny Baxter C - Curry, AD, Okafor, Blount, Lonny Baxter If the Bulls keep Craw then they may even be able to make a FA signing. Either way, that starting lineup would be plenty good to compete in the East and would also have the ability to grow into a better team. The bench wouldn't be bad either cause you'd always keep one of Okafor/Curry on the court with AD being out there eventually and I'd always have one of Crawford/Hinrich on the court giving you a good point all the time. Then Howard, Erob, and Dupree are good swing players and in other instances Blount and Baxter are more then capable depth players that can provide some toughness. I fully believe the deal for Jamison would be more then viable and the reason I'd rather have Okafor then Chandler is because Okafor is already a better defensive player. He's also healthy, and has a much better low game - offensively. In fact I could see him being a less offensive Elton Brand.