SoxFan1

QUOTE (gatnom @ Mar 3, 2012 -> 07:46 PM) Getting Nicks would be an imprudent use of money. We have plenty of talent on the interior of the line, regardless of how much of an upgrade he would be. If we are going to actually use that cap space, we should use it where it would do the most good. I can't say I agree. This team will live and die with Jay Cutler. I don't see how it is ever a bad thing to improve the wall in front of him. I'd say we have more TALENT on the outside at tackle in Webb, Carimi and Louis if you want to count him. If I had my way, we'd be Carimi/Williams/Spencer/Garza/Louis left to right based on the guys we have right now. But apparently Cutler has a real comfort level with Garza at center. Basically all 5 guys can play more than one position, so it's a matter of who does what best. Nicks would be a valuable asset any way you slice it.

Pretty awesome...

99-98, Heat down 1 to the Jazz, 4 seconds to go, Lebron gives the ball to Udonis Haslem for the game winning 17-footer. Brick. 1) Why is Lebron passing to Udonis Haslem? 2) Why didn't Haslem make the extra pass to the open guy on the wing? 3) Why the f*** is Haslem on the court in this situation?

QUOTE (DBAHO @ Mar 2, 2012 -> 08:54 PM) Cute? Yeah that's hilarious. It's not fantasy either (if you read the Deron to Dallas stories post ASB), as much as you want Dwight to be in Chicago, that isn't going to happen and that's why people on here can't stand him. I like Dwight Howard. I'd like him on the Bulls, sure. Who wouldn't? I'm not the person to point a finger at clamoring to do anything to get him though. Get that right.

The goaltender won us a game. Emery was brilliant. That job is his for good. Two more big points.

Bears have officially placed the franchise tag on Matt Forte.

Half-way through the 2nd period, the Hawks are up 2-1 on the Sens. The first goal was Bickell on a delayed penalty and the 2nd was Hossa on the power play. Could have a trifecta if Sharp could have converted on his penalty shot. They're flying right now.

QUOTE (sunofgold @ Mar 2, 2012 -> 05:34 PM) Seems okay to me. One wildcard team will go on and one will be quickly eliminated. Both wildcard teams will have to use their best starter in the extra game and thus the winner will have that disadvantage in the next series. But really they need to go a 2-2-1 format. Teams with the best records in baseball are being penalized here. They are only guaranteed one home playoff game. However, a wildcard team might host the wildcard extra game and win. Then they get two more playoff games at home..that could give a wildcard team three straight home games. Huge advantage in the playoffs. The 2-3 division series is only for 2012 because the MLB schedule was finalized before the playoff changes were approved. It will be 2-2-1 again next year and for the future.

Bulls interior defense has been quite poor since the All Star break. Deng is feeling it tonight though.

QUOTE (Boogua @ Mar 2, 2012 -> 06:38 PM) With the cover 2 that Lovie plays, it usually doesn't need guys to be elite man coverage wise. Obviously, those three can all play in the cover 2 scheme, but their talent would be wasted a bit. Our corners play a lot of zones or play in 2 man under where they have help if they're beat deep. A guy like Casey Hayward, who looks like a perfect cover 2 guy, could be just as good for the Bears later on, but won't cost a first round pick. From a pure talent standpoint, sure, those guys are great. That's why there is a good likelihood that they won't even be there at 19. You have to take scheme into account though. Take a guy like Namdi for example. An elite cover guy that was utilized in man defenses with oakland. He flourished. He goes to Philadelphia, where they having him play zones more and he's CONSIDERABLY worse. Claiborne most certainly won't be there, but the off field issues for Jenkins and Kirkpatrick could keep them around. And FWIW, I didn't say we HAD to take a DB in the first round...

QUOTE (LittleHurt05 @ Mar 2, 2012 -> 06:36 PM) If the Saints can't afford Carl Nicks, offer him the moon. He's a guard, not a tackle, but he's still one of the best in the league. Exactly. I think I said a while back the Bears should go after whichever of Colston/Nicks that they don't franchise. Which has become more likely with the Brees situation. Nicks is arguably the best OG in the league.

QUOTE (Boogua @ Mar 2, 2012 -> 06:24 PM) This is a pretty good draft for CBs though. I don't know why we should take one in the first round. I think it should be either a DE or an offensive player (OL or WR) for sure. Kirkpatrick, Claiborne and Jenkins are a ways above the rest of the CB crop.

QUOTE (Boogua @ Mar 2, 2012 -> 06:08 PM) So don't address the offensive line at all? This really isn't a great draft for o-linemen and all signs point to the organization feeling that the OL isn't a priority. They'll surely be bringing one in via free agency though. Plus, again, we have two 3rd round picks.

QUOTE (DBAHO @ Mar 2, 2012 -> 05:54 PM) Yeah the Warriors have been mooting that on their end all season long, shows you how desperate they are for a quality big. But now, Orlando looks to have decided that they want to see if they can add another piece at the deadline, which is obviously going to be very hard with the pieces they have. FWIW, the Josh Smith rumors have started again also, and he was a guy that Dwight wanted to go after. It's so cute how you're really hoping Orlando can hold on to Dwight. I suppose I'd be in a similar state of denial.

I think I've come up with my best-case-scanario (realistically) for the Bears: - Sign one of Vincent Jackson/Marques Colston - 1st round, pick one of Dre Kirkpatrick, Janoris Jenkins, Courtney Upshaw, Whitney Mercilus, Mark Barron, - 2nd round, best WR/TE available, pick one of Kendall Wright, Muhamed Sanu, Alshon Jeffery, Dwayne Allen, Orson Charles There's also some secondary WR guys I like such as AJ Jenkins, Jarius Wright, TY Hilton, Marvin McNutt, and Juron Criner.

The main argument by supporters of the new system (and the MLB) is that is puts a premium on winning the division outright.

QUOTE (Steve9347 @ Mar 2, 2012 -> 02:48 PM) That was with Cam Newton throwing to him... something tells me Jay Cutler might have passed a bit more at the goal line. It was a fail. A big, fat fail. Olsen had plenty of speed to be a nice target in a 4-wide set if Martz wanted to have a TE that blocked. He certainly would have been a better WR this year than Roy f***ing Williams. Like others mentioned, Olsen wasn't exactly tearing it up like people thought he would in CAR. And even then, we got great value out of him with a 3rd round pick. I am with you, thought, in regards to Martz. Hated the hiring. Hated his philosophies.

Basically all they've done is prolonged the playoffs by adding a 1-game playoff between the top 2 wild cards teams in each league.

@MLB BREAKING: 2012 Postseason to feature 10-team format that includes 2 additional Wild Cards and elimination game in each league prior to DS. @MLB MORE: This year only, Division Series will begin with 2 home games for lower seeds, followed by up to 3 home games for higher seeds.

QUOTE (SOXOBAMA @ Mar 2, 2012 -> 12:02 PM) inside the Bears organization This is someone you know personally, then, I assume? That's terrible if true. But I haven't read anything linking them so who knows. QUOTE (GoSox05 @ Mar 2, 2012 -> 12:05 PM) The Bears could also use a TE that can catch. I posted an article about them potentially going after Carlson next year. Wouldn't be surprised to see them go after Charles or Allen in the early rounds of the draft.

QUOTE (SOXOBAMA @ Mar 2, 2012 -> 11:55 AM) I heard from a source that the Bears are going to go all out for Garcon.. What source?

QUOTE (LittleHurt05 @ Mar 2, 2012 -> 11:09 AM) I can't find it now, but I just read a whole piece in the last day or two that said he was guaranteed to stay. I saw this on Rotoworld as well: That's very surprising to me. If Bowe, Jackson, and Welker all get tagged, with DeSean Jackson already getting tagged, that really puts the Bears in a tough position.

QUOTE (Steve9347 @ Mar 2, 2012 -> 11:06 AM) That sounds about right, because it would be just the right amount of disappointing. There's just so many teams looking for WR help and most of the teams who these FA belong to want to keep them too.

QUOTE (fathom @ Mar 2, 2012 -> 10:56 AM) Maybe the best thing to happen all last season for the Sox was Morel's last month of the season when he started trying to actually hit the ball with authority. He has a ton of power when he pulls the ball, but as of now, he doesn't have enough power to the opposite field to be anything but a singles hitter if he keeps the approach he had for the majority of the season. If he keeps his late-season approach, the gap power will show up naturally. He's got a ways to go, but there is reason for optimism. He's got a great person to reference in his manager too.

I have this strange feeling the Bears will wind up with Laurent Robinson.