iamshack

QUOTE (Rowand44 @ Jan 9, 2011 -> 08:32 PM) I'm not really a Bears fan, so I hope you're not counting me in that, Shack. No, this is from what I have read on message boards and heard from my friends, who are all very big Bears fans. On paper the Bears are the better team and should win, but because of that offensive line, they are capable of being rendered absolutely horrible. Which is why very few national commentators are buying into them at all. And frankly, it's hard to blame them.

Interesting. I guess I just misunderstood the accounting. I assumed it was all thrown in a big pot and then divided up. Apparently they all take what they bring in and then settle it up later.

I dunno about you guys, but I'd take a player that turns out to be "dominant" at any position on the field from my first round draft pick.

QUOTE (Dick Allen @ Jan 9, 2011 -> 09:22 PM) The Twins payroll was over $100 million by the end of last season. I don't think the Pohlad sons are as frugal as their father. Another thing to consider, until now, the Twins were receiving revenue sharing money. Now, I read, they will be paying in. The article I read claimed about a $25 million difference. I'm sure they made a nice profit last season. I'm not sure I understand this. As far as I understand, every team receives revenue sharing money. Are you confusing revenue-sharing with luxury tax? Or have I misunderstood revenue sharing this entire time?

QUOTE (chw42 @ Jan 9, 2011 -> 08:16 PM) Bears played that game in Week 6 without Briggs. You can say the Bears have changed and you can also say how the Seahawks have changed since winning that last game of the season. The Bears are different now due to scheme changes. The talent is more or less the same. The Seahawks are more or less playing out of their minds and have had the luxury of home field advantage. And let's just say it's some of the best home field advantage in all of football. At some point, talent will trump momentum or motivation and I'd say it's pretty safe to say the Bears are the more talented team. But it's the NFL, so who knows? I don't have an issue with any of that. But where have you been all season? Have you not seen the games where we can't protect the quarterback enough to barely keep him alive, yet alone execute an offense? I'm just not sure how anyone could be confident when it is evident in certain games after about 6 plays that the Bears are going to be absolutely incapable of scoring or running a decent offense.

QUOTE (StrangeSox @ Jan 9, 2011 -> 09:11 PM) I think Bears fans are happy they're getting what appears to be the weakest NFC team next week. It's far from a guaranteed win, but it's still nice to play a team with a losing record in the playoffs. And that's fine. But I have read many posts and talked to many friends who seem as if this is basically the same as punching our ticket to the NFC Championship game, and it's not. Yes, we got probably the most favorable matchup possible, but this is still a tough game ahead of us.

QUOTE (Chisoxfn @ Jan 9, 2011 -> 08:53 PM) You got to play the game and the Seahawks have always done a good job offensively (under Hassel) against the Bears. Its the playoffs and it will be a tough game. I agree. I'm sort of surprised by the arrogance shown in general by Bears fans over this matchup. First of all, the Seahawks already came in to Soldier Field once and beat the Bears. The Bears scored a td on their opening drive, and returned a punt for a td at the end of the game, but the other 52 minutes of the game was dominated by the Seahawks, 23-6. Secondly, the Bears, because of their offensive line woes, are capable of being rendered just about the worst team in the NFL at any given time. We've seen this happen against the Giants, the Redskins, the Patriots and the Packers. You never really can be sure which team is going to show up on any given day. Any team can lose to any other team in the NFL on any given day, but I don't know if I have ever seen a team with such a huge range of potential performance as this Bears team. They can look absolutely putrid one game and fairly incredible the next. I don't know about you guys, but I am always afraid that the putrid Bears are going to show up. Finally, I've seen some people argue that this is "a different Bears team" now than the one that the Seahawks beat back on October 17. Well, maybe it is. But maybe this is a different Seahawks team than the one that struggled late in the regular season? Maybe this is more like the team that started off the year 4-2 with quality wins over the Bears and the Chargers... I'm not saying the Bears shouldn't be favored, because they will be, my guess is by 6 points or so, but this is no easy game. This is no just show up and win. Depending on which Bears team comes to play Sunday, I wouldn't even be shocked if the Seahawks beat the Bears handily. I don't want it to happen, and the Bears might expose the Seahawks and make it a bit of a laugher, but that's exactly it, the range of possibilities is huge any time this Bears team steps on the field. That doesn't exactly make me brimming with confidence.

You invited Eric? I thought Eric gave you the creeps...

Gang-Raped? Jeesh, J4L, don't you think you're flattering yourself a bit?

QUOTE (chw42 @ Jan 9, 2011 -> 02:27 PM) Just curious, what's everyone's opinion of Tim Jennings this year? Good tackler. Not great in coverage.

QUOTE (Balta1701 @ Jan 9, 2011 -> 03:13 PM) ON another topic, Raiders CB Nnamdi Asomugha has used an opt-out clause in his contract to become a free agent, and the team will not be able to use the franchise tag on him because of how the clause was structured. Should there ever be a free agency period, he will be one of the top names. Ok Bears. Take note of this, please.

I always laugh at the end of that Peyton Manning Sony commercial

QUOTE (Tex @ Jan 9, 2011 -> 07:40 AM) My comment was a little off that tangent. Not discussing the relative value between two vehicles, but the value of keeping a car for a couple extra years and putting that money in retirement savings, or instead of spending $35k, spending $20k and putting that money into retirement. Some people would rather drive the nicer, newer vehicle. Others would rather be retired earlier. $15k in the bank when you are 30 adds a nice chunk of cash to your retirement. Probably enough to retire a couple years sooner. No, I understood what you were saying. But if you're keep the used car a few extra years, you might end up spending $2k more each year maintaining that vehicle because of its age than if you had purchased a new vehicle. That's where the true cost of ownership comes in. Yeah, keeping your car for 6 years may allow you to save a good chunk of money, but you may spend $43k over the life of the ownership of that vehicle, whereas if you traded it in after 3 years and purchased a new vehicle, you might be spending $47k over the life of two vehicles during the same 6 year period. There will probably be savings, but perhaps not as large as you would think.

QUOTE (RockRaines @ Jan 8, 2011 -> 11:49 PM) Well I bought it. Went against my rule and bought a brand new car. Got it just a touch above invoice, black/black fully loaded with a hemi. Honestly, its pretty awesome. Congrats! If you don't mind me asking, Rock, what was invoice? $42k or so? You'll have to tell me how it rides...I might be copying off you if I don't go crazy and get the Spyder or get the A5/S5... Sweet ride man...

QUOTE (JPN366 @ Jan 9, 2011 -> 12:27 AM) Still no pressure on Seattle to win, that's dangerous for any team that faces them. Hasselbeck always plays his best in the playoffs. That video is awesome from that angle...it's almost like an illusion. I'm happy for you and your SeaChickens!

Damn you Blair White, catch the goddamned ball.

Why do these corners play so damn soft in these situations?

Well, I'm glad that didn't determine the game.

That's a shame.

QUOTE (Balta1701 @ Jan 8, 2011 -> 09:35 PM) I think you and I had the same thought but expressed it differently..."giving the Jets the ball back is stupid". If you can't stop them right away it's over anyways.

I'm kicking onside here if I'm the Colts.

Jets defense came to play today, wow.

Jeesh Addai, why did you bounce that outside?

QUOTE (zenryan @ Jan 8, 2011 -> 07:11 PM) No, not really. No one wants to play a team like this. No one gave them a chance the past 2 weeks and here they still stand. Whoever plays Seattle next week better take them out by the half or watch out. I disagree. I don't think it has everything to do with them playing at home today, but I'd still rather play them than Philly.

I guess we had better put our Green Bay Packers hats on!