Blind Squirrel?
Broken Clock?
- Ogilthorpe2

That's my take on him.

Man, listening to ESPN you would think the team is called Green Bay Rogers. He is the most protected QB in the league. You wonder why he got hurt on a relatively innocent play. Maybe if he was allowed to be hit more he would be tougher.
- powerenforcer

I'm a Bears fan, but for the record, Rodgers is one of the only quarterbacks in the league to be sacked more than Cutler over the last three years. He's not a big guy (looks more slight than Jay) so with that stat I'm surprised he isn't injured more.

Blind Squirrel?
Broken Clock?
- Ogilthorpe2

To apply the Broken Clock analogy though wouldn't Iron Mike have needed one more SB win? Close enough but Blind Squirrel is dead on.

People have cited the no QB thing but with that defense the Bears should have been able to get to another Super Bowl. Hell, the Ravens won with Trent Dilfer!

To apply the Broken Clock analogy though wouldn't Iron Mike have needed one more SB win? Close enough but Blind Squirrel is dead on.

People have cited the no QB thing but with that defense the Bears should have been able to get to another Super Bowl. Hell, the Ravens won with Trent Dilfer!
- HawkintheD

Not if you use a 24 hour clock.

And - should have been able to win more than one more play-off game, let alone a Super Bowl.

Not if you use a 24 hour clock.

And - should have been able to win more than one more play-off game, let alone a Super Bowl.
- StLBravesFan

True, but doesn't the saying go - Even a broken clock is right twice a day. Or is that not it?

Yeah, Da Coach was more of a personality than he was an actual coach...or a good one anyway.

True, but doesn't the saying go - Even a broken clock is right twice a day. Or is that not it?

Yeah, Da Coach was more of a personality than he was an actual coach...or a good one anyway.
- HawkintheD

Just trying to bring it in line with the facts. When the legend becomes fact, print the legend.

Whatever that means, but it's a great quote.

To apply the Broken Clock analogy though wouldn't Iron Mike have needed one more SB win? Close enough but Blind Squirrel is dead on.

People have cited the no QB thing but with that defense the Bears should have been able to get to another Super Bowl. Hell, the Ravens won with Trent Dilfer!
- HawkintheD

We've strayed a bit here. The comments were made in reference to his prediction of a Bears win last night. Has he ever picked the Bears to lose?

You could do worse than read and respond on sites like this.

You could watch grass grow rather than see the painful slow progress of the Cubs plan to develop all those prospects. Glad you have the winning Blackhawks, Steve Rain, because your Cubs are still a ways away from being over.500 ball love our teams
- jhawk59

I ran away and never looked back at the Cubs since 2008. Honestly....it's been fantastic. I don't miss 1 minute of that circus. I did watch the 2003 Bartman special on Comcast and then quickly remembered it doesn't matter anymore.......

The cubs will never win because their idiotic fan base supports them regardless. They need to move out of that hell hole they call a stadium, get rid of day games, and focus on what matters most: winning. Instead, they soak up every ounce of BS "aura: they can get. The last time I sat in Wrigley was January 1st, 2009....for the Hawks game.

Theo is not a savior. Typical Cubs hiring a man who can't buy extra picks, which was his MO in boston, and go read the article on his inability to actually build a team. Then again, every Cub fan should see that by now if Rizzo or Castro isn't proof enough.....

You've mentioned this in the past...I don't know where you are getting this from.....it will be nowhere near what 2010 was...not even close.
- UnnamedSource

If the wonder twins take a contract both paying 9 million each.....which isn't out of the question considering the lack of comparables out there. That puts the Hawks at 67.715 and gives you 16 roster players....How high do you think that cap is going from 64.3 million? Oh...and you still have to sign a back up goalie, Shaw, and then decide upon RFAs like Morin, Smith, Piri, and UFAs like Handzus, Brookbank, Kostka, and Bolig. So you could be at 18, and need at least 3 more spots. Shaw will get at least 2.3-2.5. Think the cap is going up 8-10 million?

So yeah....it's going to be an issue. That's why Oduya will be moved, and Leddy will be bumped up into the 4th slot...so they can save 3.4 million.

If the wonder twins take a contract both paying 9 million each.....which isn't out of the question considering the lack of comparables out there. That puts the Hawks at 67.715 and gives you 16 roster players....How high do you think that cap is going from 64.3 million? Oh...and you still have to sign a back up goalie, Shaw, and then decide upon RFAs like Morin, Smith, Piri, and UFAs like Handzus, Brookbank, Kostka, and Bolig. So you could be at 18, and need at least 3 more spots. Shaw will get at least 2.3-2.5. Think the cap is going up 8-10 million?

So yeah....it's going to be an issue. That's why Oduya will be moved, and Leddy will be bumped up into the 4th slot...so they can save 3.4 million.
- SteveRain

Thankfully, Toews and Kane are under contract until July 2015. The cap will rise a couple of times between now and then. However, how much will that cap rise? That's the question going forward.

If the wonder twins take a contract both paying 9 million each.....which isn't out of the question considering the lack of comparables out there. That puts the Hawks at 67.715 and gives you 16 roster players....How high do you think that cap is going from 64.3 million? Oh...and you still have to sign a back up goalie, Shaw, and then decide upon RFAs like Morin, Smith, Piri, and UFAs like Handzus, Brookbank, Kostka, and Bolig. So you could be at 18, and need at least 3 more spots. Shaw will get at least 2.3-2.5. Think the cap is going up 8-10 million?

So yeah....it's going to be an issue. That's why Oduya will be moved, and Leddy will be bumped up into the 4th slot...so they can save 3.4 million.
- SteveRain

Another possibility could be moving Leddy instead of Oduya.

If the organization feels that Clendening could be ready next season and/or Kostka could fill Leddy's skates to a certain extent, that could make Leddy expendable. Leddy would probably fetch a better return than Oduya, and Oduya can just move on come July of 2015 when it comes time to re-up Toews & Kane, creating a little more space that way.

It's not my favorite scenario, but it's within the realm of possibilities.

Another possibility could be moving Leddy instead of Oduya.

If the organization feels that Clendening could be ready next season and/or Kostka could fill Leddy's skates to a certain extent, that could make Leddy expendable. Leddy would probably fetch a better return than Oduya, and Oduya can just move on come July of 2015 when it comes time to re-up Toews & Kane, creating a little more space that way.

It's not my favorite scenario, but it's within the realm of possibilities.
- EKolb13

Good morning Eli

Man left rings on the table but I still love him.
- Beaver-Warrior

Me too. Loved Mike, but he lost his way after '86...he became bigger than the team. He was a hypocrite too...he told a couple of his linemen to not focus on endorsements and then he ended up doing an endorsement for the same company he told the players not to work for. His handling of the strike season was EPIC FAIL. His handling of the Flutie/Tomczak/McMahon circus was further epic fail. He had smaller idiotic decisions, such as turning Perry into a circus sideshow instead of sticking with the basics (had he stuck with the basics, Payton and NOT Perry gets a Super Bowl TD). Once Ditka shoved Perry up Bill Walsh's ass and let him catch a TD versus GB he should have SHELVED him as a running back. Instead he got caught up in the bullcrap when Payton and Suey could have more than handled the RB goal line load. What a farce...Payton was arguably the greatest goal line back in history. So lets run the DT instead?

Mike Ditka COULD have been a great coach in the mold of Halas and Vince maybe with a little Landry tossed in...but in the end Iron Mike became a joke. In my view, one of the two greatest defenses of all time....one of them (Pittsburgh) won FOUR rings, the other one got ONE ring.

That all said, I DO love Mike Ditka as a personality and a true Bear!!!

Good morning Eli
- Ogilthorpe2

Good morning Ogie.

Let's see how much I get flamed for floating that idea.

Good morning Ogie.

Let's see how much I get flamed for floating that idea.
- EKolb13

I'm on board, although I'm still hoping (foolishly) for 19 & 88 to settle for a little less than market value to keep the band together, making it a moot point. Dream on right? A guy can hope anyway.

Another possibility could be moving Leddy instead of Oduya.

If the organization feels that Clendening could be ready next season and/or Kostka could fill Leddy's skates to a certain extent, that could make Leddy expendable. Leddy would probably fetch a better return than Oduya, and Oduya can just move on come July of 2015 when it comes time to re-up Toews & Kane, creating a little more space that way.

It's not my favorite scenario, but it's within the realm of possibilities.
- EKolb13

I like this idea, Havent seen much of Kostka but he seems mobile enough and a little more defensively responsible than Leddy. Cant comment on clandening cause i havent seen him play but if the Hawks can get a good return for Leddy then they definitely should.

We've strayed a bit here. The comments were made in reference to his prediction of a Bears win last night. Has he ever picked the Bears to lose?
- Ogilthorpe2

Sorry about that. Never got my second cup of Joe.


And you're correct; yes I do believe he always picks them to win.

To apply the Broken Clock analogy though wouldn't Iron Mike have needed one more SB win? Close enough but Blind Squirrel is dead on.

People have cited the no QB thing but with that defense the Bears should have been able to get to another Super Bowl. Hell, the Ravens won with Trent Dilfer!
- HawkintheD

It sucks the Bears didn't win another SB....and Ditka prolly phucked up starting Flutie in that playoff loss in '87. However, NOBODY was gonna beat the 49ers that year and 'Frisco rolled into Soldier Field and whooped us 28-3 in the NFC Championship game in '88.

Good morning Ogie.

Let's see how much I get flamed for floating that idea.
- EKolb13

If Clendenning has a similar offensive upside which he's supposed to that's not unreasonable. You see him play and would know better.

I like Oduya and wouldn't mind seeing him play out his contract here. Not sure if it was something they worked on at all last year and this year but he seems to be absorbing/avoiding punishment better and coming out of the corner with the puck more cleanly. He and Hammer make a solid second pair.

It sucks the Bears didn't win another SB....and Ditka prolly phucked up starting Flutie in that playoff loss in '87. However, NOBODY was gonna beat the 49ers that year and 'Frisco rolled into Soldier Field and whooped us 28-3 in the NFC Championship game in '88.
- philco28

If the wonder twins take a contract both paying 9 million each.....which isn't out of the question considering the lack of comparables out there. That puts the Hawks at 67.715 and gives you 16 roster players....How high do you think that cap is going from 64.3 million? Oh...and you still have to sign a back up goalie, Shaw, and then decide upon RFAs like Morin, Smith, Piri, and UFAs like Handzus, Brookbank, Kostka, and Bolig. So you could be at 18, and need at least 3 more spots. Shaw will get at least 2.3-2.5. Think the cap is going up 8-10 million?

So yeah....it's going to be an issue. That's why Oduya will be moved, and Leddy will be bumped up into the 4th slot...so they can save 3.4 million.
- SteveRain

We had this conversation before, when Crawford and Hjalmarsson were signed, if I recall.

I maintain my belief from then: the Hawks - and the rest of the league - know with pretty good certainty (a) where the cap is going, and (b) what they will have to do to be compliant.

Don't forget: the increase the Bobsy Twins get won't count until 2015-2016, so it has two years to go up to accomodate them.

EDIT to add: Oduya may very well be a sacrifice to get there, bumping Leddy up with Hjalmarsson, moving a Clendenning or someone up from Rockford into the 5/6, but that's the way the league is now - mid-level players replaced by rookies on ELCs so that superstars can be paid.

It sucks the Bears didn't win another SB....and Ditka prolly phucked up starting Flutie in that playoff loss in '87. However, NOBODY was gonna beat the 49ers that year and 'Frisco rolled into Soldier Field and whooped us 28-3 in the NFC Championship game in '88.
- philco28

Did you watch the game last night Phil?

I'm not sure what to make of all this Offense stuff and a 2nd string QB who actually appears to have some skill and understand the position. If you were to blind me to the jerseys I would have guessed Seneca Wallace was the Bears backup QB.

Me too. Loved Mike, but he lost his way after '86...he became bigger than the team. He was a hypocrite too...he told a couple of his linemen to not focus on endorsements and then he ended up doing an endorsement for the same company he told the players not to work for. His handling of the strike season was EPIC FAIL. His handling of the Flutie/Tomczak/McMahon circus was further epic fail. He had smaller idiotic decisions, such as turning Perry into a circus sideshow instead of sticking with the basics (had he stuck with the basics, Payton and NOT Perry gets a Super Bowl TD). Once Ditka shoved Perry up Bill Walsh's ass and let him catch a TD versus GB he should have SHELVED him as a running back. Instead he got caught up in the bullcrap when Payton and Suey could have more than handled the RB goal line load. What a farce...Payton was arguably the greatest goal line back in history. So lets run the DT instead?

Mike Ditka COULD have been a great coach in the mold of Halas and Vince maybe with a little Landry tossed in...but in the end Iron Mike became a joke. In my view, one of the two greatest defenses of all time....one of them (Pittsburgh) won FOUR rings, the other one got ONE ring.

That all said, I DO love Mike Ditka as a personality and a true Bear!!!
- kwolf68

IIRC, that move also cost the Bears an undefeated season: only loss was to Miami, I think, when they had a two-score lead (or something) and the ball in the red zone, and he put Perry in the backfield - and Perry fumbled, negating a possible 3-score lead and shifting momentum to Miami.

I recall that - may not be correct.

- HawkintheD

Famous piece of NFL Films video from that '88 NFC Championship game. Linebacker Keena Turner, one of only a select few, to have played on
all 4 S.F. Super Bowl teams, prior to '94, came into the locker room after the
win and said something like...'we came in here....with Bear weather...and kicked Bear ass.'

And he was from Chicago too.

Did you watch the game last night Phil?

I'm not sure what to make of all this Offense stuff and a 2nd string QB who actually appears to have some skill and understand the position. If you were to blind me to the jerseys I would have guessed Seneca Wallace was the Bears backup QB.
- HawkintheD

Hell yeah i watched....i'm a DIE HARD BEARS FAN...and let's just say...i'm not a fan of Crud'ler.