Devin Hester's already in Pete Carroll's head


I read that Pete Carroll thinks the best way to contain Devin Hester is to, well, to go ahead and kick to him and just, you know, do a better job on coverage.

HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA!

It's like the Bears have this license to cheat with Hester. They start the game right off showing that extra ace - they don't even have to hide it in their sleeve.

And you know that ever since Seattle beat New Orleans, Hester has been gnawing away at Pete Carroll's brain.
So... just thought I'd give that gnawing a gname - the Hester Fester.

By the grace of the Football Gods, 2 tickets fell into my hands yesterday.
I emailed Carlson immediately, but he's already hosting a Bear's party.
Then I got ahold of Morgan.
The last time we went to a Bears playoff game?

That would be January 12th, 1986.
Bears 24, Rams nothin'.
Singletary and snow, and no place to go for Eric Dickerson.

Couple weeks later, they won The Bowl.

My eyes just rolled back into my own head.

Submitted by CubbyBlue on Sat, 01/15/2011 - 11:50am

Comments

Submitted by Old and Blue
on Sat, 01/15/2011 - 1:03pm

Seattle has a pretty good returner, too. Both teams may be starting on their 40 a lot throughout this game.

Submitted by The E-Man
on Sat, 01/15/2011 - 1:12pm

O & B how easily u forget the Bears' great coverage
equilizer: Garrett Wolfe

Submitted by Old and Blue
on Sat, 01/15/2011 - 1:16pm

He doesn't play little!!!!

Submitted by Jim Hickmans Bat
on Sat, 01/15/2011 - 2:57pm

Oh man, I am SO hoping for a Bears-Packers NFC Championship game at Soldier Field, the week before will be absolute nuts. The kids use the word "epic" a bit too much anymore, but this game.....this would qualify. Just get it done against Seattle, please.

Submitted by tbone
on Sat, 01/15/2011 - 11:21pm

Singletary had the benefit of a great d-line and two amazing stud athletes playing at outside linebacker. If Singletary hadn't had bulging eyes that TV camera men and directors fell in love with, he wouldn't be in the Hall of Fame. Hell of a head coach though, I will give him that.

I always think of that game as Wilbur Marshall in the snow.

Submitted by Rob G.
on Sun, 01/16/2011 - 12:50am

Singletary was great before and after Wilber, can you say the same about Marshall after he left the Bears?

helluva linebacker though, crappy head coach is probably what you meant to write.

Submitted by tbone
on Sun, 01/16/2011 - 9:25am

No he wasn't great. He had less career interceptions than Ron Rivera. He had less than Richard Dent! He was known for his crazy eyes and busting helmets at Baylor. Along with Joe Namath one of the most overrated players of all time.

And I was being sarcastic about his coaching. Hell of a gay rights activist though.

Submitted by Newport
on Sun, 01/16/2011 - 11:11am

Interceptions? Really? Theriot is a better hitter then ARam because he has more sac bunts. That makes the same amount of sense. Singletary was a first team all pro SEVEN times. Ten Pro Bowls. Defensive player of the year twice. Name another LB to do that who isn't in the HoF.

Submitted by tbone
on Sun, 01/16/2011 - 8:11pm

Singletary amassed an incredible number of tackles because Hampton, Dent and the speed of the outside linebackers funneled the running games of other teams right at Singletary. And they would rather take their chances with him than the others. When Hampton and Dent were diminished and then gone, Singletary was exposed.

And seven interceptions for a middle linebacker with the career longevity that Singletary had is absurdly poor. Doug Buffone, no HOFer, had more than three times as many. Singletary had hands of steel and was just the better than average hub of a great defense. That Singletary is in the Hall and Dent is not is a sham.

Singletary was really good. Sort of the Ken Boyer of football. Although that may be overrating him a bit. He should not be in the HOF.

Submitted by Jim Hickmans Bat
on Sun, 01/16/2011 - 11:38pm

Doug Buffone was seriously underrated. On a better team, he'd have been a multi-year Pro Bowler.

Submitted by The Real Neal
on Mon, 01/17/2011 - 12:02am

Hampton and Dent thrived on the presence of Singeltary. Some novices suggestd that Singletary wasn't the key to the Bears defense, but when Wilbur Marshall left, the defense continued to be exceptional. Dent and Hampton's only claim to fame was never having to worry about defending the middle of the line, because they knew that Singletary would stop the run game.

If not for Singletary, Dent probably plays the bulk of his career in the CFL.

Submitted by The E-Man
on Mon, 01/17/2011 - 12:16am

Having seen Mike Singletary in person many times, and of course on TV, I am wondering if you who say he was "overated" are just looking at stats (and tackles stats are not easily - if at all - available during his time) and did not actually see the talented player during his heyday. The Pro Bowl selections at the time were via player vote - not fan. He was a to be reckoned with.

I'd agree (shockingly) with NEAL above with respect to him making things easier for Dent, and other members of the front four - and that I recall Singletary having 15-22 tackle games regularly during a five-year period. He was a force in the middle, and teams schemed around him. That is ultimate respect.

The Bears were fortunate to have three fantastic HOF players at MLB - Butkus, Singletary, and Urlacher.

Submitted by Jim Hickmans Bat
on Mon, 01/17/2011 - 12:43am

>>The Bears were fortunate to have three fantastic HOF players at MLB - Butkus, Singletary, and Urlacher.<<

Bill George's ghost says hi......

Submitted by The E-Man
on Mon, 01/17/2011 - 8:51am

...and Bill George.

Submitted by Arizona Phil
on Mon, 01/17/2011 - 9:22am

...and Bulldog Turner, too.

Submitted by tbone
on Mon, 01/17/2011 - 10:14am

No, I had season tickets when Singletary played.

Let me get one thing straight. To be overrated you have to be a good player. Just as Urlacher was voted most overrated a few years ago by NFL players. They weren't saying he wasn't good. They were just saying he wasn't the best defensive player in football as many maintained at the time.

I'm not saying Singletary wasn't good. I'm just saying he wasn't one of the greatest of all time and should not be in the HOF. His "All-Time Great" status resulted greatly from being a member of a great team and how TV featured his mug so prominently before practically every defensive play.

Submitted by Rob G.
on Sun, 01/16/2011 - 11:54am

You're just wrong

Submitted by jacos
on Sun, 01/16/2011 - 7:24pm

I agree with TBone.

He was over rated.

He wouldn't be able to play in today's league at that size and no speed.

Submitted by Rob G.
on Sun, 01/16/2011 - 11:33pm

Overrated I can buy, most great players are overrated to a degree (see Ray Lewis), but singletary was no slouch and deserved his accolades. Urlacher was suppose to need Ted Washington and Keith Traylor. So that's all b.s. to me.

Babe Ruth's a fat, unmotivated, DH if he came up today.

Submitted by The Real Neal
on Sun, 01/16/2011 - 11:52pm

All-Pro Teams
Year Team Level Voters
1983 1st Team All-Conf. Pro Football Weekly
1983 1st Team All-Conf. UPI
1983 1st Team All-NFL Newspaper Ent. Assoc.
1983 1st Team All-NFL Pro Football Weekly
1984 1st Team All-Conf. Pro Football Weekly
1984 1st Team All-Conf. UPI
1984 1st Team All-NFL Associated Press
1984 1st Team All-NFL Pro Football Writers
1984 1st Team All-NFL Newspaper Ent. Assoc.
1984 1st Team All-NFL Pro Football Weekly
1984 1st Team All-NFL Sporting News
1985 1st Team All-Conf. UPI
1985 1st Team All-NFL Associated Press
1985 1st Team All-NFL Pro Football Writers
1985 1st Team All-NFL Newspaper Ent. Assoc.
1985 1st Team All-NFL Sporting News
1986 1st Team All-Conf. Pro Football Weekly
1986 1st Team All-Conf. UPI
1986 1st Team All-NFL Associated Press
1986 1st Team All-NFL Pro Football Writers
1986 1st Team All-NFL Newspaper Ent. Assoc.
1986 1st Team All-NFL Pro Football Weekly
1986 1st Team All-NFL Sporting News
1987 1st Team All-Conf. Pro Football Weekly
1987 1st Team All-Conf. UPI
1987 1st Team All-NFL Associated Press
1987 1st Team All-NFL Pro Football Writers
1987 2nd Team All-NFL Newspaper Ent. Assoc.
1987 1st Team All-NFL Pro Football Weekly
1987 1st Team All-NFL Sporting News
1988 1st Team All-Conf. Pro Football Weekly
1988 1st Team All-Conf. UPI
1988 1st Team All-NFL Associated Press
1988 1st Team All-NFL Pro Football Writers
1988 1st Team All-NFL Newspaper Ent. Assoc.
1988 1st Team All-NFL Pro Football Weekly
1988 1st Team All-NFL Sporting News
1989 1st Team All-Conf. Pro Football Weekly
1989 1st Team All-Conf. UPI
1989 1st Team All-NFL Associated Press
1989 1st Team All-NFL Pro Football Writers
1989 1st Team All-NFL Pro Football Weekly
1989 1st Team All-NFL Sporting News
1990 1st Team All-Conf. Pro Football Weekly
1990 1st Team All-Conf. UPI
1990 2nd Team All-NFL Associated Press
1991 1st Team All-Conf. UPI
1991 1st Team All-NFL Associated Press
1991 1st Team All-NFL Sporting News

Submitted by Old and Blue
on Mon, 01/17/2011 - 8:53am

Singletary wasn't playing in today's league. I wonder how the punky QB would fare in today's league.

Singletary wasn't just a great middle linebacker, he was quarterbacking the defense. This meant that he had to read offensive changes as they happened and direct guys into better position to make a play.

Submitted by big_lowitzki
on Mon, 01/17/2011 - 10:36am

He wouldn't be able to play in today's league at that size and no speed.

There are very few, if any, players from 1985 that could play in today's league.

I was watching the Super Bowl Shuffle this week, and was amazed at how small they all were compared to today's play. The game, and the players, have changed a lot in 25 years. So because Singletary couldn't play in today's league doesn't mean he wasn't a great player.

Submitted by jacos
on Mon, 01/17/2011 - 11:49am

Payton and Hampton could.

The great ones could.

Submitted by Old and Blue
on Sun, 01/16/2011 - 11:39am

I just need to go on record as saying that I've never felt this was a very good football team. I know there was an article by David Haugh today saying it would be a classic disappointment if the Bears lose. But I still have no confidence in this O-line at all, and, despite my pro-Cutler arguments in another thread, I do always fear that Bad Jay could show up on any given day. I hope I'm wrong. These guys just don't get me all giddy and make me think "Can't wait for that Green Bay game!"

Submitted by Rob G.
on Sun, 01/16/2011 - 11:56am

Bear down Chicago bears so they can get their asses kicked next week. :)

Submitted by The E-Man
on Sun, 01/16/2011 - 2:19pm

I think that is a potential, however, with the game in Chicago, and
the last two games very competitive (the Bears having nothing to play for leaving many plays on the table) I do not think it will be a blowout unless the Bears get more than 10 pts behind.

The D will come to play. Of that you can be sure.
================================================
Let me rephrase. IF we get "The Good Jay" against the Packers, ROB G, Green Bay ain't gonna be kicking no Bear Asses.

A "good Jay" and a sound defensive strategy (if its possible), and it is gonna be a great game possibly decided by 3.

Submitted by tbone
on Sun, 01/16/2011 - 8:14pm

Bears played one of their worst games of the year a few weeks ago while the Pack was playing at home for their postseason lives and the Bears held them to 10 and lost by 7. I don't get anyone who thinks the Bears are going to get blown out. Based on what?

Submitted by Old and Blue
on Sun, 01/16/2011 - 4:43pm

All I can say is -- it's sure good to be wrong sometimes. The O-line actually looked really good today. Cutler had all day on most plays, and Forte had some seams. If Martz hadn't made that perplexing call with Forte where he tossed that interception late in the game, the game would have been even more of a blow out than it was. A trick play with a big lead late in the game?

Submitted by The E-Man
on Sun, 01/16/2011 - 7:01pm

That was f'ing STUPID!

But, they had such a big lead, and were totally dominating, not the worst thing in the world at the time. Sort of like the little boy reaching for one more dessert!

And, right on cue, Garrett Wolfe made a nice special teams tackle!

GO BEARS!!!!

Submitted by jacos
on Sun, 01/16/2011 - 7:25pm

bears vs steelers super bowl

book it.

Submitted by jacos
on Sun, 01/16/2011 - 8:36pm

Big Z sporting a Bartolo Colon hair and
King Kong and Billy Buck at the convention-

http://www.chicagonow.com/blogs/len-and-bob/2...

Submitted by crunch
on Sun, 01/16/2011 - 8:51pm

doug glanville's turtleneck is attempting to eat his head.

Submitted by Newport
on Sun, 01/16/2011 - 11:26pm

WTF? Is that from the 1989 Cubs Convention?

Submitted by crunch
on Mon, 01/17/2011 - 1:40am

haha. awesome.

Submitted by rokfish
on Sun, 01/16/2011 - 11:16pm

Richard Dent needs to finally make the hall of fame.

Singletary was a by product of all the really good players
around him,no one mentions Ming Mcmichael he made alot of
players jobs easier, not to mention he did own bears record
for most games played which was broken this year by ________

Submitted by The E-Man
on Sun, 01/16/2011 - 11:37pm

I'm guessing Olin Kruetz or Patrick Manley. What do I win?

Submitted by Rob G.
on Mon, 01/17/2011 - 12:52am

Pretty sure it's mannely

Submitted by jacos
on Mon, 01/17/2011 - 9:33am

Mannely.

And McMichael was very under rated defensive line man.

Submitted by jacos
on Mon, 01/17/2011 - 10:21am

Reds give Votto 38 million, three-year contract.

Submitted by Paul Noce
on Mon, 01/17/2011 - 5:54pm

Nice deal for the Reds.

Submitted by billybucks
on Mon, 01/17/2011 - 12:56pm

Now that the Pats are out, it's very possible the Bears could win the Super Bowl.

...and fans would still say "Nah, they're not really all that good...."

Submitted by garsky
on Mon, 01/17/2011 - 1:02pm

The Bears aren't even close to the same team they were early in the season, thanks mainly to Mike Tice and his miraculous coaching. They are clearly a playoff-caliber team right now, but they sucked bad at the beginning of the year. Without a whole lot of luck earlier, they're not even in the playoffs now.

Submitted by dB
on Mon, 01/17/2011 - 1:37pm

for three prospects TBD

http://espn.go.com/blog/chicago/cubs/post/_/i...

Submitted by John Beasley
on Mon, 01/17/2011 - 1:38pm

This team is so infuriating.

Submitted by navigator
on Mon, 01/17/2011 - 2:03pm

Remember, Tom Ricketts actually claimed that he hasn't cut the Cubs budget at all and gives Spendry every last penny he can dig up to do with as he wishes. And yet Levine writes, "The Cubs felt it was necessary to make this move because of payroll constraints."

Submitted by crunch
on Mon, 01/17/2011 - 2:37pm

marmol, marshall, and garza still have to get paid

Submitted by Cubster
on Mon, 01/17/2011 - 2:08pm

Sullivan tweet confirms...

PWSullivan: Gor-Z to Nats for 3 mid-level prospects, pending phys. Cubs confirm ESPN report, which sheds some surplus starting pitching (and salary).

Submitted by QuietMan
on Mon, 01/17/2011 - 2:22pm

Sounds like Michael Burgess is the OF.

http://twitter.com/jonmorosi/status/270925199...

http://twitter.com/jonmorosi/status/270952563...

http://www.baseball-reference.com/minors/play...

Submitted by dB
on Mon, 01/17/2011 - 2:43pm

excellent...a younger Brad Snyder.

Submitted by Dr. aaron b
on Mon, 01/17/2011 - 4:00pm

I did like Burgess quite a bit in his draft class. At least the kid is willing to take a walk.

Submitted by The E-Man
on Mon, 01/17/2011 - 2:46pm

Can someone please post some info on the 3?

Thanks.

Submitted by Newport
on Mon, 01/17/2011 - 3:05pm

First guy posted above.

2nd guy here.

http://www.baseball-reference.com/minors/play...

Submitted by crunch
on Mon, 01/17/2011 - 3:11pm

how many years of club control does gorz have left?

imo, this is a decent haul with just those 2 guys...

-edit- 3 years control left...

Submitted by VirginiaPhil
on Mon, 01/17/2011 - 3:56pm

Burgess's third gaudiest number might be his home runs, 72, compared to, say, Josh Vitters' 33. They were drafted the same year.

His second gaudiest number is his strikeouts, 473 compared to Vitters' 192.

But Burgess's gaudiest number is his outfield assists, 53, including 26 at Hagerstown (low A) in 2008! BA named him the best outfield arm in the Carolina League (high A) in 2010.

Submitted by Dr. aaron b
on Mon, 01/17/2011 - 4:03pm

Burgess has 201 walks to Vitters 49.

Hopefully Cubs ML coaching can retard that plate discipline out of him!!!!!

Submitted by VirginiaPhil
on Mon, 01/17/2011 - 4:20pm

TRN told me to look at strikeouts first.

Submitted by The Real Neal
on Tue, 01/18/2011 - 12:04pm

Well, yeah, strikeout rate. So far the guy has struck out too much (or correspondinly homered and walked too seldom) to say he can make a significant contribution in the majors (25.5% of PA's compared to Vitters 16.3%. Mike Stanton struck out 26.6% of the time in the minors, but he HR's once every 15.7 at bats) He's young though, and maybe he responds to the Cubs coaching a little better than he did the National's.

Submitted by Dr. aaron b
on Tue, 01/18/2011 - 2:28pm

He was also 21 and in AA.

Deserves some benefit of the doubt IMHO

Submitted by The Real Neal
on Wed, 01/19/2011 - 12:10pm

No, there's no way he's going to be a MLB player.

Vitters and Stanton both reached AA in their 20 year old seasons, by the way.

Submitted by Jim Hickmans Bat
on Mon, 01/17/2011 - 6:01pm

Looks like Burgess is a younger prospect replacement for Guyer. So now the Garza trade in effect becomes Archer, Lee, Chirinos and Gorzo for Garza and $2MM cash. Right? Fuld/Perez is a straight swap.

I'd feel a little better if the 2nd Nats player were a 12-15ish prospect guy, but still, hard to see Gorzo having much more value than this, he's just not all that good.

Meh.

Submitted by John Beasley
on Mon, 01/17/2011 - 4:08pm

Bill James projected FIP, 2011:

Gorz: 4.01
Garza: 4.04

Submitted by Dr. aaron b
on Mon, 01/17/2011 - 4:14pm

I've never really been enamored with Gorzo's pure stuff. Probably at the peak of his value to a team, as a player right now. I actually like the trade if its Burgess and a couple of decent arms coming back.

A rare "Sell High" from Jimbo!

Submitted by crunch
on Mon, 01/17/2011 - 5:03pm

Graham Hicks is player 3...

http://www.baseball-reference.com/minors/play...

good luck with that one...

Submitted by Cubster
on Mon, 01/17/2011 - 5:39pm

He will bring cool music to the clubhouse though...

http://www.google.com/search?q=dan+hicks+and+...

Submitted by QuietMan
on Mon, 01/17/2011 - 8:47pm

Baseball America has a little write up about Burgess and Morris. They haven't added Hicks yet.

http://www.baseballamerica.com/today/majors/t...

Submitted by crunch
on Mon, 01/17/2011 - 9:08pm

hicks throws a high 80s fastball, change, and curve (according to a pre-draft article written about him at age 18)...judging solely by the numbers it's all highly hittable, too.

btw...it's kinda interesting that since garza came on board there's hardly any mention of cashner as being in the starter mix.

it's also kinda interesting that silva is pretty much expecting to be a starter and not expecting competition for a slot. it's not interesting that he's gained weight, though.

Submitted by Jim Hickmans Bat
on Mon, 01/17/2011 - 9:31pm

Prediction: if Silva shows ANYTHING in Mesa, Hendry dumps him to another team and eats pretty much all the salary. They just recovered some $$ by moving Gorzo, if he can get another team to pay even $1-2MM of what Silva's owed, I think he gets rid of him.

Zambrano, Dempster, Garza, Wells and Cashner sounds like a decent rotation to me. Coleman and Shark biding their time in Iowa in case of an injury. No need for Silva.

Submitted by The Joe
on Mon, 01/17/2011 - 9:53pm

I think I read a article on Silva recently at MLB where he said he was expecting to compete for the job.

Submitted by crunch
on Mon, 01/17/2011 - 9:59pm

yeah, i made it sound more "asshole" than i meant to...it's not an ultimatum as much as he pretty much expects to be a starter...not like he's expecting to be a starter regardless of his spring performance.

i just hope he's as physically up to it as he is mentally.

Submitted by The Joe
on Mon, 01/17/2011 - 10:14pm

I concur. There doesn't seem to be much talk journalistically (fu firefox' spell-check, that's a word) about the competitors. Actually, I don't really care about the winner of it. For the future, I'd prefer Cashner, but if I had hope for this season, I'd prefer to ride Silva's fat ass until he marquis the second half, at which point Hendry can sell low and a younger guy can take the spot. Hopefully, Baldimus Prime is a smarter manager than me.

Submitted by jacos
on Tue, 01/18/2011 - 8:44am

"Baldimus Prime"

WINNER!!!!!!!!!!

Submitted by Cubster
on Mon, 01/17/2011 - 9:44pm

Len & Bob blog has video of Ricketts interview

http://www.chicagonow.com/blogs/len-and-bob/2...

Submitted by Jim Hickmans Bat
on Mon, 01/17/2011 - 10:07pm

For AZ Phil--

Lots of good comments on the Daily Herald blog regarding the Cubs' view of some key minor leaguers, as revealed at the Cubs convention. Here is the link: http://blogs.dailyherald.com/node/5080

I'm wondering whether you can add anything regarding three prospects in particular: Vitters (he is not sounding like he has the mental toughness to be a big leaguer); Carpenter (he can throw 99? Really?); and Jay Jackson (sounds like they want to convert him to a reliever).

Submitted by crunch
on Mon, 01/17/2011 - 10:42pm

neat stuff. g.maddux visiting the minors and helping kids was a nice bit of news to me, too.

Submitted by Arizona Phil
on Tue, 01/18/2011 - 2:52pm

Submitted by Jim Hickmans Bat on Mon, 01/17/2011 - 10:07pm.
For AZ Phil--

I'm wondering whether you can add anything regarding three prospects in particular: Vitters (he is not sounding like he has the mental toughness to be a big leaguer); Carpenter (he can throw 99? Really?); and Jay Jackson (sounds like they want to convert him to a reliever).

============================================================

JIM H: I've mentioned Vitters' "California Dude" laid-back attitude and lackadaisical approach to baseball (especially defense) as being an issue. He showed more intensity in the AFL last October-November than I had seen in the past, and hopefully he will continue to work hard and develop a bit more fire in his belly in 2011 as he begins to realize that he is nearing his Big Chance.

Chris Carpenter touched 100 MPH several times in the AFL. He's the type who throws with significantly greater velocity when he knows he is going to pitch just one inning and doesn't have to pace himself or establish his secondary stuff. I think the Cubs will use Carpenter as a stater at Iowa in 2011 to get him more innings of experience and force him to use his secondary stuff, but his future at the big league level (at least if he remains a Cub) is probably as an 8th inning set-up guy.

Jay Jackson is one of the best hitting pitchers in minor league baseball, and you take that part of his game away if he is used out of the pen. He could probably even play CF if he fails as a pitcher. To me, J. Jackson is a top prospect only if he is used as a statting pitcher (so he can hit). That doesn't mean the Cubs would not use him in relief if they have a need there, but he really projects more as a starting pitcher. If the Cubs don't have room for him in their rotation, they should think seriously about using him in a trade.

Submitted by Rob G.
on Tue, 01/18/2011 - 12:21am

are 3.5 pt home underdogs...

Submitted by jacos
on Tue, 01/18/2011 - 8:44am

So you will be betting the Pack then?

Submitted by Rob G.
on Tue, 01/18/2011 - 8:59am

Na, I never bet. Just don't see a lot of home underdogs in the NFC championship game. I actually like that everyone outside of Chicago will be picking the packers.

Game will come down to whichever qb escapes the pressure better.

Submitted by jacos
on Tue, 01/18/2011 - 10:04am

I was going off you post on bears "getting asses kicked next week" but I failed to see the ":-)".

/more confused then ever.

Submitted by Rob G.
on Tue, 01/18/2011 - 12:27pm

Pack are playing better, have a better pt differential this year and if not all those injuries probably take the division.

So yeah, I'm not going to blindly say the Bears will win cause they probably aren't the better team.

But one kick to Hester by accident could change everything. I swear he was intentionally taking fair catches against the Seahawks just to dupe them if he needed to return one later.

Submitted by The E-Man
on Tue, 01/18/2011 - 12:46pm

Well, yes. Better point differential. But in two games against each other it is a total of 4 points.

It is going to come down to which lines are going to control the L.O.S., and which D will fuck up the other's QB.

IF all things become equal due to weather, performance, etc., then I believe Hester is gonna be the difference maker in a game of this magnitude. He is such a big game player it is insane.

It is going to be really interesting to see what Marinelli comes up with to slow down Rodgers.

Submitted by Rob G.
on Tue, 01/18/2011 - 12:53pm

I truly do think it'll be a good game and I do recall when everyone was picking the Saints the last time.

Anyway, should be fun and don't fear, I'm trash talking all my Packer friends.

Submitted by The Real Neal
on Tue, 01/18/2011 - 12:54pm

"But one kick to Hester by accident could change everything", which is pretty much how they won the first game.

Hester and the punt returning team may be the most intmidating "player" remaining in the playoffs.

Submitted by The E-Man
on Tue, 01/18/2011 - 12:57pm

Special teams, period.

Submitted by jacos
on Tue, 01/18/2011 - 1:49pm

BEARS!!

/twitches mustach and adjusts aviator sunglasses

Submitted by Cubster
on Tue, 01/18/2011 - 6:08am

Muskat's writeup on the Gorz trade...

http://chicago.cubs.mlb.com/news/article.jsp?...

Jon Mayo's writeup on the Cub prospects...

http://chicago.cubs.mlb.com/news/article.jsp?...

(at 6'5 and 170#, it sounds like Graham Hicks could use a little coaching from Sean Marshall/Greg Maddux braintrust)

Submitted by QuietMan
on Tue, 01/18/2011 - 8:36am

(at 6'5 and 170#, it sounds like Graham Hicks could use a little coaching from Sean Marshall/Greg Maddux braintrust)

I was thinking an extended stay at Camp Colvin.

Submitted by The E-Man
on Tue, 01/18/2011 - 12:41pm

FANGRAPHS: "Cubs a Winner in Gorzo Trade"

http://www.fangraphs.com/blogs/index.php/cubs...

Submitted by The Real Neal
on Tue, 01/18/2011 - 12:52pm

Well, in the "they got more back than he cost", sort of way, but right now of the guys mentioned, Harrison is probably the one most likely to make the majors.

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