The Bears released Ruben Brown. That's the second o lineman released in recent days. Brown is a fierce competitor but he is aging. He was a Pro Bowler two years ago but he's declined and it's probably the right move to let him go as the Bears need to overhaul their pathetic o line.
Contracts have gone out to #1 WR Berrian, Lance Briggs, and Pro Bowl special teamer Brendan Ayenbadejo but all three contracts were well below what each player expected to receive. Jerry Angelo seems reluctant to budge from him position and there is a good chance that the Bears will end up losing those two Pro Bowlers (Briggs and Ayenbadejo) and their #1 WR. Interesting because it looks as though they will resign Grossman and if there is one thing Rexy is good at is it's the deep ball. Without Berrian there, he will lose his deep threat. It's also interesting because if Berrian leaves, that means they won't have either starting WR from last year. Essentially, they will be relying on Mark Bradley a guy who only caught 6 passes all of last year to become their #1 WR. Doesn't seem like sound practice to me.
The kicker in the whole bit is that the Bears are significantly raising ticket prices for the 2008 season. With HUGE question marks on the entire offensive side of the ball, I'm not sure how well the fans are going to react to the hike in ticket prices.
Friday, February 22, 2008
Bears raise ticket prices. Redskins keep prices the same.
Once again the Bears will be raising their ticket prices. The Bears announced an increase in ticket prices yesterday for the 2008 season. All non-clube seasts will be increased by $3-$4. Club seats will be raised by $10. the Bears' non-club ticket prices will range from $68 to $108 and account for 86 percent of the seating at Soldier Field.
On a side note, the Redskins will keep ticket prices the same as it did for the 2007 football season. The Bears have been pretty aggressive in raising their prices over the last several years. Given that they finished last in their division last season with a losing record of 7-9 and clearly looking at a rebuilding year as they will have significant turnover, it would appear that they are gouging their fans.
That was one of RobsObs complaints with the 'Skins. However, the 'Skins went to the playoffs and now have kept ticket prices the same. The Bears were a tremendous disappointment last year and they will be purging their team and yet they will still be raising their ticket prices significantly. To be fair RobsObs, isn't this gouging?
On a side note, the Redskins will keep ticket prices the same as it did for the 2007 football season. The Bears have been pretty aggressive in raising their prices over the last several years. Given that they finished last in their division last season with a losing record of 7-9 and clearly looking at a rebuilding year as they will have significant turnover, it would appear that they are gouging their fans.
That was one of RobsObs complaints with the 'Skins. However, the 'Skins went to the playoffs and now have kept ticket prices the same. The Bears were a tremendous disappointment last year and they will be purging their team and yet they will still be raising their ticket prices significantly. To be fair RobsObs, isn't this gouging?
Tuesday, February 19, 2008
Moose is loose.
Although RobsObs thought Muhsin Muhammad could still be productive, the Bears decided to cut him. It puts more pressure on the Bears to sign Berrian (or at least franchise him) because if they don't, they will lose both starting WRs from last year. They also released starting RT Fred Miller who was aging. They need help on the O line anyway so that is not necessarily bad. With open questions at other O line positions and QB and RB, they are dealing with their own purge. We could be seeing several new starting players for the Bears next year.
With the defense, Briggs is most likely gone. Others that may not be back include Mike Brown, Arch Deluxe, Ricky Manning, Jr., and Ruben Brown. The purge is on in Chi-town.
We'll see how they come out of all of this.
With the defense, Briggs is most likely gone. Others that may not be back include Mike Brown, Arch Deluxe, Ricky Manning, Jr., and Ruben Brown. The purge is on in Chi-town.
We'll see how they come out of all of this.
Pettitte comments
I watched some of Pettitte's press conference yesterday and I must say the guy comes across as very credible. He is in the unenvious position of being in the middle of an argument between two close friends. Pettitte said that everything McNamee said was true. He did not fault or blame McNamee for anything.
I thought it was interesting that he has not spoken with Clemens in more than a month. He said that that relationship had become strained. Roger testified that he and Pettitte were very close. If they were so close, why haven't they spoken? I wonder if Roger knows that he lied and doesn't want to show his face in front of Pettitte.
Bottom line, I just don't believe Roger. I think he knows the truth but he is doing whatever he can to save face. He knows that there is not enough evidence to send him to jail. He knows that with the evidence that is there it basically comes down to "he said vs. he said." Thus, he does not have to admit. If he were to admit that he took something to enhance his performance, he knows that everything that he accomplished in his great career would be forever tarnished.
I just don't know what McNamee has to lose by coming clean. Again, the lies that he told early on seemed like they were told in order to protect his friends Roger and Andy. However, once the whole thing exploded, he was forced to tell the whole truth. Pettitte seems like a straight shooter and I don't think that he would lie. Again, I don't believe Roger.
I thought it was interesting that he has not spoken with Clemens in more than a month. He said that that relationship had become strained. Roger testified that he and Pettitte were very close. If they were so close, why haven't they spoken? I wonder if Roger knows that he lied and doesn't want to show his face in front of Pettitte.
Bottom line, I just don't believe Roger. I think he knows the truth but he is doing whatever he can to save face. He knows that there is not enough evidence to send him to jail. He knows that with the evidence that is there it basically comes down to "he said vs. he said." Thus, he does not have to admit. If he were to admit that he took something to enhance his performance, he knows that everything that he accomplished in his great career would be forever tarnished.
I just don't know what McNamee has to lose by coming clean. Again, the lies that he told early on seemed like they were told in order to protect his friends Roger and Andy. However, once the whole thing exploded, he was forced to tell the whole truth. Pettitte seems like a straight shooter and I don't think that he would lie. Again, I don't believe Roger.
Friday, February 15, 2008
Sherman Smith set to join as O coordinator
After all the issues that were raised about the head coach hiring process, I am actually pretty pleased with how things have shaken out. Zorn seems like a good coach. We'll see if he is a good HEAD coach but so far he seems to be doing the right things. As much as I admire Earnest Byner, I think it makes sense to bring in Stump Mitchell who is a good RBs coach in his own right and understands the West Coast offense and is comfortable with Zorn.
Also, it looks as though Sherman Smith is set to join as O coordinator. Again, I like the move as, like Mitchell, he understands the West Coast offense well and is comfortable with Zorn. Also, Smith should have good experience having spent the last dozen years with Jeff Fisher as the Asst. Head Coach in Tennessee. I think Fisher is one of the finer coaches in the league and hopefully Smith has picked up some good experience watching him.
In regards to this new offensive staff being put in place, Mitchell mentioned. "I knew what a tremendous job Jim would do bringing outstanding individuals to the staff. When you're talking about a staff, it all starts with mutual respect for one another," he said. "You have to be able to lean on one another and trust one another, that's the first thing you need, and I know that's what Jim wants."
It's a great point. The last couple of years, Gibbs and Saunders had philosophical differences on how to run the offense and I think that that hurt the offense. I don't think there was that trust. Now we should have guys that are all on the same page. There should be one single game plan that everyone is comfortable with and that is how it should be. I also like how Zorn has already seemed to delegate who will be doing what on the offense in terms of coaching responsibility. Again, Zorn seems to be doing the right things so far.
I must say that there seems to be a little bit of energy and excitement building with the new staff. The new coaches seem excited to get started. Right now, I think this might be able to all work out and it was a good thing for the 'Skins. We'll see how it comes into play when the season starts. I'm sure there will be some growing pains with Zorn getting comfortable in his role as head coach and the players learning the new system but I think once it settles down, we'll be alright.
HAIL TO THE REDSKINS!!!
Also, it looks as though Sherman Smith is set to join as O coordinator. Again, I like the move as, like Mitchell, he understands the West Coast offense well and is comfortable with Zorn. Also, Smith should have good experience having spent the last dozen years with Jeff Fisher as the Asst. Head Coach in Tennessee. I think Fisher is one of the finer coaches in the league and hopefully Smith has picked up some good experience watching him.
In regards to this new offensive staff being put in place, Mitchell mentioned. "I knew what a tremendous job Jim would do bringing outstanding individuals to the staff. When you're talking about a staff, it all starts with mutual respect for one another," he said. "You have to be able to lean on one another and trust one another, that's the first thing you need, and I know that's what Jim wants."
It's a great point. The last couple of years, Gibbs and Saunders had philosophical differences on how to run the offense and I think that that hurt the offense. I don't think there was that trust. Now we should have guys that are all on the same page. There should be one single game plan that everyone is comfortable with and that is how it should be. I also like how Zorn has already seemed to delegate who will be doing what on the offense in terms of coaching responsibility. Again, Zorn seems to be doing the right things so far.
I must say that there seems to be a little bit of energy and excitement building with the new staff. The new coaches seem excited to get started. Right now, I think this might be able to all work out and it was a good thing for the 'Skins. We'll see how it comes into play when the season starts. I'm sure there will be some growing pains with Zorn getting comfortable in his role as head coach and the players learning the new system but I think once it settles down, we'll be alright.
HAIL TO THE REDSKINS!!!
Wednesday, February 13, 2008
The Clemens Hearing
I have actually been watching. It's interesting. It's amazing as to how conflicting Clemens' testimony is compared to McNamee's. It's clear some of the congressmen/congresswomen have their opinions and you can see who they are going after. It's also interesting because Roger seems to have some difficulty understanding/answering some of the questions.
My own take in watching the hearings are that Roger is lying. McNamee has nothing to lose with his testimony. Andy Pettite, one of baseball's most standup guys, gave a deposition where he admitted that Roger told him that he had taken HGH. McNamee has said that he has given performance enhancing drugs to Pettite, Clemens, and Chuck Knoblauch. Knoblauch and Pettite have agreed with McNamee's claim.
One of the congressmen (I don't know his name) was clearly on the side of Clemens calling him a "titan" of baseball and that McNamee is a liar. McNamee does not deny that he lied in some of his earlier statements as he was trying to protect Roger and his other clients/friends. That is his reason for lying. Now that this has all blown up, he understands that he must tell the truth and he has nothing to hide from. Also, in his opening statements, McNamee said that he is ashamed for what he has done but he hopes that in some way he can redeem himself by coming clean and help be part of the solution to the drug problem in baseball. The congressman did not seem to understand why McNamee would lie early on. That congressman seemed like an idiot.
McNamee is coming across as much more credible in my opinion. I think the hearing will open up a case of perjury against Clemens. Clemens has just come too far in his denials of drug use to turn back. Marion Jones recanted her claims of innocence recently but she also didn't go on a media frenzy claiming her innocence like Roger is so it is harder for Roger. There are just too many inconsistencies and things that don't make sense that lead me to believe Roger is innocent.
My own take in watching the hearings are that Roger is lying. McNamee has nothing to lose with his testimony. Andy Pettite, one of baseball's most standup guys, gave a deposition where he admitted that Roger told him that he had taken HGH. McNamee has said that he has given performance enhancing drugs to Pettite, Clemens, and Chuck Knoblauch. Knoblauch and Pettite have agreed with McNamee's claim.
One of the congressmen (I don't know his name) was clearly on the side of Clemens calling him a "titan" of baseball and that McNamee is a liar. McNamee does not deny that he lied in some of his earlier statements as he was trying to protect Roger and his other clients/friends. That is his reason for lying. Now that this has all blown up, he understands that he must tell the truth and he has nothing to hide from. Also, in his opening statements, McNamee said that he is ashamed for what he has done but he hopes that in some way he can redeem himself by coming clean and help be part of the solution to the drug problem in baseball. The congressman did not seem to understand why McNamee would lie early on. That congressman seemed like an idiot.
McNamee is coming across as much more credible in my opinion. I think the hearing will open up a case of perjury against Clemens. Clemens has just come too far in his denials of drug use to turn back. Marion Jones recanted her claims of innocence recently but she also didn't go on a media frenzy claiming her innocence like Roger is so it is harder for Roger. There are just too many inconsistencies and things that don't make sense that lead me to believe Roger is innocent.
Tuesday, February 12, 2008
Redskin fans...you gotta love them!
I am SO tired of the doom sayers that call themselves Redskins fans (pretty much all those jokers on LaCanfora's blog). This is what I love. First, they go up in arms about the possible hiring of Jim Fassel. Everyone goes in an uproar and cries, "NOT FOSSIL!!!!! NO! ANYONE BUT HIM!!!"
Then we hire Jim Zorn and people seem appeased. However, now Fassel is going on several radio programs (Mike and Mike, Riggo's show, John Thompson show) and is being very classy and professional. Now all of sudden, all the "fans" are saying that maybe we should have gone with Fassel and are apologizing for not accepting him before. Now they are complaining that we hired a guy with no experience, blah...blah...blah.
This is the type of nonsense that I find incredibly annoying. Redskins fans are some of the toughest fans to please. Steve Largent said that Seattle fans are just as rabid but they don't turn negative as quickly as Redskin fans. Redskin fans are SO quick to complain but then they will be even quicker to jump on the bandwagon should there be success.
Then we hire Jim Zorn and people seem appeased. However, now Fassel is going on several radio programs (Mike and Mike, Riggo's show, John Thompson show) and is being very classy and professional. Now all of sudden, all the "fans" are saying that maybe we should have gone with Fassel and are apologizing for not accepting him before. Now they are complaining that we hired a guy with no experience, blah...blah...blah.
This is the type of nonsense that I find incredibly annoying. Redskins fans are some of the toughest fans to please. Steve Largent said that Seattle fans are just as rabid but they don't turn negative as quickly as Redskin fans. Redskin fans are SO quick to complain but then they will be even quicker to jump on the bandwagon should there be success.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)