madlithuanian

I hear ya. Vegas is just what you say. But I used it as just another point that Detroit isn't all that. At least yet. Yeah, I agree. Lovie will be the reason we win or lose this season. We'll see if he's worth his price.

Points well made. I stand corrected that Atlanta was in a lousy division. My memory of the Bucs choking was a bit too accentuated in my twisted mind. But right now, as it stands, our division is not that lousy. I think it's a stronger division than last season easily given Rogers' continued experience, the addition of Cutler, the defensive moves by the Lions and the eventual addition of Favre. Sure Atlanta won a lot, but again, I submit that the exception makes the rule. Botton line, you will never sell me that the Lions, this season as their team stands right now, are a threat for the division. Like I mentioned earlier, anything within the laws of nature is possible, just not probable. Vegas usually isn't horrifically off... And the Lions are dirt bottom, as Atlanta was too. But something tells me you won't bet your life savings on that. http://www.vegasinsider.com/nfl/odds/futures/ ODDS TO WIN THE 2009-10 NFC CHAMPIONSHIP Team Open Current New York Giants 4/1 4/1 Dallas Cowboys 5/1 5/1 Minnesota Vikings 11/1 6/1 Carolina Panthers 11/2 6/1 Philadelphia Eagles 6/1 6/1 Chicago Bears 14/1 7/1 Arizona Cardinals 15/2 15/2 Atlanta Falcons 8/1 8/1 Green Bay Packers 10/1 8/1 Washington Redskins 12/1 8/1 New Orleans Saints 10/1 10/1 Seattle Seahawks 30/1 15/1 San Francisco 49ers 22/1 16/1 Tampa Bay Buccaneers 17/1 16/1 St. Louis Rams 50/1 40/1 Detroit Lions 75/1 50/1

http://kissingsuzykolber.uproxx.com/2009/0...rett-favre.html (Warning...some bad language)

Even a broken clock's right twice a day! I was irritated by all this initially, now I'm rather amused! I look at it as an unpleasant distraction to both Minny and GB! And that's good for us! (...and the up-and-coming Lions!) Here's some good stuff! http://www.theonion.com/content/news_briefs/favre_ive_always_had_a Favre: I've Always Had A Passion For Stopping Things, Then Starting To Do Things Again KILN, MS—Embattled quarterback Brett Favre attempted Monday to explain his recent actions concerning his recent reversal of his decision to retire by holding a press conference in which he explained his lifelong love for quitting things briefly before resuming those same things after a certain interval of time had passed. "I'm just that kind of guy, I guess—a gunslinger on one hand, but on the other, a man who knows when to stop, at least at first, but then it turns out I really didn't know when to stop after all," Favre said. "I guess you could say I'm a guy who quits, then realizes I don't know the meaning of the word quit." A number of the journalists present were later heard to wonder, in light of Favre's recent inexplicable behavior, if perhaps drinking heavily were one of the things the first-ballot Hall of Famer had stopped doing before starting again.

I hope so too! I also think Cutler has the kind of leadership quality similar to McMahon that he won't fear changing a play every now and then...and disagreeing w/ a call. At least I get that impression. It usually stems from confidence. Something our last few QB did not have in abundance.

I just don't see the Lions as a legit threat to make the playoffs. They'd basically have to win the division. And with us and the great Favre returning sometime in June or July to Minny, I just don't see it. Not this year at least. Atlanta had help be being in a lousy division. The NFC north is not all that lousy. I think they've made huge steps in the right direction to improve. But history has tuaght me one thing w/ the Lions, don't believe it until you see it. Sounds like youmight have a bit of a dislike for Parcells! We all really know that it takes the entire program to make teams great. Management, coaching, and players. However, certain ones of those 3 can make poorer teams the better. I think Parcells is one of those. He's never relpicated what he did in NYG...but what coach has? Reeves went to the SB w/ Denver then w/ Atl. Everytime getting his ass kicked. Holmgren is closer having gone to 2 and won one. He's also another good one. These guys get more out of less. Keep in mind, I'm judgin Parcells on everything, coach and talent evaluator. I'm sure he had some input while in NYG... For me, I see a coach and manager that had vastly improved the team he was brought on board to improve. I fully expect him to leave Miami sometime soon, and do it again elsewhere.

I hear you... Bottom line, I don't view them as a legit threat this coming season.

Now we have room for discussion! I guess, my first question to you is...what is "significant"? a 6-10 season from a winless one could be significant. That's a 600% increase in wins. (At least I htink unless there's a statistician out there that says you can't determinte that feom zero!) I've stated earlier that I expect improvement, just not a drastic one. Other than a few names on D, there's not much on O other than Calvin that makes me have any fear of them. You basically state that as well. Some like pointing out Atlanta and Miami. And the excpetions make the news. But in the meantime, a vast majority of poor teams continue to do poorly. Personally, I don't want any of our division foes to be good. If they all went 3-13, I'd be stoked. But I also realize that the better they are, in turn the better the Bears will be. But as the old ancient Chinese curse (not directed at you, just as a point of reference) implies, "May you live in interesting times." I'd rather have a boring game we win than an exciting one we lose.

Great post Brianbear! I enjoyed reading that! I can't say I'd disagree! Maybe just add a little... 1. Agreed! Audible out! You're allowed to QB sneak, give it to Forte, or hit a TE! 2. Ha! Keep in mind, you have great TE's and a RB who can catch! 3. Agreed! Kill the damn WR screen! Only RB screen is premittable... 4. Agreed! See #1 and #2! 5. Totally! So true! Just give us the effort and smart play, and the winning will come naturally.

Ha! Glad to see you're back lurking around! You are spot on!

C'mon...are you saying that Parcells had no impact on those teams and that you didn't expect him to trranslate well into management? Parcells took both the Cowboys and Jets into the playoffs. Both were abyssmal when he came into town. I give Sporano mass credit, but unless you know otherwise for certain, I think credit deserves to go to Parcells as well. Who hired Sporano? Who helped bring in the players? And let's not forget that he turned NE into a contender from being a laughing stock. Atlanta is the exception that makes the rule. Saying things are "possible" is saying virtually nothing. Barring the laws of nature, anything is possible. Tell me it's probable or improbable, and the argument has room for discussion. All I'm saying is that Parcells has a winning way to him and turns horrid situations into good to decent ones. Name one guy on the Lions management or coaching staff that has done the same? (Their GM, Mayhew is from the previous regime and no experience elsewhere & Schwatrz has a good pedigree but hasn't really done anything yet.) Until they prove otherwise, I have no reason to expect them to turn it around, and especially fast. In 2 years, depending on what we see this season, maybe. But I do not expect a miracle turnaround for the Detroit Lions.

HA!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Vocodin and booze aren't natural pain relievers... The problem is I cannot trust whatever he says. I will finally believe he's not playing for Minny when the 4th pre-season game is over... Until then, it's possible.

The correct answer is...whoever has the worse record...

Did the Lions hire parcells this off-season to run the show? They are not the same...

The Falcons and Dolphins don't have the horriffic current history that the Lions do. The Fins had parcells and his protege to help them, and the Falcons got lucky with Ryan and getting Turner. The Bears need to play hard every game, but I look at the Lions as games the Bears should win...division or not.

...for now.

Rodgers?

Nothing would surprise me... Including a no now, and a yes later...

Connor, I beg of you. Please never bring up Jordan and Favre in the same sentence. Jordan is the best to ever play his sport. Favre is one of many (curreent and soon to be) HoF QB's in his sport. From the standpoint of letting it go...let's compare Favre more to Joe Namath please.

They will be improved... But that's not saying a whole lot!

I'd say the QB, while we may argue unrpoven, is certainly not in tune with the team. Stafford is a rook, and Peppy never really played there and it's an all new scheme regardless. And it's not like Peppy has done much since that one season in Minny eons ago.

At this point I think it's dead based on the comments...

#23's are always welcome!

Too new for everything this season. Maybe if we see something this year, we may be more concerned next. But it's hard for a team to change their legacy around overnight...regardless of what new coach and players are brought in.