Alaskan Grizzly

This type of critique is fair. I'll hope the next choice can make it to "point C" but will be the first to say "I told you so". Happy New Year Connor.

Because of what Dungy left him.

Gruden benefited from a team Tony Dungy built. Plain and simple.

You've made that abundantly clear for many years. So now you're telling me how to express myself? Not to "read posts" but instead stand in the lemming line and revel in the change that was made today? What happened to not telling others how to be fans? Your opinion is a safe one, as it is in the apparent majority. And to suggest for me to not "call everyone out" is kinda sad of you. I thought you said you knew me better. I understand and appreciate adversity, not thrive in it. I'm a Democrat in a state that brought you Sarah Palin for pete's sake. I don't like what I see and I'm gonna tell it like it is. At the same time it would be pointless for me to waste the last day of 2012 trying to counter you and all the other Lovie haters. As do I. As do I. I feel next year won't be the "best". I'll approach it with the angle as you have for the last 8 or 9 years, with guarded optimism.

How do you account for Jennings and his improvement? How about the play of Wright and Conte this year? Granted Urlacher arrived before Smith but he was a Safety, before he was an LB. And Briggs plays better because of Urlacher. Not because he is a "stand alone" great LB. Yes Peppers is a great player, but he thrived as pass rushing DE. Which is a big piece of the "Lovie 2". I think Lovie deserved a lot more credit than "some". I am reserving judgement but I think Cutler has reached his plateau. He has a strong arm and great running ability but not an "elite" mind when it comes to making decisions. I hope to be wrong about him, but only time will tell.

We'll, it's a sad day. And to revel in it continues the trend of poor fansmanship. But you guys got what you wanted. And now I guess we'll see what a team in "rebuilding" mode looks like.

I'm good with this except for the "hoping" part. But in the context I believe I know what you mean.

A few of those games could have just as easily been won too. I count the Houston, Seattle and Green Bay games in those categories. How many times, consecutively, did we see players drop passes in the endzone? Bennett and Marshall were guilty of that in at least two of those games. Ask yourself, in those situations is that a coaching or player problem? So if the team does get in a "groove" and win one, two or three playoff games your still against the idea of Lovie's return? If you still answer yes to that then you have already decided you don't want him back...regardless. And that is the problem I have with how people are judging this "body of work" I keep hearing about. Your repeating the "party line" because he has gotten the team to the Super Bowl. The only Chicago coach since Ditka to do that. Has the third best winning record behind Ditka and Halas for a team that is almost 100 years old. THAT is a pretty good "body of work" in my opinion. That and the players like playing for him, and to me that matters more than what we as fans want.

Agreed.

I'm fairly certain Lovie won't get an extension... this year (especially since the year ends tomorrow). With some kidding aside i still see Lovie returning next year. I know it's not popular but it makes sense and I'm good with it. And frankly those that were wishing for the team to do badly just to get what they wanted are sickening. Shame on you.

Yes.

It seems as though Safety is a tough place to play. The last of note, Mike Brown, was always hurt too. And when one of the current ones (Wright or Conte) are hurt Stelz will come in but eventually get hurt too. Is there a correlation or more a coincidence? I do see some resemblance to how Conte plays how Fencik did when he was in Chicago. Maybe "laying wood" on people wears on you after awhile?

Aren't Sherman and Browner "enhanced"? So maybe an * is appropriate to their true ability?

That Seattle game was probably the angriest I have gotten in a long time in watching Bears games. And you're right. The spate of losses, after starting 7-1, does allow people to question what direction this team is going. It's just that I'm not ready to throw in the towel yet. And probably finishing just under 11 wins (at 10-6) isn't all that bad considering.

As the days turn into weeks and weeks run into "Week 17" I'm feeling more and more confident that the Bears WILL be in the playoffs. However, I am guarded on how well they will do once in the playoffs. Things as they are right now; Kaepernick is a "known" entitiy and Mannigham is out I better like the chances of Chicago against SF matchup redux. That with the return of Jennings and quite possibly Urlacher could prove to the Bears' favor. The only real area of concern with the Bears right now are Forte (let's face it he really hasn't been a major factor this year) and Conte. I am one that avoids looking too far into the future and don't want to assume that a win is guranteed in Detroit either. So, should the Bears be able to win in Detroit...I like how things are shaping up. At this point I wouldn't be surprised (based on what you wrote) if the Bears at least make it to the NFC Championship.

LOVE IT!!! Despite all the boos!! And for the record, I look forward to seeing more of this on Sunday with Peppers upping his sack total in the process. (Props to "Adam") - Disclaimer, I know Ford Field has artificial turf...but whatever.

Considering (Peppers) he has 11 1/2 sacks on the year (better than 4 of the 6 previous times he was chosen to the Pro Bowl) and he's 32, I'd say it makes it sense. With Briggs its almost an "assumed" invite as his stats show he is in decline and he's been named to the previous 7 Pro Bowls. In fact his total tackles for this year to date (69) are the second lowest to only his rookie year in 2003 when he got 65. His INT rate is up to his highest with 2 only being surpassed in '08 with 3. Briggs is like the John Stockton of the Bears. Better in the support role than as the highlight. He thrives more when Urlacher is playing. http://www.pro-football-reference.com/players/B/BrigLa99.htm

I thought you were done with this booing thing last week.

Well played sir. Nicely put. I'm in.

And that is pathetic. In my opinion.

Add one more! Nice work Peanut.

And the D set a new team record in scored TDs. Held since 1924(?).

Agreed. I have asked numerous times this season why they don't do more "hurry up". They do it well when they do.

If you would try to rise above patronizing you would realize that I don't want the team to fail. At any cost. If you would actually read some of the other posts you'll see some here that would hope for a loss not only for Lovie and crew to be gone but get a better draft pick. I DO consider myself a fan, through thick or thin. I want the team to win now, next week and if they continue...then too. I don't give two craps about what happens after that right now.

So as fans we "hope" for them to lose? Just to make that transition? Sickening.