Man, I hate the Bears

For the most part, a Packer fan's Monday morning (or Tuesday) is determined by a Packer victory. And if the Bears lose, that's just like extra sprinkles. To me, however, if the Packers win and the Bears don't lose, the day is a wash--that is how much I hate the Bears. Sunday's game was especially nerve wracking for me, as you can imagine. It's not that I was wasn't confident that the Packers would win, it was the small percent chance the Bears knock out Rodgers and Flynn comes in unprepared--similar to the week 14 loss to the Lions. Luckily Julius Peppers's helmet-to-helmet cheap shot didn't knock out Rodgers.

What makes me nervous about the Super Bowl is not that I don't think the Packers are the better team, because they are, but the fact the Packers didn't put away the Bears early and it came down to a Sam Shields interception. The Packers offense didn't finish strong. Before the kneel to end the game, the Packers' last five possessions ended with punts. I hope the weather was the excuse to why the offense didn't score in the second half. I hope Nick Collins was too busy thinking about how he was going to celebrate his first Super Bowl appearance while Earl Bennett was running past him for a 30 yard touchdown, bringing the Bears within a touchdown in the 4th quarter. The Bears should have felt helpless and over matched while B.J. Raji was doing his fat man shimmy shake in the end zone. But I'm afraid for the Packers against the Steelers, because there is no reason the Bears--the Packers biggest rival--should have had enough hope to put together a 4 play, 60 yard touchdown drive.

I can't complain, the Bears are done this season and won't have the luxury to ruin a high draft pick in April, and the Packers have a chance to win their second Super Bowl since the Bears won their last one.

Melo Should Consider Clippers

Carmelo Anthony has made it abundantly clear that he wants out of Denver, first choice being the New York Knicks. However, New York doesn't have the assets to give Denver. The New Jersey Nets stepped in, offering a package that would include 3rd overall pick, Derrick Favors, but they were waiting for Anthony to sign an extension, until yesterday when owner, Mikhail Prokhorov announced that the Nets were terminating trade talks for Anthony (conveniently announced the week after Denver threatened New Jersey to keep the trade talks private). Going to New Jersey would be counterproductive for Anthony, he wouldn't be on a contending team and the Nets are second fiddle to the Knicks.

If Carmelo wants to play in a big market and doesn't mind being on a team that is second fiddle in their market, he should consider the Los Angeles Clippers. That sounds crazy, I know. Who would want to play for the Clippers with the Lakers in town? Who would want to play for Donald Sterling, universally known as the worst owner in professional sports? The biggest reason Carmelo Anthony should consider playing for the Clippers is Blake Griffin. The Clippers star rookie is 2nd in the league in double-doubles and is one of six players who average a double-double. Griffin isn't even the leading scorer for the Clippers--that honor goes to Eric Gordon, who averages 23.9 points per game. Griffin (23 years old), Gordon (22), and Anthony (26) would be the biggest rival to the Heat's trio of Lebron, Wade, and Bosh. The difference is the Clippers trio all play different positions add different dimensions.

What makes this deal more realistic is the pieces the Clippers have that they can trade to Denver. Right now the Clippers have a projected lottery pick (sitting 3rd to last in the Western Conference, 6 games out of the playoffs), last year's 8th overall pick, Al-Farouq Aminu, last year's 18th overall pick, Eric Bledsoe, and Chris Kaman all available to be traded. Let's say all those guys go in a deal, plus Craig Smith to match Carmelo's $17 million contract, the projected starting lineup would be:

PG: Baron Davis
SG: Eric Gordon
SF: Carmelo Anthony
PF: Blake Griffin
C: DeAndre Jordan

This team is not your mother's Clippers. A playoff run this year isn't likely, but the next 3 years with that trio they are a lock for the playoffs and will contend for the the title.

So Carmelo, would you rather be the man in New Jersey/Brooklyn or be part of a trio in LA and make franchise history?

Bears not Rodgers's Kryptonite

Despite popular belief among sports columnists, the Bears have not shut down Aaron Rodgers. In two games this year he threw a total of 545 yards, 2 touchdowns, 2 interceptions, and completed 72% of his passes. He also ran for a touchdown. The scary Bears defense only sacked Rodgers twice and caused one fumble, not recovering it. Rodgers's stats were better in the week 3 loss to the Bears than their week 17 win. Rodgers's worst game was against the Jets in week 8, 170 passing yards, 0 touchdowns, only completed 44.1% of his passes. But the Packers won that game. The Jets are a good team, they aren't planning for their first round pick right now, they are planning for the Steelers.

To think if the Bears shut down Rodgers then they are going to win is inaccurate. Don't get me wrong, shutting down Rodgers is helpful, but let's not jump on the Bears bandwagon. If Rodgers has 170 yards passing and 0 touchdowns, then there is a good chance Jay Cutler is going to have less than 200 passing yards and multiple turnovers. Cutler has a combined 389 passing yards, 1 touchdown, 3 interceptions, a 56% completion percentage, and was sacked 9 times. Packer fans want to see Aaron Rodgers to have a big game statistically in a win over the Bears, but realistically, they don't need it. However, the biggest factor stopping Rodgers, considering it is medically proven that one you have had a concussion that it is easier getting another, is the weather and the possibility of a hard field. Other than that, expect at least 200 yards passing, a touchdown or two, very few turnovers, and most importantly, a Packer victory.