JUSTgottaBELIEVE

QUOTE (elrockinMT @ Dec 12, 2014 -> 11:53 AM) a real bullpen in 2015 anchored by a real closer will translate into more than 4 wins alone. From this story it seems yhe Debbie Downers are already out I would even say 4 wins is being conservative

QUOTE (StRoostifer @ Dec 12, 2014 -> 11:14 AM) No kidding! Robertson, Duke and LaRoche only amount to four wins? That's harsh. Like others have said, take it with a grain of salt. Shark alone should account for a 4 win improvement. I also think Sanchez is more than capable of putting up 2014 Omar Infante type numbers, which should make put the Sox at league average for the position. Also, IF Flowers is able to replicate his 2014 season, Sox are league average at catcher assuming Nieto shows some improvement. LF is the glaring "black hole" on the current roster but I think will be addressed before opening day.

QUOTE (RockRaines @ Nov 26, 2014 -> 08:22 AM) Yes. Sadly not all Bulls fans can see the future like you can. Future? It's happening right before our eyes

QUOTE (RockRaines @ Nov 26, 2014 -> 08:10 AM) Just sit for three weeks regardless of the fan pressure to play. It's a long season. You could give him 3 months and it will still be the same story. Sadly, not all Bulls fans have come to grips yet that this is the "new" Derrick Rose. Fragile, good player when he plays, but unreliable and no longer a superstar. I have said it before but this is our modern day Penny Hardaway.

QUOTE (Jake @ Nov 13, 2014 -> 09:40 PM) Derrick can't take days off for his sore ankles, that would make him a giant p**** that doesn't care about winning! You saw him walking, he should be playing! I don't know why Rose defenders keep laying out sarcastic comments like this. The uproar earlier this week wasn't about sitting out because of sprained ankles. And to be honest, if he is going to sit out for every ankle, hammy, arm strain/sprain, he will be lucky to play more than 50% of the regular season and/or playoffs. He is a walking injury at this point, modern day penny hardaway. As I have said before, I hope he proves me wrong but I no longer expect consistent contributions from Rose. Anything he provides is a bonus.

QUOTE (Jenksismyb**** @ Nov 12, 2014 -> 05:15 PM) If Cutler had made the Bears relevant immediately and won MVP of the league within 3 seasons, i'm sure he'd be treated like a god in this town. The MVP was great and yet they both have led their teams to the same point of the playoffs - conference finals. Do you not recall how Cutler was treated by media and fans alike for leaving that game early with an injury? He was absolutely blasted. Just like the Bears with cutler, the Bulls aren't winning the title as long as Rose is on the team. Just my opinion of course but I'm no longer a believer of this Derrick Rose. I hope he proves me wrong and makes me a believer once again

QUOTE (bmags @ Nov 12, 2014 -> 02:44 PM) Bulls and Medically cleared does not mean much. yea, I trust derrick rose's medical opinion better

QUOTE (Jenksismyb**** @ Nov 12, 2014 -> 02:21 PM) If this is your position, that's fine, but you have to be consistent. Concussions and what not really shouldn't be a concern in the NFL because f*** it they get paid. Tony Romo shouldn't have sat out a game for his back because f*** it they're paying him. Cutler should have gone back in the NFC title game because f*** it he gets paid, who cares what happens next. not even comparable. those guys were hurt. when rose sat out at the end of 2013 and 2014 he was not hurt. he was medically cleared, which is exactly the opposite of hurt. 100%? probably not, but he was not hurt. people defend rose because they want to like him. he flashed greatness, MVP one season in fact, and he's a local kid. alot of reasons to like him early in his career. but the past years, not so much. I can't even imagine what people would say about cutler if he did something similar...Rose doesn't even realize that he already gets a ton of slack from Chicago media/fans compared to other pro athletes in this town. with time, that too will fade, especially with comments like this and lack of hardware to back it up

QUOTE (Balta1701 @ Nov 12, 2014 -> 01:36 PM) Last year? No. That team was beaten up badly, they couldn't have beaten the Heat even if he came back for the playoffs. He could have made the difference in them getting to round 2, but nothing beyond that, and that's only because they were down to 1 point guard. 2013, maybe. They needed him then, that team had the starting lineup we all wanted to see together except for Rose, and he should have been ready to go much earlier in the season than last year so he should have had more time to get back into the game as well. the 2013 season is the one that really irks me. how soon some people forgive and forget. this is a recurring theme, this didn't just happen overnight. if he's not selfish, then he's scared. scared to get hurt again. scared he will hurt his next payday. all of the above, I don't know. I do know it doesn't look good from an outsider's perspective

QUOTE (Jenksismyb**** @ Nov 12, 2014 -> 01:10 PM) I think you and others that think this is some terrible travesty are unfairly looking at those quotes in a vaccuum and not looking at the bigger picture of his career and where the Bulls are right now. if he meant something else, he sure didn't say it that way. he spelled it out quite clearly to me. you can give him benefit of the doubt if you want but based on his past history and the fact that he even started his statement by saying he knew the comments would upset fans (i.e. they were thought out, not just something said on a whim), I'm not giving him benefit of the doubt

QUOTE (bmags @ Nov 12, 2014 -> 12:52 PM) This isn't a scenario we are even living in, getting upset about this stuff is just ridiculous. Sports fandom in 21st century is 90% psychoanalyzing bulls***. Rose sat an extra day with 2 SPRAINED ANKLES. He evne tried playing on it the day before. He isn't holding the bulls hostage. Meanwhile the Bulls almost killed a player 2 years ago. How's that for corrupted power. this isn't about sprained ankles. and yes, I agree the Bulls handled that situation very poorly but that's not the discussion at hand here. we are talking about a player deciding when he should and shouldn't play because he's worried about life after basketball. if you don't see that as a problem, then I don't know what else to say

QUOTE (Jenksismyb**** @ Nov 12, 2014 -> 12:41 PM) Healthy =/= ready to play in the NBA at his normal level. Yes, maybe he should have tried to come back in 2013. But I really doubt the Bulls were pushing him. He was what, 23 when that happened? With his career ahead of him? That's not an easy decision to make from either side. If the Bulls weren't pushing him and didn't want him to play, then shame on the Bulls. But I seriously doubt they didn't want him playing.

QUOTE (Jenksismyb**** @ Nov 12, 2014 -> 12:40 PM) I don't see why. The guy just went through two serious injuries that took him off the court for two seasons. He had a kid in that time frame. I guess i'm assuming this, but you have to think that's going to put your basketball life into perspective. Another serious knee injury and he's not getting a contract with the Bulls, or if it is one, it's going to be for a back-up role. The fact that he's thinking about his future, to me, means he's put things in perspective. He's not an invincible 20 year old anymore. He - gasp! - might change his game a little to ensure he's got a decent future. Again, isn't this something we all kind of want? That he's not so reckless when he plays? That he maybe avoids a little more contact than he used to? That he not play when it's not really necessary to do so? that's all great, but that's not what he said

QUOTE (Balta1701 @ Nov 12, 2014 -> 12:34 PM) Last spring he was just off the meniscus surgery and I don't think he was practicing during the winter, he was only just barely getting back as the playoff started. you're right. I'm confusing 2014 with 2013. same difference, just change the year and point still valid

QUOTE (bmags @ Nov 12, 2014 -> 12:23 PM) I think all of this is true, I also don't think any of it is a problem or something fans need to get into meathead mode about. Addressing a separate poster: And to the part about athletes having too much control. LOL. That is the most backward logic I've ever heard. Owners get upset about high salaries, owners put arbitrary cap in place, owners still want to win, owners stupidly spend too much on a player, player gets injured, player should apologize for "holding team hostage". he's getting paid to play. when a player can dictate when he plays and doesn't play and still gets paid without repercussions, then yes that is holding the team hostage.

QUOTE (Jenksismyb**** @ Nov 12, 2014 -> 12:23 PM) And that's a moronic, short-term outlook on the situation. Frankly, i'm not even sure the Bulls wanted him back. He wasn't going to help them beat the Heat and you're risking him getting hurt again. Can you imagine the uproar if he was hurt by being rushed back too quickly? Oh wait, no, i'm sure fans would be happy because he "gave it is all" and "put the team and franchise before his personal health and future" right? His career ending by a dumb move like that surely would be forgiven because what grit that guy showed! haha ok. Again, by all accounts he was healthy. How was he at a greater risk of getting hurt by playing last spring then he was last summer playing for Team USA? He was training, conditioning, practicing for the better part of the winter and you are telling me he was rushed back too quickly? What's your basis for that statement?

QUOTE (Jenksismyb**** @ Nov 12, 2014 -> 12:16 PM) Because as has been shown twice now, when you come back from knee surgeries and play, you can't just magically be All-NBA/MVP caliber from the start? You really want his first game action to be playoff basketball? If he was healthy, which by all accounts he was, then yes

How can someone defend a quote like this? "When I sit out it's not because of this year. I'm thinking about long term. I'm thinking about after I'm done with basketball." He didn't say he's sitting out because he has a sprained ankle and wants to get healthy for the rest of the season/playoffs. He wants to get healthy for when he's done with basketball. LOL. Or this... "Having graduations to go to, having meetings to go to, I don't want to be in my meetings all sore." What?

QUOTE (Jenksismyb**** @ Nov 12, 2014 -> 12:03 PM) Based on being held out (supposedly not his choice) for rolling two ankles, one of which we all saw on national TV? When else has he refused to play because of some small, but nagging injury? This dumb narrative that he doesn't play through pain/injury came out of nowhere. It's not based on any fact. He's injury prone. That's a fact. He's not a whimp who refuses to play through injuries. That's not a fact. And again, this is the cautious approach we and the media ALL WANTED the last 2 years. And yet here we are saying how terrible it is. This isn't something new. This didn't come out of nowhere. Why didn't he play last year in the playoffs after being medically cleared?

QUOTE (southsider2k5 @ Nov 12, 2014 -> 11:52 AM) To some extent, he is paid to put up with that stuff. That is why the guy is making $95 million over the course of the contract. There is a bigger burden put on to your star players. No one made him sign the contract. ^This. No sympathy here whatsoever

QUOTE (Jenksismyb**** @ Nov 12, 2014 -> 11:38 AM) This just goes back to holding professional athletes to some higher, near-impossible standard. And then people can complain when he doesn't reach that standard. Or complain when he's not open/honest enough. Seriously, the kid can't win. There are some things that shouldn't be said. If he has these feelings, they should be kept to himself. He's playing basketball, not football. This isn't a contact-based sport like football where concussions, spinal cord injuries, etc. are prevalent. Not to downplay a knee injury, but what's the worst that can happen? He tears his ACL again and requires surgery or needs a knee replacement later in life? Even if that happens, he will be able to walk again in 15 years. Yes he might be sore, but show me one person at the age of 40+ that isn't sore or aching in some way. I'm talking about the average human being, not just pro athletes. His statement comes off as extremely selfish. It's all about him. Fans don't want to hear that "honesty." He should have said I'm thinking about this long-term, playoffs, coming years as a Bull, etc. and this whole thing wouldn't be a big deal. But when you say you are taking nights off from your job because you are worried about your health post-retirement, well that's a problem. You are getting paid good money to play. If you are healthy enough to play, you play. No athlete is ever 100% healthy in season. There is always some type of ailment. I fear he has gotten to the point where he is unwilling to play through an injury in fear of getting hurt. This is exactly what happened last year in the playoffs when he was cleared to play and decided not to anyway. This rubs so many people wrong on so many different levels. IMO, athletes have too much power in all of the major sports, particularly in NBA, MLB, and NHL due to guaranteed contracts. They can literally hold franchises hostage if they want to.

QUOTE (ChiSox_Sonix @ Oct 17, 2014 -> 07:39 AM) Crowell has the best chance at a TD. That's gonna be a 65/35 or so split in the Cleveland backfield and Jacksonville is terrible stopping the run I'm leaning towards Bush because Megatron is out again and I think Bush/Tate are their only real receiving threats this week. I assume the Saints will score some points so the Lions will have to either keep pace or play catch up

QUOTE (JUSTgottaBELIEVE @ Oct 16, 2014 -> 09:37 PM) Crowell, Bush, or Floyd at flex this week? Standard scoring. Little nervous about Bush coming off an injury and his general ineffectiveness this season, Floyd has been boom or bust, and Crowell seems to have the most upside playing against the Jags but I don't know if he will get enough touches. What do you think? Any help here???

Crowell, Bush, or Floyd at flex this week? Standard scoring. Little nervous about Bush coming off an injury and his general ineffectiveness this season, Floyd has been boom or bust, and Crowell seems to have the most upside playing against the Jags but I don't know if he will get enough touches. What do you think?

I went with crow. I'm super thin at RB right now after Demarco so hoping he steps up in a few weeks if Tate gets hurt again. I drafted a bunch of lower tier RB to try to fill RB2 hoping that one would emerge as a legit weekly play and they all have been mediocre at best (Vereen, TRich, CJ2K yuck)