PSoTD

Damn, that's an addicting game for anyone who would like to be a pro football general manager.

Fix the defense.

Time to find replacement for Urlacher at middle linebacker and Brown at safety. That doesn't mean get rid of either player, particularly Urlacher who should move to the side. Defensive line needs help, so do the corners.

Any team that had some balance to their offense was a problem for the Bears. Houston was a prime example, they can pass and they can run. The Bears spent all season trying to stop one or the other - but not both - in a game. You can't win that way.

In other thoughts about the NFL, it looks to me like two teams that didn't make the playoffs in the AFC - the same Houston Texans, and surprisingly, the Oakland Raiders - are climbing towards playoff caliber. Don't believe me about the Raiders? 5-11, and sadly the second best defense in their division. The last three weeks, the offense seemed to figure out how to score - that's what ought to scare the Chargers.

In the NFC, the 49ers are the common candidate for improvement to playoff status next year, and Singletary should prove to be a tough coach and move them forward. I think the most interesting offseason could be the St. Louis Rams - the right head coach could make a big difference.

So which team choked most when they most needed a win?

Tampa Bay Buccaneers?
New York Jets?
Denver Broncos?
Philadelphia Eagles?
Minnesota Vikings?

The Chicago Bears could add themselves to the list tonight, but I hope not. Special recognition to the Arizona Cardinals, who are getting into the playoffs but showing no reason for why they should be allowed to...

I want to play hoops at the White House. I have to figure out a way to be invited.

Obama gives Everyman’s game a shot in the arm, writes Matt Dickinson.

It was a victory celebrated across the world, but nowhere more so than in a Fifth Avenue office in New York. At the headquarters of the National Basketball Association (NBA), they did not just welcome Barack Obama as president-elect of the US, but as an exciting new star in the world of slam dunk.

We wait to discover how Obama will resolve the world’s financial crisis, when he will withdraw troops from Iraq and whether he can bring lasting peace to the Middle East.

But we already know he is intent on installing a basketball court at the White House so that he can wind down the way he loves best — by shooting a few hoop.

I'd probably think, like I do now, that this is a pretty dipshitty expense of money during tough financial times...

The final price tag for firing Chuck Long and hiring Brady Hoke to San Diego State could be around $1.8 million, including only the costs associated with the transition of one football coach to another.

Wouldn't be surprised to see the QB at Ball State bolt for the NFL after this...

Stan Parrish, Ball State's offensive coordinator the past three seasons, signed a four-year contract on Thursday and promised a smooth transition as the new coach of the 23rd-ranked Cardinals.

He replaces Brady Hoke, who resigned this week to become the coach at San Diego State, and his first game will be on Jan. 6, when the Cardinals play Tulsa (10-3) in the GMAC Bowl in Mobile, Ala.

"Brady's footprints, fortunately, will stay on the program," Parrish said at a news conference announcing the coaching change. "It makes the transition for me very, very easy. There will be a lot of continuity in this program, because I had a lot of say in what we did before. That's a wonderful situation."

Hoke was 34-38 in six years as coach, including 12-1 this season.

Why couldn't Hoke stick with the team through the bowl game? Their success this year is the ONLY reason anyone is offering him a job for next year.

The Cincinnati Reds strengthened their bullpen Friday by agreeing to a $4 million, two-year contract with free-agent left-hander Arthur Rhodes.

One word as a fan: Ugh.

But losing to Buffalo last night pretty much insured I'm not buying this for our nephew for Christmas.

Sounds like a pretty interesting game if it happens:

There has been serious discussion between bowl representatives, school officials, conference commissioners and ESPN about pairing Ball State and Boise State in a bowl game—if the Cardinals win the MAC title to improve their record to 13-0.

So many choices, it could be Kyle Orton's interception extravaganza, or the fact that Devin Hester can't seem to keep his feet under himself anymore, or that the receivers couldn't get ready to catch the catchable balls that Orton passed.

Or it could be that horribly crappy Bears defense, unable to stop the run even with most of their players at the line.

Or it could be Lovey Smith's "look of the lost" during much of the game when the cameras panned to him.

So many choices. I'll go with the toothless defense, I guess.