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Mariotti: "I've never seen a 12-2 team look more chaotic"

Writers and fans voice their opinions on the Bucs-Bears game and more.

By Tom Jones
Published December 19, 2006

Other voices

Yeah, yeah, the Bears beat Tampa Bay in overtime and clinched homefield advantage throughout the NFC playoffs, which is one step up from winning the Arena League. But I've never seen a 12-2 football team more chaotic, with the Tank Johnson crisis engulfing the scene and, arguably, contributing to another problematic day for a defense that let a bad offense overcome a 21-point deficit. For those planning a February championship parade, compare the continuing demise of the Bears' defense, the hot-and-cold tendencies of their offense and the debatable play-for-OT strategies of Lovie Smith with the complete look of, say, the San Diego Chargers.

Sure you don't want to escape to Kazhakstan for several weeks?

At least they didn't blow the game, winning 34-31 to silence boos from fans disgusted by three fourth-quarter scoring passes by world-famous Tim Rattay.

Jay Mariotti, Chicago Sun-Times

Mike Ditka once said the Bears were a team of Grabowskis. On Sunday, the Tampa Bay Buccaneers tried a Gradkowski at Soldier Field. It didn't take.

Only when Bucs coach Jon Gruden yanked rookie starting quarterback Bruce Gradkowski for seven-year backup Tim Rattay did Tampa Bay rally from a 21-point deficit to nearly upset the Bears.

In the end, the Bucs fell 34-31 with shoulda, coulda, woulda comments swirling around the locker room. Every word Gruden uttered seemed accompanied by heartburn. Every word players uttered seemed accompanied by sighs.

Lew Freedman, Chicago Tribune

Your turn

After watching one half of the football game with the Bears, I have to say the same thing I did when Tony Dungy was coaching: The coach must go. I think Jon Gruden has been here too long. We can't blame the players, particularly Bruce Gradkowski. I think he has done as well as he can. Again, Gruden must go, along with Bruce Allen.

Bob Hanson, New Port Richey

Subject: Take these guys. Please.

I strongly disagree with your comment on Wayne Gretzky - "No one has done more for hockey, on the ice and off."

During the lockout year, there was no Gretzky or Mario Lemieux out front telling anyone what was good or bad. These guys, who are owning and playing/coaching, didn't seem to want to tarnish their image to take a stand. The league suffered and the two biggest icons in the sport sat silent. Sure, Gary Bettman has driven the sport to the brink of death, but if no one stands up, that is what will happen. The Great One now has tarnish on the golden image.

Brett Riley, Clearwater

Today's sign the world has gone crazy

Santhi Soundarajan, an Indian runner who won a silver medal in the women's 800 meters in the Asian Games, likely will be stripped of the medal because she failed a postrace gender test. The Indian Olympic Association said Soundarajan "does not possess the sexual characteristics of a woman." And she finished second?

Another sign the world has gone crazy

Nuggets star Carmelo Anthony escalates a brawl against the Knicks only a few days after opening the Carmelo Anthony Youth Development Center in Baltimore. At least Melo apologized for his role in the brawl. We're still waiting on Knicks coach Isiah Thomas, right.

One final sign the world has gone crazy

The Nuggets, now looking to clean up their image after Saturday's brawl, are said to be the leading contenders to get Philadelphia guard Allen Iverson. That's not the crazy part. The baffling part is the Sixers, despite being 5-18, saying they are in no hurry to trade Iverson.

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[Last modified December 18, 2006, 23:09:26]