yers to the Winter Olympics? Youve heard what weve

(SportsNetwork. Chicago White Sox Shirts .com) - Amid a slightly higher-profile arrival this weekend at Soldier Field - in the form of Tampa Bay coach Lovie Smith visiting his former Chicago home for the first time since he was fired two years ago - theres also one Josh McCown. McCown appeared in 11 games and started seven times across three seasons (two under Smith) with the Bears before heading to Buccaneers on a two-year, $10 million contract after Chicago displayed its allegiance to Jay Cutler in the form of a seven-year, $126.7 million deal. His first three games with his new team yielded three losses and a thumb injury that subsequently kept him out of action for six weeks, but McCown returned to his starters role in Week 10 and has since thrown for 589 yards and four touchdowns against just two interceptions. He finally earned win No. 1 for the Bucs last week, throwing for 288 yards and a pair of scores in a 27-7 road defeat of Washington that ended a five-game losing skid. The momentum comes just in time for what he concedes will be an unusual experience this week. It will be neat, weird, all those things. Im sure for Coach Smith its the same thing, McCown said. But for us, weve got to win ball games, it doesnt matter who we play. His return has coincided with the emergence of first-round draft pick Mike Evans, whos caught seven passes in three straight games for 458 yards and five touchdowns. The Texas A&M product accounted for 209 receiving yards against the Redskins, making him the first rookie with a 200-yard game and two scores since Anquan Boldin did it 11 years ago. The defense did its part in Washington as well, registering three takeaways and six sacks while yielding its lowest opposition point total of 2014. Tampa Bay had averaged 30.2 points allowed through its initial nine games while accounting for only 12 turnovers and 14 sacks. Hopefully we can build on this and see where we go from there, Smith said. As it turns out, the tumult-wracked Bears could use a little building of their own. Lest he be reminded that Smith was 18 games over .500, reached the playoffs three times and appeared in a Super Bowl once during his tenure in Chicago, second-year coach Marc Trestman is enduring daily questions about why his star-studded team isnt performing anywhere near expectations. Trestman was 8-8 in his first go-round last year, following Smiths dismissal after he went 10-6 in 2012 and failed to reach the playoffs. And several of his holdover players are still fans of their old boss. (Smith) was the type of guy that you really wanted to run through a wall for, Bears linebacker Lance Briggs said. And you didnt want to see him go. Inconveniently, Chicagos offense is more than six points a game off of the NFC-best 27.8-point clip it posted under Trestman last season, and his defense had allowed 50 points in two straight games before a circle-the-wagons 21-13 defeat of Minnesota in Week 11 ended a three-game losing streak. Chicago allowed 243 total yards, but the Vikings were just 30th in the league in total offense coming in. Smiths defenses for the Bears averaged better than two takeaways per game, permitted less than 20 points and only surrendered 40 or more four times. Chicago has allowed 40 points six times under Trestman and defensive coordinator Mel Tucker, while surrendering 29.5 points per game overall. Were going to talk to our team truthfully about every aspect of this game, Trestman said. The thing I can tell you about Lovie is that Ive watched him for years and played against him for years and I know him as a person and I have tremendous respect for him as a person in all areas. Thats the only thing I can speak of at this point, and I truly mean that. As for offense, Cutler is expecting his former boss to supply a new defensive wrinkle or two. The QB passed for 330 yards and three TDs against Minnesota, but he was intercepted twice and has six INTs in his last four games. Running back Matt Forte had 117 rushing yards against the Vikings and is third in the league with 1,308 total yards. Its going to be challenging, Cutler said. We are going to be familiar with their defense, theyve got some really good players on that side of the ball. WHAT TO WATCH FOR Rookie on Rookie First-year man Evans comes into the game for the Bucs full of pass-catching momentum. Hes scored seven touchdowns since missing Week 5 with an injury and uses his 6-foot-5, 231-pound frame with surprising speed and agility. Hell be the focal point of rookie corner Kyle Fuller, picked seven slots after him in April, whos 6-foot, 190 pounds and will need to create disruption at the line of scrimmage. Facing an Old Friend On the flip side, Chicagos Brandon Marshall comes in after his own seven- catch, two-touchdown performance against Minnesota and will presumably be matched with veteran Alterraun Verner, whos been inconsistent in his first year with Tampa Bay. Marshall could have a big day if Smith employs soft coverages with Verner, especially if the receiver can escape initial contact and extend plays. OVERALL ANALYSIS If it were solely a match on paper, the Bears would win easily. Of course, if theyd all been solely matches on paper, the Bears would probably be 8-2 instead of 4-6. Expect Tampa Bay to be plenty revved-up for its popular new coach and for Smith to confound Cutler with a look or two, but in the end the advantages in personnel still reside with the hosts in Chicago. If he loses this one, Trestmans done. Sports Network predicted outcome: Bears 24, Buccaneers 14 Wholesale White Sox Jerseys . Reimer is winless (0-2-1) since returning from a six-week absence due to concussion-like symptoms. The Maple Leafs dropped a 4-2 decision to the hosting Washington Capitals on Friday. Cheap White Sox Jerseys . The Raptors second-year forward has been one of the primary beneficiaries of the early-season trade, breaking out and becoming a vital part of his teams success on both ends of the floor. Around the league, teams are starting to take notice and feature Ross more predominately in their pre-game scouting reports but its not just the opposition that hes impressing. https://www.cheapwhitesox.com/ . A knee to the thigh might have stung him the most, but his sixth straight double-double made up for the brief burst of pain.With John Tavares second period knee injury against the Latvians Wednesday, he wasnt just lost for the rest of the Olympics, but also the rest of the NHL season. The blow for the New York Islanders was softened a little by the fact their season is already all but over, sitting 12 points out of a playoff spot in the Eastern Conference with a 22-30-8 record. But imagine if the Islanders were in playoff contention, losing one of the best players in the league. Islanders general manager Garth Snow was none too happy about losing his superstar centre at an international competition. Speaking to Newsday on Thursday, Snow chastised the IIHF and IOC for wanting all the benefits of NHLers for nothing in return and even suggesting the organizations reimburse Islanders season ticket holders. Tavares injury, and Snows subsequent reaction – a sentiment likely shared by GMs around the NHL – may be enough for the league to halt their participation in the Olympics. In light of this and other injuries suffered in Sochi, is it time for the NHL to stop sending their players to the Winter Olympics? The 23-year-old Canadians season isnt the only casualty of the Winter Games, as the Florida Panthers have lost promising rookie Alexander Barkov to a knee injury playing for Finland, and veteran forward TThomas Kopecky to a concussion playing for Slovakia. Chicago White Sox Pro Shop. And while Pavel Datsyuk played in every Russian game at the Olympics, an argument could be made that were it not for the Olympics in his home country, the 35-year-old would be resting his troublesome knee ahead of the Detroit Red Wings playoff push. The solution could come in the reincarnation of the World Cup of Hockey, to be played in late summer before the NHL season begins. While injuries would be as unavoidable then as they are now in the Olympics, players would be coming in fresher and would have more time to heal before training camps open in the fall. Theres nothing quite as momentous as playing for your country in the Olympics, as Steven Stamkos showed doing everything he could to get healthy in time for this years tournament, but a World Cup could be a compromise that keeps every party involved relatively happy. And for hockey nuts worried about the void if the NHL pulls out of the Olympics, ideas such as making the World Juniors, an increasingly popular tournament around the world, an Olympic event every fourth year may be enough to appease them. Should the NHL stop sending their players to the Winter Olympics? Youve heard what weve had to say, now its your turn. As always, its Your! Call. ' ' '