ESPN

Michelle Beadle and Colin Cowherd will be winning every game on the midway during "SportsNation" TV.

Argue the hot topics of the day and vote on the biggest stories from the world of sports. The show airs on ESPN2 at 5 p.m. and midnight ET.

Note: Broadcast voting results as of this afternoon (ET).

How should Cowboys fans feel about Tony Romo's golf game?
Golf Digest has listed Tony Romo as the top athlete golfer. Has he spent too much time honing non-football skills?

Which quarterback would you rather have?
Jay Cutler has thrown for 8 touchdowns, 901 yards and 5 interceptions. Matt Ryan has 7 touchdowns, 977 yards and 2 interceptions.

Which team will win Saturday's game at Notre Dame?
A Notre Dame win could vault the Irish to a BCS bid and solidify Charlie Weis' job. A USC win could set the Trojans up for the BCS title game.

Which is the bigger story surrounding the start of Angels-Yankees?
Has the cold, windy, rainy weather in the Northeast upstaged the games in the American League Championship series?

What is "SportsNation" TV, and how do you make your voice heard? Read about the new ESPN show that features fan opinions with calls, tweets, polls, rankers and more.

• Wednesday Chats: Chris Mortensen, 11 ET | Matt Williamson, 12 ET | Mel Kiper, 1 ET

Why didn't AIG have this kind of foresight? As recounted in the Wall Street Journal, Fantasy Sports Insurance launched this year to offer fantasy football owners some peace of mind on their high-dollar investments. Drafted Adrian Peterson but worried about an injury ruining your season? Buy insurance on him and recoup your league fees if he gets hurt (although in Peterson's case, based on his chat with SportsNation, Frank Gore insurance would have been a better investment).

One of the only 50 stars the company offered to insure? Cedric Benson. The same guy who averaged 3.5 yards per carry last season while rushing for a career "best" 747 yards. Forget insurance; we're going to these guys for our draft cheat sheet next year.

Thanks in no small part to Benson, who has 487 rushing yards in five games, the Bengals are 4-1. But does that make him a better MVP pick than Carson Palmer, let alone Peterson, Drew Brees, Peyton Manning or other standouts?

Scott (Bakersfield, CA)

Which offseason add has helped their team more Dawkins or Sharper?

Gary Horton

That's almost a push. They are both great veteran players with tremendous leadership skills. Your first inclination might be to say Sharper because of his big plays and his instincts. He can turn around a game with those interceptions. My sources in Denver tell me Dawkins is like another coach on the field and is a huge part of the speed in which Denver has made the transition from a 43 to a 34. That may not show up in the box score, but it is a big factor in their success. Full transcript.

Random (Dude)

DO u have yourself on your fantasy team?

Adrian Peterson

Nope. Frank Gore. And Matt Forte. Full transcript.

• Your NFL QB Rankings: Is Jay Cutler still in your top 10?

After a season-opening loss, there's no shame in admitting your NFL team has seen better days. After all, everyone loses at some point -- the Giants dropped their opener in 2007 and went on to win the Super Bowl. It's just a little embarrassing to admit your team had those better days with Chris Weinke and Jim Miller at quarterback.

Almost a month before the regular season, SportsNation rated NFL quarterbacks and pegged Jay Cutler at No. 10 and Jake Delhomme at No. 17. But after Week 1 of the season, four was the number that mattered most for both, as in the number of interceptions each tossed in losses to the Packers and Eagles, respectively.

So after the Windy City's new golden child threw more interceptions in one game than Kyle Orton has in 33 of 34 career appearances, is it time to panic? (Update: Wait, Brian Urlacher is out for the year? Now it's time to panic).

• Coach Ratings: Are Rex Ryan and Mike Singletary already near the top of the class?
• Week 1 Wrap: Vote on the opening week's hot debates.
• Chats: Tedy Bruschi wrap | Monday Night Football marathon, 6 p.m. ET
• Interact On Air: Monday QB on ESPNEWS | MNF halftime poll suggestions

“

What a disgrace! Jake D. and John Fox need to be released asap. There is too much talent on this team, and to let it go to waste over a terrible QB like Jake who cannot manage an NFL offense. Carolina can do better than Jake D, I'm praying they release him at the end of this season regardless of how Carolina does.

” -- bigmikejames5

“

4 picks and a QB rating of 43!!!! WOOOO HOOOOO, huh, Bears fans???? Cutler has you on the way to the Super Bowl already! Thanks for getting out of Denver!

” -- THEBOOTGUY

Michelle Beadle and Colin Cowherd have been getting their first serves in even when they're not hitting aces on "SportsNation" TV.

Argue the hot topics of the day and vote on the biggest stories from the world of sports. The show airs on ESPNEWS at 4 p.m. and ESPN2 at midnight ET.

Note: Broadcast voting results as of this afternoon (ET).

Who delivers better butt kickings?
Rambo is the unloved, face-painted military machine, but Rocky doesn't need any weapons other than two fists (and an occasional slab of raw meat).

Which is a worse offense in baseball?
Does the Hall of Fame argument really come down to Pete Rose versus the steroid era? Or is one form of cheating no different than the other?

Does having a big ego help or hurt a wide receiver?
It takes supreme confidence to go across the middle and make a catch knowing a linebacker is waiting to rip you in half.

Which fantasy WR would you rather have?
Anquan Boldin had 89 receptions for 1,038 yards and 11 TDs last season. Roddy White had 88 catches for 1,382 yards and seven touchdowns.

Was the booing of Jay Cutler in Denver justified?
Expected? Yes, that's what fans do when a guy who forced the team's hand returns. But was it his fault the new coach doubted his starting ability?

What is "SportsNation" TV, and how do you make your voice heard? Read about the new ESPN show that features fan opinions with calls, tweets, polls, rankers and more.

• Vote: Are Cubs fans too hard to Milton Bradley and what will Jay Cutler hear in Denver?

We assure you that starting the day on sports hatred has nothing to do with waking up to another round of Brett Favre stories. Purely coincidental. We swear. But a couple of stories out of one of the Great Schism's rival cities, Chicago, have us thinking hate.

First, Jay Cutler is apparently prepping for a weekend visit to Denver by making nice with the fans gearing up to greet him. Cutler was all praise when it came to Broncos coach Josh McDaniels and his time in Denver, a far cry from how things seemed for much of this year.

Across town, Milton Bradley, in the time he didn't spend hitting a home run against the Nationals, was talking about how difficult it is to do his job with fans hating him. And here we thought it was because of how much right-handed pitchers hated him this season.

But whether it's a free-agent bust weighing down the season or a former star returning in another uniform, how close to pure hatred do you come as a fan?

• Most fans think Cutler's reception in Denver will be better than Favre's in Green Bay.
• Surprisingly, a charging Milton Bradley is not SN's idea of a pitcher's worst nightmare.

“

This dude needs to quit whining. They could pay me $10 Mil a year just to strike out and get booed all season long. I'll even take a few beers over the head. Hell I'd do it for $50,000 a year. You get paid MILLIONS just to play baseball man.

” -- meltdeez

“

Don't worry Milt, it's not just Chicago that hates you.

” -- packman66

“

Jay Cutler you have got to be joking. Now that Jay is going to have to be at the same place as McDaniels hes going to get scared and now praise the guy that he said betrayed him. Jay Cutler is the biggest baby in the NFL. Im going to go as far as say that this guy is worse then Jim "Chris" Everette.

” -- ajp_

Daily practice updates or fun polls and games? Join Michelle Beadle and Colin Cowherd on "SportsNation" TV if you'd like to talk about more than who'll be the backup QB in Minnesota.

Argue the hot topics, vote on the biggest stories and chat during the show on ESPN2 at 5:45 p.m. and midnight ET.

Note: Broadcast voting results as of this afternoon (ET).

Whom are you more excited to see back on the field?
Minny or Philly? Dome or outdoor football? Brett Favre or Michael Vick? Which returning quarterback tickles your football fancy?

Does baseball need to crack down on beanballs?
Rick Sutcliffe argues that pitchers will police the game if they are allowed to throw at batters. David Wright, meanwhile, is recovering from a concussion.

Which player will get booed first by his own fans?
Jay Cutler has already called out, or at least publicly commented on, Devin Hester. T.O.? He's already missing practice and games.

What do you think of bulletin-board material?
Will Rex Ryan's comments rile up the Patriots and contribute to lopsided scores, or are NFL players and coaches above all that?

What's the most you've ever paid for shoes?
A pair of cleats worn by Michael Jordan as a minor league baseball player is for sale in Japan for thousands of dollars. Who said there was a recession?

What is "SportsNation" TV, and how do you make your voice heard? Read about the new ESPN show that features fan opinions with calls, tweets, polls, rankers and more.

• Vote: Did Jay Cutler commit a serious foul in calling out Devin Hester?

Even for someone who went to a smart-kid school like Vanderbilt, Jay Cutler seems mighty eager to hand out grades. First, he seemed to assess Chicago fans as a "nine," compared to a mere "six" for Denver fans. Then on more of a pass-fail scale, he seemed ready to flunk new teammate Devin Hester in interception prevention after the receiver didn't save a preseason pick. All of this from a guy who seemed to get bent out of shape when the new Broncos regime didn't treat him like team valedictorian.

We're not saying it all adds up to a bad sign for fans in the Windy City, but, well, actually we kind of are saying that. Sure, Peyton Manning had his "idiot kicker" moment and Tom Brady occasionally is photographed holding goats, but Cutler's summer hasn't seemed the stuff of a calm, cool and collected franchise quarterback whom SportsNation recently ranked ahead of Matt Ryan and Aaron Rodgers, among others.

Should Bears fans be worried about their supposed savior?

• Rankings: Is Jay Cutler still among the NFL's top 10 quarterbacks?
• Drama aside, voters still think the Bears found a franchise quarterback with Cutler.
• Voters think Cutler is under more pressure to win than Broncos coach Josh McDaniels.

“

training camp's not even done and Cutler's at it again, throwing another teammate under the bus. as great as this guy is, he's EGO is even bigger.

” -- DaBOONDOCKS

“

I am not a Cutler fan, I would have preferred da Bears kept Kyle Orton. That being said, when I read the "critical" quote it seems to me that Cutler was critizing himself not Hester. I'm not saying, I'm just saying.

” -- bob-edwards

“

Is this guy ever going to just shut his mouth and just play? Dude you are not the 2nd coming of Joe Montana or whatever, you are a QB that has a great arm, no leadership skills and cannot ever admit it when he's wrong. Him and T.O. should be on the same team.

” -- kobesux123

• Rankings: How do the greatest Bears of all time stack up against each other?

Chris Mortensen's bus tour of NFL training camps landed him at Bears camp this week, which led to a conversation with Brian Urlacher about living up to expectations as part of a lineage of linebacks that includes Dick Butkus and Mike Singletary. And, of course, the conversation also touched on what Urlacher did or didn't say about Jay Cutler.

Between all the great linebackers in team history and the scarcity of franchise quarterbacks over nearly a century of football, we started wondering about the greatest Bears of all time. Do any of the linebackers top Walter Payton? Where do any of the team's quarterbacks fit in the mix? Is there any way for us to work in a Matt Suhey reference?

We now know Jay Cutler thinks Bears fans are better than Broncos fans (while not reported, we also suspect he thinks lakes are better than mountains and wind is better than altitude), but who are the best Bears of all time?

• SN's take: Bears are SportsNation's pick to win the NFC North.
• Vote: Is Cutler under more pressure this season than Josh McDaniels?
• Beyond the Nation: More on the Bears from ESPN Chicago's Jeff Dickerson.
• Groups: Chicago Bears FanGroup | Monsters of the Midway | Talk Chicago

“

As a Bears fan I have embraced Cutler. He is the type of QB we needed here for many years. Sort of reminds me of Jim McMahon. Both had some cockiness in them but as long as they will win for your club thats all that counts. Hopefully if Cutler can get us into the playoffs the haters will go away.

” -- bullsfan2223

“

The sad thing is Jay Cutler actually believes kissing the backside of Bears fans will actually make a difference when he forces three picks in one half of a home game this year. It will not. The kid has an arm, too bad he has the same mental capacity as Jeff George.

” -- Lundonj2

Who needs Brett Favre? If the Vikings would just take SportsNation's advice and sign Michael Vick, the NFC North would have the most compelling collection of quarterbacks this side of the Big 12. Even without Vick or Favre in Minneapolis, a division that threatened at times in recent seasons to set the forward pass back a decade looks armed and ready.

Aaron Rodgers quietly got the revolution going last year with 28 touchdown passes in his first full season as a starter, and now Jay Cutler and Matthew Stafford (or a potentially revitalized Daunte Culpepper) are set to join the fray. Sure, maybe that's putting a rosy spin on a division that produced an 0-16 team last season. For that matter, the three other teams managed just a 13-17 record outside the division. But it could be worse; it could be the NFC West.

As for the team with the dueling weak links under center, SportsNation is showing some lukewarm support for Tarvaris Jackson. Back in April, a healthy majority said he wasn't part of the team's present or future. Fast forward a few months and voters give him the nod over Sage Rosenfels, even if that's not exactly a ringing endorsement of his potential.

• What's your take on the division? Vote on the NFC North.
• Rankings: Is an NFC North team the best fit for Michael Vick?
• Beyond the Nation: Kevin Seifert's NFC North blog
• Groups: Chicago Bears FanGroup | Cheesehead Nation | Lions Bandwagon'

“

Rosenfels is actually a pretty decent QB, if they can just get him to stop throwing the ball to the other team. His career QB rating is actually higher than Mike Vick's (81 vs. 75).

” -- daphins23

“

I think Sage will be the guy...as long as he doesn't try any flying acrobatics I think he will be a serviceable QB for the Vikings.

” -- debakes10

“

I still think it is a 3-way for the NFCN title. I don't think the Lions are going to lie down for anyone either. Sweeping Detroit isn't going to be like it has been. The team(s) that splits with them may be the odd-man-out for the title.

” -- PckrBckr73

• Rankings: What were the biggest offseason moves?

Chad Ochocinco is still a member of the Bengals, Anquan Boldin is still a member of the Cardinals and Brett Favre is still indecisive. So not much has changed since last we left the NFL, right? Terrell Owens is in Bills camp talking about the unfairness of any further delay in Michael Vick's comeback? Right, so maybe not everything is right where we left it.

As incredibly wealthy people move into college dorm rooms across the country for the rite of passage that is training camp (or orientation at Sarah Lawrence College, take your pick), there are more than a few familiar faces in new places. Back in May, SportsNation gave the Eagles the highest marks for their offseason moves, but considering first-round pick Jeremy Maclin remains unsigned as camp approaches, they may not even be among the best shoppers in their own city if the Phillies find a way to tack on Roy Halladay on top of the Flyers adding Chris Pronger.

Offseason acquisitions are one topic on the agenda for today's "SportsNation" (4 p.m. ET, ESPN2), but how does your scorecard look for moves like the Redskins signing Albert Haynesworth and the Bears trading for Jay Cutler?

• More rankings: Are the Steelers still No. 1 as training camps open?
• Voters expect more from Mark Sanchez than Matthew Stafford this year.
• Cutler not SportsNation's pick for the best QB in the NFC North this season.
• Majority thinks Chiefs making mistake paying Matt Cassel franchise money.