After a very poor first-half performance by Jay Cutler, Chicago Bears fans let their quarterback know just how they felt about him on Sunday. Of course, Cutler did help the team orchestrate a 23-22 comeback victory over the Carolina Panthers, moving Chicago to 6-1, but it's what happened between halves that's eliciting the most discussion.

On his way to the locker room, Cutler appears to curse at the fans as the boos rain down upon him. Likewise, after the game, Cutler wasn't eschewing responsibility for the poor first half.

"I'd boo us, too. I told those guys it was a boo-worthy performance, if
you will," said Cutler, according to the Chicago Tribune. "It was pathetic offensively what we put out there.
It wasn't up to standard, product-wise. We’ve got to get better, we know
that. Our fans know that. Luckily enough we got out of there with a
win. But the first half was nothing to be proud of."

However, a day later, Cutler was more measured, and dodged specific questions about the alleged cursing while on WMVP-AM 1000's Waddle & Silvy Show.

"Are we in court now?" he said. "I'm not going to get involved in (that). …  I don't really recall (cursing the fans)."

Whatever the truth, the incident surely won't help Cutler's already NFL-low popularity.

After losing to Corinthians in the final of the Copa Libertadores, Riquelme announced his intention to leave Boca Juniors. But Boca fans had other ideas.

They paraded (protested) outside of the club’s famous stadium — La Bonbonera in Buenos Aires, Argentina. At least 5,000 of them surrounded the stadium, chanting Boca slogans and altering them to fit the occasion. Eventually they were let inside, where cries of “Riquelme is Boca, Boca is not going!” were repeated ad nauseum.

Riquelme, 34, is a Buenos Aires native, who Boca fans claim as one of their own. He played nearly 350 times for the club in 12 seasons (in two stints), winning five league and three Copa Libertodores titles.

The playmaker is reportedly considering joining Brazilian club Flamengo. It could be a lucrative, final payday for the Argentine icon, but it’s unclear if Boca fans will grant him safe passage to the airport.

Watch Boca fans protest Riquelme’s departure in the video below (starting around 50 seconds). Don’t worry if your Spanish is rusty, the pictures tell the whole story.

Have a question for Marcus Kwesi O’Mard? Send it to him via Twitter at @NESNsoccer, NESN Soccer’s Facebook page or send it here. He will pick a few questions to answer every week for his mailbag.

For all you diehard fans out there that are champing at the bit to figure out all there is to know about the 2012 MLB season, send your questions to Don Orsillo, Nick Cafardo and Peter Abraham for a chance to get your questions answered on-air at NESN's Red Sox Hot Stove Live on Tuesday at 6 p.m.

Leave your questions to be answered on the air in the comments section below or send them to NESN's Twitter account.

In fact, Toronto, Boston and New York ranked 1-2-3 in home runs in 2010, with Tampa ranking 12th and Baltimore 21st. Tampa Bay and Baltimore, however, have added some serious power with the likes of Manny Ramirez and Vladimir Guerrero.

Toronto, though it lost Vernon Wells to Anaheim, certainly won’t be suffering too much, and while the Yankees lineup hasn’t changed significantly, it’s hard to see their home-run output dwindling too much either.

The Red Sox lost two of their most powerful bats in Adrian Beltre and Victor Martinez, but what they gave up was more than counterbalanced by whom they brought in: Adrian Gonzalez and Carl Crawford.

Which AL East team will hit the most home runs in 2011?survey software

Not only did the Sox add a couple bats to an already potent lineup and a couple reliable arms to a strong bullpen, Terry Francona‘s crew is expected to be 100 percent healthy. But how many wins will come from a restocked and rehabbed lineup?

The Sox have won at least 90 games in seven of the last 10 years, including a 98-win season during their miraculous 2004 run. In 2010, they bagged 89 wins and missed out on a trip to the playoffs for the first time in four years.

Is this the year the Sox crack the 100-win plateau? Since 1901, the franchise has done it three times — 1912 (105-47), 1915 (101-50), 1946 (104-50) — and were one win away from the century mark in 1978 when they bagged 99 victories. Bucky Dent and the Yankees kept the Sox’ win column in the double digits when they served Boston a 5-4 loss in a one-game playoff tie-breaker at the end of the regular season.

How many games will the Red Sox win in 2011?online surveys

Every week, NESN.com will offer fans a chance to vote on a trending hot stove topic. Tune in to Red Sox Hot Stove Live on NESN every Tuesday night at 6 p.m. from Nov. 9 to Feb. 8 to see the results of each week’s Voice of New England poll.

Some contests, though, will be extra special.

By signing Manny Ramirez and Johnny Damon, the Tampa Bay Rays hit back in the increasingly hostile rivalry between the AL East underdogs and the Red Sox. Theo Epstein had raided Tampa for Crawford and Dan Wheeler already this offseason, but the Rays have struck back — making Johnny's and Manny's Fenway homecomings extra-interesting.

While it may not be a grudge match like when Tampa travels north, the Chicago Cubs' trip to Fenway will be special for another reason — it's never before happened in the regular season. It's tough to believe that the North Siders haven't once been to Boston since the Red Sox came to be in 1908, but they really haven't — with the exception of the 1918 World Series. The Sox have gone to Wrigley for three games in an interleague series, but the Cubs rotated out of the Sox's NL Central set of matchups during the year that the hypothetical return leg would have occurred. Finally, the current holders of the "Most Tortured" crown play at Fenway.

There is, of course, one matchup that is permanently at the top of the list. The Red Sox won the offseason against the Yankees, but they'll have to back it up during New York's nine trips to Fenway this coming season. With the new lineup that the Red Sox will be fielding, the team will have a great chance of bludgeoning their rivals. Who wouldn't want to see that in person?

Which game would you most like to attend?online survey

Armando Galarraga‘s imperfect game stands out as the ideal example of a player that was robbed of an incredible accomplishment due to human error. Bringing the instant replay aspect into the game would certainly clear up many missed calls, and it could change the outcome of close games.

It’s a debate that roars on in MLB today. Other leagues use instant replay extensively, and the implementation takes a certain amount of pressure off high-speed situations. That’s not to say that referees can afford to be lazy, but it’s crucial to catch those hockey shots that skim off the inner post, or the tiptoes that stay in bounds when catching a football. The NFL and NHL benefit from its usage, why not MLB?

The argument against instant replay is just as strong as the argument for it. Bringing instant replay into baseball would elongate what is already a very long game. Fans today have a shorter attention span than those of the past, and bringing instant replay into the nine-inning game could result in some long nights.

Baseball traditionalists don’t want to alter the imperfections of the game, arguing that the real aspect of baseball is what makes it the national pastime. To err is human, and as long as the calls go both ways, some analysts are OK with the occasional missed call.

MLB has already implemented instant replay to determine questionable home runs, but should they expand it throughout the game?

Should the MLB expand instant replay?survey software

Jeff Bagwell may have played in an era clouded by steroid use, and some voters suspect him of using PEDs, but he is deserving of Cooperstown, according to the Voice of New England.

The panelists on Red Sox Hot Stove Live agree. Bagwell never appeared on any list that said he was a steroid user during his hard-hitting career, so he should be cleared for a bid into the Hall of Fame.

The mention of Bagwell, of course, launched the debate surrounding the steroid era and which players should be punished for using PEDs. To hear more, check out the video above.

That leaves a group of snubs behind, however, waiting for next year's ballot to roll around. It also leaves several critiques of who should have been voted in this year, and former Astros first baseman Jeff Bagwell is being regarded as one of the biggest snubs of the 2011 class.

Bagwell was a first-time ballot entry. Combine that with the questions surrounding his Hall of Fame-worthy numbers and it's easy to understand why he didn't get a bid his first time around.

Bagwell put up incredible numbers in Houston, and though he fell short of the 500 home run and the 3,000 hits mark, he stole 202 bases and notched over 1,500 RBIs and runs scored — not an easy feat for a first baseman.

However, there's a dark cloud that hovers over Bagwell, as he is one of the many names associated with the steroid era. Many question his numbers because of the era he played in, and though he's never tested positive for PEDs, the question will always linger.

Nonetheless, gathering 41.7 percent of the Hall of Fame voting a solid outing for a first-time entry. Will Bagwell make the Hall next year? Perhaps a better question is should he?

Should Jeff Bagwell make the 2012 Hall of Fame class?online surveys

There is a lot to be excited about when thinking about the upcoming Red Sox season, but fans are most excited about the Cubs matchup at Fenway Park.

The Cubbies have not played at Fenway Park since the legendary 1918 World Series, and one can bet the weekend series in May will be laced with history.

Boston Globe writers Peter Abraham and Bob Ryan were more excited about other upcoming series in the 2011 season. To hear their opinions, check out the video above from Red Sox Hot Stove Live.

But which game, aside from any matchup with the New York Yankees, are Red Sox fans most excited to see?

Manager Terry Francona‘s new-look team opens its highly anticipated regular season on the road when the Red Sox take on the defending American League champion Texas Rangers on April 1. The Rangers fell to the San Francisco Giants in the 2010 World Series and will be without ace Cliff Lee, who signed with the Philadelphia Phillies this offseason.

The Chicago Cubs come to Fenway Park for a rare visit in May. Fans can’t help but enjoy watching these two “lovable loser” franchises go at it, as both teams have had historic troubles dating back to the early portion of the 20th century.

Another contest all baseball fans should have circled on their calenders is the opener of a late-June series that features the Red Sox and Phillies — two teams favored to win their respective leagues. Because both clubs made monumental acquisitions this offseason, many baseball experts are pegging this clash to be a World Series preview.

Other than Yankees games, which 2011 Red Sox game are you most looking forward to see?online survey

Every week, NESN.com will offer fans a chance to vote on a trending hot stove topic. Tune in to Red Sox Hot Stove Live on NESN every Tuesday night at 6 p.m. from Nov. 9 to Feb. 8 to see the results of each week’s Voice of New England poll.

Even though the Red Sox' roster was stricken with injuries in 2010, there were plenty of bright moments throughout the season.

Red Sox fans were polled last week to determine which 2010 moment was their favorite, and the fan base overwhelmingly chose Mike Lowell's home run on Aug. 3. Striking the first pitch he had seen since June 22 following a tumultuous month of trade rumors, Lowell blasted a two-run shot over the Green Monster, leaving the sellout crowd on their feet for several minutes.

Lowell called the home run "one of the more special moments of his career," and it's clear Red Sox fans agree with him.

To hear more about the special moments from 2010, check out the video above from Red Sox Hot Stove Live.

Fittingly, in a season that saw a roster decimated by injury, the Red Sox got contributions from virtually unknown players throughout the entire season.

That trend started early in the 2010 season when minor league journey man Darnell McDonald was called up to the big club. On April 20, McDonald made his Red Sox debut, and he made it a memorable one. All he did was hit a game-tying pinch-hit home run in the eighth, before hitting a walk-off single in the ninth off of the Green Monster to beat the Rangers.

Then, there was Daniel Nava. The 27-year-old was called up on June 12 for a Saturday afternoon tilt with the Phillies. On the first pitch Nava saw as a big leaguer, he hit a grand slam into the bullpen. Fenway Park practically exploded, all while Nava's father captured the moment on camera — the home movie of a lifetime.

While those two unknowns turned into fan favorites, one of the pre-existing favorites of the Fenway faithful, Mike Lowell, made quite a lasting memory for Sox fans. Lowell suffered through a tumultuous 2010 campaign, one that had him seemingly traded to Texas, before his ensuing battles with nagging injuries. However, Lowell gave Red Sox fans something to cheer about when he finally returned to the lineup Aug. 3 against the Indians. There, Lowell hit the first pitch he saw in his return, over the Green Monster, leaving Fenway in an uproar. It was a lasting memory for a guy who retired as one of the most popular players in franchise history.

The 2010 season had its share of great moments. Which one was your favorite?

Which was your top Red Sox moment of 2010?Market Research

Every week, NESN.com will offer fans a chance to vote on a trending hot stove topic. Tune in to Red Sox Hot Stove Live on NESN every Tuesday night at 6 p.m. from Nov. 9 to Feb. 8 to see the results of each week's Voice of New England poll.

In one of Red Sox Hot Stove Live's closest polls to date, New Englanders were slightly more surprised by the Carl Crawford signing in Boston than by Cliff Lee seeking out Philadelphia.

For NESN Insider Peter Gammons, it was the Lee signing in Philly that shocked him the most. Gammons thought that Lee was going to stay in Texas, and was surprised by his ultimate decision to go back to the Phillies.

As for Crawford, Gammons said he knew of the left fielder's interest in Boston, and wasn't as surprised to see him choose the Red Sox.

To see the Voice of New England results, check out the video above. 

Similarly, the Phillies hid behind the cloak of a “mystery team” and wooed Cliff Lee away from the comforts of home (well, close to home) in Texas and the bright lights and big bucks of New York City.

Which signing was more surprising to you?

That’s the question posed to NESN viewers this week’s Voice of New England Poll.

The Crawford signing was surprising for a number of reasons. For one, though the Red Sox were mentioned by outsiders to have a probable interest in Crawford, the two sides were never formally linked. Second, the Sox were getting a healthy Jacoby Ellsbury back, so an outfield of Ellsbury, J.D. Drew and Mike Cameron, with backups in either Darnell McDonald or Daniel Nava, seemed like it could work.

But, determined to fill that lineup with the best players available, Epstein made Crawford a very rich man.

Down in Philly, it was surprising as well, because, really, who turns down the Yankees’ offers?

Lee did, proving yet again that he is a different breed of star player. Philadelphia seemed an unlikely landing spot, though, largely because they already had aces in the form of Roy Halladay, Cole Hamels and Roy Oswalt. Certainly, a team with such a talented rotation didn’t have room for even more talent, did they?

They sure did, and the quartet is sure to baffle National League hitters all season long.

Which free-agent signing was more surprising — Carl Crawford to the Red Sox or Cliff Lee to the Phillies?survey software

Every week, NESN.com will offer fans a chance to vote on a trending hot stove topic. Tune in to Red Sox Hot Stove Live on NESN every Tuesday night at 6 p.m. from Nov. 9 to Feb. 8 to see the results of each week’s Voice of New England poll.

It was a fairly unanimous decision across New England. Carl Crawford does not belong in the leadoff spot for the Red Sox this season.

The crew from Red Sox Hot Stove Live agreed, as they chimed in with their analysis of where the speedy left fielder should bat for the Sox.

“They got him here to bat third,” NESN Insider Peter Gammons said. “That’s where Carl Crawford wants to hit … he doesn’t want to hit leadoff.”

Check out the full analysis of Crawford’s impact by checking out the video above.

Carl Crawford

They’re trying to figure out, though, where exactly the speedy Crawford should fit in the lineup.

With Jacoby Ellsbury perhaps holding down the leadoff spot, the options get tricky. Dustin Pedroia is built for the two-hole, and you’d figure Adrian Gonzalez third and Kevin Youkilis fourth might be the most dangerous combination.

But Crawford, who hit third in the Rays’ lineup for about one-third of his games last year, may be able to slide into the No. 3 spot, with Youkilis taking over as one of the best No. 5 hitters in all of baseball.

Yet, there’s another idea that would move Ellsbury down to the No. 9 spot and having Crawford hit leadoff. While putting those types of speed back-to-back in the lineup is an intriguing idea, the snag is that Crawford doesn’t have much confidence in himself as a leadoff hitter.

“Maybe I could have gotten better at [batting leadoff], but I just wasn’t comfortable,” he said in October. “It didn’t have anything to do with stats. I just don’t think I’m a good leadoff hitter.”

If we’re basing things off 2010, we don’t know, because Crawford didn’t bat leadoff once. In his career, though, Crawford does have higher averages batting second and third. Check out the stats:

Batting first: .288 BA, .323 OBP, .744 OPS
Batting second: .305 BA, .349 OBP, .812 OPS
Batting third: .294 BA, .338 OBP, .790 OPS

The numbers may not be all that different, but a player’s comfort level has to be taken into account.

Clearly, Terry Francona has some decisions to make, but put yourself in his shoes for a moment and vote: Where should Carl Crawford bat in the Sox’ lineup?

Where should Carl Crawford bat in the Red Sox' lineup?customer surveys

Every week, NESN.com will offer fans a chance to vote on a trending hot stove topic. Tune in to Red Sox Hot Stove Live on NESN every Tuesday night at 6 p.m. from Nov. 9 to Feb. 8 to see the results of each week’s Voice of New England poll.

The voices of Red Sox Nation have spoken, and they believe the Red Sox should continue to pursue offensive contributors as their next move during the hot stove season.

Pitching help wasn't far behind on the poll, however, as 48 percent believe the Sox should go after an arm as their next pursuit.

Red Sox GM Theo Epstein is on board with both ideas, as he shared on Monday morning during Adrian Gonzalez's introduction to Boston. According to Epstein, the bullpen is the next priority, while a right-handed hitter is high up on the list as well.

Check out more from Red Sox Hot Stove Live in the video above.

However, as much as Gonzalez will improve the Red Sox’ lineup, you have to think they aren’t done with their offseason shopping just yet.

For starters, the Red Sox have indicated that they’d like to patch up their bullpen after a disappointing 2010 campaign. They’ve already been linked to a handfull of top-notch arms, but may opt to grab a lot of low-risk-high-reward help instead.

On the other hand, the Red Sox also could attempt to further bolster the depth of their lineup. They struggled at times last season to produce runs, so they may look to add even more than Gonzalez, perhaps in the form of outfielder Carl Crawford.

Signing one of those outfielders may make a bigger splash than signing a reliever or two, but with Gonzalez likely on board, is shoring up the bullpen the Red Sox’ most pressing need?

What is the Red Sox' most pressing need?customer surveys

According to Hall of Famer Peter Gammons, the Red Sox will sign one of three big-name free agents –Carl Crawford, Jayson Werth or Adrian Beltre – during the offseason. However, none of those players will likely sign before the biggest free-agent name of them all has picked his next destination.

Once Cliff Lee makes his choice, the domino effect will begin, leading into a "very interesting 10 days," Gammons says.

"I think everybody has to wait and see what happens with Cliff Lee," Gammons said during Red Sox Hot Stove Live. "Carl Crawford's not signing anywhere until he finds out that Cliff Lee is definitely going to the Yankees, because you want the Yankees as a fallback."

As for Beltre, the majority of New England wants him back in a Boston uniform next season, as 61 percent of the region voted that the Red Sox should sign the third baseman in the recent Voice of New England poll.

To see more from Gammons, check out the video above from Red Sox Hot Stove Live.