Kyle Orton

After starting 6-0? Not so much. Kyle Orton proved he will never be more than a slightly above average quarterback, throwing two cost pick-sixes to Chiefs LB Derrick Johnson. Even without those scores, the Bronco defense gave up 30 points, providing evidence that not all is solved on that front. Josh McDaniels's decision to bench Brandon Marshall and Tony Scheffler may have cost his team a trip to the postseason, whether his other players agree with it or not.

Continue reading "Joe's Final Drive: Week 17"

From 6-0 to 8-7, the Denver Broncos are on the outside of the playoff picture.Take that Kyle Orton. The Eagles on the other hand are primed for the number two seed and a bye thanks to Minnesota's head-scratching loss Monday night. Their explosive offense led by Donovan McNabb coupled with an aggressive defense makes them the hottest team in the NFC in my opinion. A looming showdown with the Cowboys has the NFC East title in the balance.

Continue reading "Joe's Final Drive: Week 16"

After dominating teams in the second half earlier this year, Denver’s flipped the switch. Kyle Orton’s been pedestrian the past few weeks, and his ankle injury won’t help anything. (Much like last year.) Chris Simms did not look ready to take the reigns yet. On a positive note, it was a nice win for the ‘Skins, who need to rally this season to be credible again. 

Continue reading "Joe's Final Drive: Week 10"

The last two undefeated teams carried on their winning ways, the last winless team won, the Giants gave one away by kicking a field goal and the Broncos could not hang with the Super Bowl Champs. Let’s wrap up week nine with the Final Drive!

Continue reading "Joe's Final Drive: Week 9"

The last two undefeated teams carried on their winning ways, the last winless team won, the Giants gave one away by kicking a field goal and the Broncos could not hang with the Super Bowl Champs. Let’s wrap up week nine with the Final Drive!

Continue reading "Joe's Final Drive: Week 9"

ar those prognostications have proved worthless, as Josh McDaniels’ team is still undefeated. Kyle Orton has played efficiently if nothing else with nine touchdowns and only one interception (a half-ending throw-up) to his credit. This Sunday he faces a Ravens squad who has lost three straight and is in danger of falling out of the division race. With Cincinnati and Pittsburgh both off this week, Baltimore has a shot to climb out of their hole, but they need to hold a team to under 30 points sometime this season. 

Continue reading "Joe’s NFL Opening Drive: Week 8"

long for those return TD’s that single-handedly kept the Broncos in the game before halftime. Kyle Orton is 6-0. I think I wanna throw-up. Seriously though, that system fits his skill set and allows Denver’s multiple playmakers to run after the catch. The Cutler trade will probably be a success for both teams involved. 

Continue reading "Joe's Final Drive: Week 6"

Philip Rivers must push this offense and be aggressive against Denver’s surprising defense. Kyle Orton just needs to find his playmakers in space and protect the ball like he has through five games already. 

Continue reading "Joe's Opening Drive: Week 6"

something to cheer about in the present. 

Notes from week 5: 

-Bob Costas interviewed Kyle Orton during half-time of the Colts-Titans night game. Kyle "King of the Checkdown" Orton's interviews are just like his passes: short, efficient, and unexciting. 

Continue reading "Joe's Final Drive: Week 5"

Let’s see where Josh McDaniels, Kyle Orton and 4-0 go from here. 

(2-2) Pittsburgh Steelers 38
(2-2) San Diego Chargers 28 

With 28 points in the final 17 minutes of play, I think the Chargers can rest a little easier about this loss. They definitely struggled for most of the game, but they ignited under Philip Rivers. Big Ben and the Steelers needed to avoid a 1-3 start to keep the AFC North race close. Maybe Rashard Mendenhall earned a few more carries for himself? 

Continue reading "Joe's Final Drive: Week 4"

halting the Denver offense yet again (thanks to Adewale Ogunleye’s inadvertent laceration of Kyle Orton’s index finger on his throwing hand), the Bears were pinned on their two yard-line with five minutes left in the half, backed up once more. Jay Cutler was about to leave Broncos fans restless.

Continue reading "Cutler Embarasses Broncos in Denver"

food joints in the Midwest, and a typically mid-level football team was on top of the world.  Kyle Orton was doing his best Jeff George impression and the defense appeared as tough as nails.  The city was full of big talk and Rose Bowl aspirations.

Continue reading "Big 10 Network"

I personally can’t wait to see our defense pick off Kyle Orton, but that’s just me.

Here are a few things to keep your eye on during Sunday night’s mega-hyped contest:

Wide Receiver:

Continue reading "What to Watch for: Bears at Broncos"

Denver couldn’t possibly be that stupid. Kyle Orton needs him to succeed.

As far I’m concerned, if Chicago would be willing to trade for Marshall, why not offer the same package to Arizona for Anquan Boldin? He’s almost as productive, has absolutely no criminal past whatsoever, and might not be as expensive. If I have to give up an integral piece of my roster for a wide-out, I’d like it to be someone I know is going to stay on the field and not in prison.

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h overall)
3rd round selection in 2009 (84th overall)
1st round selection in 2010
QB Kyle Orton

Chicago receives:
QB Jay Cutler
Broncos’ 5th round selection in 2009 (140th overall)

Continue reading "Chicago Bears Trade for Cutler, Sign Pace"

Chicago needs at least one, because I’m not confident about a quarterback roster with Kyle Orton, Caleb Hanie, and Brett Basanez. My solution? Sign Jeff Garcia and give him the starting job. Sign Chris Simms while keeping Orton and Hanie and head into training camp. There, problem solved. The Bears bring new blood into the mix while still developing in-house talent by holding a competition for the back-up spot. I should be a GM.

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Kyle Orton and the offense jumped out to an early 10-0 lead in the first quarter, mostly due to their passing attack. Unfortunately, they couldn’t keep up as the Texans pulled ahead in the second. Orton had a solid statistical outing, going 22 for 37 with two touchdowns. However, like he has all season, he routinely missed on his deep throws, unable to stretch the field. Matt Forte was continually found on the sidelines, only running the ball 13 times for 50 yards. When the post-season was on the line, I expected to see my team’s best player with the ball in his hands. Forte has been the reason for Chicago’s offensive success, as his production has caused defenses to tighten up at the line of scrimmage. This shift allowed mediocre Bear receivers to make more plays downfield, since there are fewer defenders in coverage. Chicago couldn’t keep the pressure on the Texans, punting on six of their eight drives following their first two scores. They sputtered as the pressure mounted, going three-and-out three times and two for ten on third downs, never giving the defense times to rest. Danieal Manning did his best to help Houston, fumbling the kickoff following the Texans’ first score. Manning has been doing his best Devin Hester impersonation this season, providing a spark on special teams mixed in with awfully-timed mistakes. 

Continue reading "Bears' Season Ends in Houston"

e rushing attack will speed the game up, of which I’m sure all the players would be in favor. Kyle Orton’s bothersome ankle should be completely healed by now, giving him the power and velocity back in his throwing motion. He’ll need it to get passes past this aggressive Packer secondary that plays mainly in man-coverage. Hopefully Ron Turner will take it out of Orton’s hands by rotating running backs in an attempt to maintain healthy production handing the ball off. The offensive line will play an integral role in dominating the Packers’ front seven if Forte is to have any success. Whatever strategy they employ, they certainly need to score more than the three points they mustered in week eleven. 

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he past two contests, setting the table for his teammates by giving them early points on the board. Kyle Orton had another rough night, throwing two interceptions and fumbling the ball away once. In all fairness however, one of those picks bounced off of Rashied Davis’ hands into the waiting hands of a Saint defender and the fumble was really the fault of center Olin Kreutz, who snapped the ball early as the Bears were backed up at their own goal line, so I can’t place all three turnovers on Orton’s shoulders. Still, Orton has thrown six interceptions in three games after throwing only four in his first ten outings. His ankle injury may be troubling more than he lets on, but he still found a way to lead his team on late scoring drives that set up the win. Greg Olsen made plenty of key grabs, catching eight of Orton’s 24 completions. Matt Forte left the field after his very first carry with a toe injury, but returned to score a touchdown in the second quarter. Chicago only rushed for 55 yards total, choosing to abandon the run as the game progressed. Devin Hester was the real threat for Chicago, despite catching only four passes for 46 yards. He drew two significant pass interference calls on Saint defenders downfield, the last of which put Gould in perfect position the kick another game-winner. The Bears only scored six points in the final half plus overtime, continuing their trend of letting up on beaten squads. Ron Turner needs to get creative in these final weeks. 

Continue reading "Bears Rebound in OT to Beat Saints"

entage of their third downs, which has been a glaring short-coming of the Bears offense as of late. Kyle Orton shouldn’t feel too much pressure, as not only will Forte shoulder the bulk of the offensive production, but the Saints’ pass defense ranks 26th in the NFL. That fact will make it easier for Orton to avoid throwing an interception in his third straight game. Watch for Greg Olsen and Desmond Clark to exploit a weak line-backing corps while Devin Hester abuses the secondary on deep routes. As Marty Booker is listed as doubtful with injured ribs, it seems Brandon Lloyd has a shot to make it out of Lovie’s doghouse. Don’t ask me why our once number once wide-out has lost favor with the coaching staff, because I couldn’t fathom a reason. Lloyd missed a long stretch of time with a knee injury, but that’s no reason to leave him buried on the bench. Hester can’t be the only threat at the position, and Rashied Davis is not sure-handed enough to be a dependable receiver. With such an average list of talent, any legitimate option must be explored to the fullest degree, and Lloyd is that option. Unfortunately, I’m confident he isn’t a factor in Chicago’s future plans, which is normal for incoming veterans wide-outs. It’s just the latest in a long list of confusing personnel decisions by Lovie Smith.  

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Two plays later Kyle Orton found Desmond Clark in the end zone to give Chicago a 7-0 lead. Chicago would go on to score 13 more in the first half, thanks to two Robbie Gould field goals and a stretching Greg Olsen touchdown. The score was 20-3 at halftime so it was all but over for the offensively-challenged Jaguars. Devin Hester had another sound performance at wide receiver, pulling in a 31 yard reception, as well as a punt return for 22 yards to the Jacksonville 22 that set up one of the first half field goals. Conversely, he also fumbled twice on punt returns, which is unacceptable whether he recovered them or not.

Continue reading "Bears Avoid Drama by Handily Defeating Jaguars"

rnerback Rashean Mathis is out for the Jaguars, which will make throws into the secondary safer for Kyle Orton after unleashing his inner Grossman last week. Now it’s on the wide receivers and tight ends to get separation so Orton can find them downfield. Otherwise it won’t matter who is playing across the line of scrimmage. There’s only one offensive injury of note for the Bears: Fullback Jason McKie has missed every practice so far this week, making it more likely that undrafted rookie Jason Davis will start his second NFL game.  

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d to humiliate the “Mediocre of the Midway” for the rest of the night. 

You knew Kyle Orton would have another bad game this season. I don’t mean one of those 15 for 31, 130 yards and no touchdown or interception games either. Kyle completed only 11 of his 29 attempts with two touchdowns. His streak of pass attempts without an interception extended to 205 through the first half, but that streak ended violently after halftime. Through a stretch of only seven attempts, Orton threw three interceptions, all of which can be placed squarely on Kyle’s poor decision-making. Matt Forte ran the ball 22 times for 96 yards, which is solid output against a defense that makes its living off of stopping the run. Forte still didn’t have a legitimate back-up, with Adrian Peterson and Garrett Wolfe adding only one carry apiece. Kevin Jones was not even active for this contest, making it all but certain he won’t be re-signed in the off-season. The biggest issue besides Orton’s interceptions was the sloppy play of the wide receivers and tight ends. Too many times they were hit in stride by Orton passes and failed to bring in the catch. Hester and Olsen each had throws hit them in the hands or arm but couldn’t focus on making the reception amidst tight coverage. When your best playmakers can’t get the ball in their hands, it proves to be problematic. Chicago’s offense never really asserted itself in this one, scoring two touchdowns, one in the first and the other in the third quarter. Hester claimed one of those scores, burning three Viking defensive backs on his way to a 65 yard play to the end zone. It was one of the few impressive feats the Bears managed. Defensive end Jared Allen accounted for all of Minnesota’s 3 sacks, beating left tackle John St. Clair on a routine basis with his speed. It wasn’t pretty. (Neither is Jared Allen’s mullet. Have you seen this atrocity? He’s balding, has the bulk of his head buzzed, but with this area at the back of his head that’s grown out. I can’t really look at it.) 

Continue reading "Bears get Roasted in Minnesota"

the pass-rush of Jared Allen coming off the end equals an intimidating wall for opposing offenses. Kyle Orton’s ankle has had another week to heal up and he has still fully participated in practice. Orton has to come out firing against the Vikings’ suspect secondary in order to free up Matt Forte and the ground attack. In order to fully utilize Forte, Lovie Smith and Ron Turner must place an emphasis on running sweeps and tosses to the outside to avoid the Williams boys. I don’t believe they’ll really commit to that strategy, but it’d be nice if they tried once or twice. Expect a lot of running for the sake of running, probably off the center or the guard right into one of the hefty defensive tackles. That’s the norm for Lovie Smith, so why deviate? Can you tell how frustrated I am with this coaching staff’s ineptitude at making adjustments? I hope so; otherwise I’m considering branding the sentiment on my forehead. 

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on’t be in Chicago after this season.  

Someone who will be around next season is Kyle Orton. Orton dropped back to pass more than he probably would have liked to on his bad ankle, but he had another solid game under center. The key to his success has been the way he protects the football. He set a Bears record on Sunday for most consecutive passes thrown without an interception with 185. Devin Hester and Desmond Clark led all Bear receivers with 5 catches each, taking the bulk of Orton’s 18 completions on a day that predominantly featured the running game. It was also an offensive showing that feature some new looks from Ron Turner’s offense. The “wildcat” formation that’s run rampant throughout the league was utilized, with Devin Hester taking the snaps. Add that to the aforementioned reverse plays of Davis and Hester and you’ve created a fresh game plan for a team that was sorely lacking in the creativity department. What could be a worry is the lack of production in the second half. The Bears talked a lot about “finishing strong,” but their only second half score was a field goal in the third quarter. Against a porous Rams defense, that should be a concern. 

Continue reading "Bears Defense Shines in Win Over Rams"

s. 

Offensively, the Bears have nothing to hang their hat on following a three-point output. Kyle Orton was obviously hindered by his injured ankle, and never found a way to get the ball downfield. The running game was shelved early as the Bears found themselves falling further behind on the scoreboard, limiting Matt Forte’s carries. Wide receivers were missed or couldn’t make the catch, so tight end Greg Olsen and Forte were the only Bears with more than two receptions. The performance was a definite reminder of the anemic Bear offenses of the past, where scoring twelve points on their own was a cause for celebration. Against the Rams’ 30th ranked defense however, fans should not be surprised if the Bears explode early. Number two overall pick Chris Long has played well at the defensive end position, but his presence can only help so much. The Rams give up a staggering 158.4 yards rushing per game, so if the Bears can’t run the ball effectively, they can only blame themselves. Orton dropping back should be a rare sight on Sunday since Lovie Smith has three viable options at tailback with Forte, Kevin Jones (who has fallen off the planet apparently), and Garrett Wolfe (great on special teams). Honestly though, it will be a shocker if Jones and Wolfe get more than three carries between them. Lovie wants to run Forte into the ground before he can even make it to the post-season. 

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The Bears didn’t show up to play and the Packers took advantage.  

Kyle Orton wasn’t great. Honestly, he wasn’t even good. Unfortunately, he was placed in that situation on Sunday by his slacking defense. Orton led his team down for a field goal after the Packers’ initial touchdown, and from there Chicago never found points to put on the board. The offense was in a constant sputter for four quarters, never reaching the red zone on their ten offensive possessions. They kicked one field goal, punted six times, fumbled once, and the other two drives were ended by halftime and the game’s conclusion. That makes for one extremely boring drive chart. Matt Forte produced when he was called on, averaging 4.0 yards on his 16 carries. By halftime however, the running game was abandoned because the Bears trailed by two touchdowns and needed to make up the difference through the air. Green Bay was in a position to tee off on the quarterback and protect against the big play. It was over after two quarters. 

Continue reading "Bears Get Blown Out in Green Bay"

One thing they can expect to see is Kyle Orton under center for the visiting Chicago Bears. After missing the loss against the Titans with an ankle injury, Orton will try and keep his team in first place with a win over the Packers. 

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If there never was any evidence of the difference before, there is now: had Kyle Orton been playing, the Bears win that game. The running game was decent if nothing else, but I have yet to see Kevin Jones or Garrett Wolfe spell Matt Forte for any significant stretch of time. That’s inexcusable to me, as tailback combinations are the key to longevity and consistency of a successful running game. 

Continue reading "Bears Latest to Fall to Superior Titans"

first place in their division because of its passing game, which is in jeopardy due to the loss of Kyle Orton.  

Even with Lovie Smith’s ever-present cryptic answers when giving any sort of timetable, it seems Orton will miss at least one game due to his ankle injury. Despite claims of wanting to play, Orton has been held out of practice two straight days, with Rex Grossman taking all of the first team snaps. “Sexy Rexy” will need to avoid the costly mistakes that have marred his career if he has any hopes of leading the Bears to victory over the AFC’s best. Helping Grossman out are the offensive weapons that have developed this season with Orton at quarterback. Devin Hester and Rashied Davis have vastly improved as receivers, and Marty Booker is still find ways to beat coverage. Even better news is Brandon Lloyd’s full participation in practice this week. Lloyd was on his way to becoming the Bears’ number one target before a knee injury derailed his season. Along with his selection of wide-outs, Grossman will be aided by the best set of tight ends in football in Greg Olsen, Desmond Clark, and rookie Kellen Davis. Olsen is living up to his first round selection, and will be a staple of the Bears’ offense for years. Add that to a running game that found itself behind Matt Forte’s 126 yard performance last week, and you’ve got the recipe for a solid offensive attack, with or without

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As it turned out, it was only a mild one. As Kyle Orton left the field near the end of the first half against Detroit, the collective hopes for this team left with him. Everyone knew what was coming. Kyle’s injury meant the return of Rex Grossman, otherwise known as the most scrutinized quarterback in NFL history (he also goes by “Sexy Rexy” and ‘Wrecks” Grossman).  

Continue reading "Rex Returns to Lead Bears Over Still-Winless Lions"

After week five’s utter domination of the Lions at Ford Field, Kyle Orton and the Bears are hoping for a repeat performance here in week nine. It’s a huge game for Chicago, as they’re tied with Green Bay atop the NFC North at 4-3. Since the Packers are going to be in a fight for their lives against the unbeaten Tennessee Titans, the Bears are staring at a perfect opportunity to regain sole possession of first place.

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the special team scores and the touchdown that was set up at the 5 by a Payne interception return, Kyle Orton and the offense put up 31 points all on their lonesome. Orton has obliterated my prediction on 200 yard outings. He added another versus the Vikes, bringing his total to four on the season. He demonstrated outstanding poise in the pocket as well as a great instinct for calling audibles under center. He often changed the play at the line and put his offense in a better position to move the ball. While it’s only been seven games, Orton is vastly improved over the version we saw in ’05, who was unable to make the big play. This Kyle is finding his wide receivers and tight ends more frequently, and relying less on the check-downs to the running backs. Devin Hester (who left the game with a quad injury), Rashied Davis, and Greg Olsen have emerged as significant offensive threats, which is perfect for a young signal-caller like Orton. Olsen has especially proved worthy of a first-round selection, making up for his fumbles of a few games past. I’m not saying the quarterback situation in Chicago is completely settled, but it certainly looks better than it has in the past.

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n opponent play from behind is the best and most effective way to keep their running game in check. Kyle Orton must continue to improve this week coming off of a strong second half against Atlanta. The wide receivers and tight ends will be the focal points of the offense yet again, as Minnesota is stout in their run defense. They only allow an average of 73 yards a game, so Forte will need help up front to have a successful afternoon. The Minnesota pass defense has grown with the addition of last year’s sack leader Jared Allen. Allen may only have three sacks, but Minnesota as a team ranks ninth overall in the league with fourteen. Kyle should make a point of utilizing the short throws to the tight ends and running backs in order to avoid the pass rush until something opens up downfield to receivers Devin Hester or Rashied Davis. Orton is completing about 61% of his passes (18th among NFL QB’s), a percentage that coordinator Ron Turner and the offensive staff would like to see increase. Against Minnesota’s opportunistic secondary, Orton won’t have room for mistakes.

Continue reading "Joe's Gameday Preview: Vikings at Bears"

After a rare Jason Elam miss, the Bears were in prime position to go for the win with a touchdown. Kyle Orton took charge of his team in the no huddle offense and found Devin Hester multiple times on the drive, which culminated in a strike to Rashied Davis on the left edge of the end zone. With the PAT came a one-point lead and a sense of accomplishment for Chicago, having stolen a victory. After all, there was only 11 seconds left, the game must be over, right? This is where Chicago fan’s collective stomach really began to churn.

Continue reading "Bears and Falcons get Crazy in Atlanta"

The real key to the Bears’ offensive success was Kyle Orton and the passing game. I’ll let that sink in for a moment. Kyle Orton broke my prediction of less than two 200 yard passing games with an astounding 334 yards and two touchdowns. With another contest against the Lions in week nine, Orton probably has another 200 yarder on the schedule. Even more shocking was the emergence of the wide receivers in the passing attack. Rashied Davis and Devin Hester stepped up big time in the absence of Brandon Lloyd. Making his first real start at wide receiver, Hester took advantage of the opportunity to stay out on the field for five catches for sixty-six yards and a touchdown. We all knew about his talent, but Sunday Hester showed us the reason the coaching staff has so much confidence in his ability to be a number one wide-out. Tight end Greg Olsen broke free of coverage for 52 yards on the first play on the Bears’ second drive of the game, the first one of many downfield plays by

Continue reading "Bears Maul the Defenseless Lions"

Wide receiver Brandon Lloyd is out for this game, which means Kyle Orton must find the tight ends with regularity, as he has not developed a rapport with any of his other receivers. Greg Olsen and Desmond Clark need to have a big game to stabilize this offense. This is also the game that Devin Hester needs to impact, as he can take advantage of a poor Lions secondary. Without Lloyd, there truly is no number one wide receiver, so another committee effort is expected throughout the game.

Continue reading "Joe's Gameday Preview: Bears at Lions"

tivity after losses, I’ll start out with the positive aspects of last night’s thriller. Kyle Orton threw for 174 yards and three touchdowns in the first half. It was a notable performance for a quarterback that isn’t known for being anything more than a “game-manager.” Greg Olsen was used to perfection on the first touchdown of the game, making a tremendous catch on the out-and-up. That series was also a great change of pace for the Bears’ offense, as Ron Tuner came out with the no-huddle to put the Eagle defenders on their heels and out of their normal aggressive blitzes. The Bears went 59 yards in three plays to score seven points on their first drive of the game. Marty Booker went to the middle of the end zone early in the second to put the Bears back on top. Devin Hester made up for his drop early in the game by catching Orton’s pass on the sideline route, beating the Eagles’ best corner in Asante Samuel for touchdown number three. The offense put up 21 points in the first half, when they normally couldn’t reach that total for an entire game. Even more shocking was the execution of the screen pass, which was ran three times and always went for positive yardage.

Continue reading "Bears Overcome Four Turnovers To Defeat the Eagles"

Too many things infuriated me as I watched my Chicago Bears lose to the Carolina Panthers Sunday afternoon. The two Greg Olsen fumbles are obvious, the lack of offensive production is just as problematic, but honestly, the offensive play-calling is my real issue with this Bears team. They often fail to put their personnel in the best position to win games.

Continue reading "Bears Didn't Deserve the Win"

There was always the chance that Kyle Orton would play mistake free football behind a solid running game provided by Matt Forte and Kevin Jones. And in a league in which upsets are common place, there was always the chance that the Chicago Bears would beat the Indianapolis Colts in their brand new stadium.

Continue reading "Bears dominate in regular season opener"

means he and Mark Bradley should try for a jail-break.

The brighter spots came from the offense. Kyle Orton looked poised in his first start since being awarded the job by Lovie Smith.  He got rid of the ball quickly while managing to find a few wide receivers down-field. He was more than just a "game manager," he made enough plays to win the game. Rashied Davis made his case for the number one wideout spot by catching 2 touchdowns, though he dropped a possible third. Matt Forte was solid when he touched the ball, even if Ron Turner only calls running plays that go right up the middle. (My dad says he saw one sweep, I must have blinked.) Kevin Jones impressed by breaking off a 27 yard run on his very first play as a Bear. Unfortunately, the next time he touched the ball, he was engulfed by three defenders in the backfield. That's the offensive line for you. Mark Bradley even showed up to play, catching a short pass and breaking for 55 yards against busted coverage.

Continue reading "Bears' Defense is Embarassed as Orton ..."

This job is almost assuredly Kyle Orton's, much to my chagrin. Kyle has not won this job, because I don't think he can. I figured the only way he starts at quarterback is if Rex loses the competition. After the game against Seattle, it's almost a give-in. Rex lost his shot to start. Though it wasn't his fault. The coaches aren't putting him in situations in which he can succeed.

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This year, the position battle will once again feature Rex Grossman and his opponent will be Kyle Orton. Neither man is talented. Both have more flaws then they do pluses. I don’t think either man can lead this team to the playoffs. It seems almost impossible. Unless every other player on the team steps it up to a different level, its going to be really tough for the Bears to make it back to the playoffs with such bad options at quarterback.

Continue reading "32 Teams in 32 Days, Team #26: The Chicago Bears"

That's the best Chicago Bears news I've heard in a long time. Lovie Smith has decided to let Kyle Orton and Rex Grossman battle it out for top dog in this year's training camp. I'm excited. Aren't you?

Continue reading "Chicago Bears Quarterbacks and I"

The ceremonial fireworks of the opening weeks of free agency have finally started dying down and there’s a lot of dust to clear through. A few teams have made some big strides, immediately raising their hopes for 2008 with key acquisitions and retainers. I’m pretty sure we can all agree that the Browns are probably the poster child for this offseason. On the heels of a ten-win season in which they were unfortunately robbed of a playoff spot, the team too good for a logo had much to look forward to – rising young talent in Edwards (who finally learned how to catch short passes over the middle) and Winslow (who finally realized it wasn’t a good idea to pop wheelies on your bike in May), a terrific offensive line with a young left tackle quickly making a name for himself, a defense that could only really improve. Now, they’ve set themselves up for great success by bringing in talent on both sides of the ball. Re-signing Anderson was a must in my opinion, and the Browns will be all the happier seeing him rather than future franchise QB Quinn trying to direct the offense. Giving Quinn more time as a spectator will aid the transition from college and help him adjust for when he eventually makes his debut. Sure, some would argue that Quinn deserves his shot now, but no one can say that the extra time won’t hurt – two years on the bench is the most valued experience for a fresh QB. With Anderson, even if he does prove to be nothing more than a flash in the pan (as we might suspect from the closing weeks of last season), Quinn is waiting in the ranks. The Browns’ offense also became much more explosive with the addition of Stallworth, a legit speedster who seems to be on a new team each season. The Saints, Eagles, Pats -- can’t we get some consistency? Millions of fantasy owners don’t want to gamble on you each year! We like sure things! (Ironic side note: There are no sure things in fantasy football.)

Continue reading "Browns No Longer Committed to Sucking; ..."

be the team's starting quarterback.  He followed that up by stating that both Grossman and Kyle Orton are well thought of by the coaches and that he "assumed" that Grossman was the starter.  After a pause, he said that "open competition is what I'm is being told right now".  Someone must have gotten to Lloyd right away to tell him that was not the right answer.  Turner was quick to follow up Lloyd's comments by telling the press that they all know that there will be a quarterback competition in camp.  If that's true, then someone forgot to inform Lloyd.

Continue reading "Lloyd's Comments Open New Problem"