Griese's the word
We debuted some new technology on the show this morning. Naturally, the move was met with resistance (anything beyond a typewriter just baffles Val), but our foray into instant-feedback text messaging went surprisingly well. Hopefully you're all OK with our $5-a-text messaging fee (somebody has to pay for Larry's suspenders).
We asked you: Who should be the Bears' starting quarterback? The results of our poll were not surprising.
Brian Griese 59%
Kyle Orton 23 %
Rex Grossman 17%
The most popular guy in Chicago is almost always the backup quarterback. He was 2 years ago when Rex Grossman sat behind Kyle Orton, and so he is now with Brian Griese backing up Grossman.
I have been the staunchest advocate for not making a switch. It would have been a terrible mistake to bench Grossman last season, especially after 7 - 8 stellar games in basically his second full season. All that was needed was another off-season of work, and Rex would fix his mechanics and learn to better utilize his tremendous talents. Benching him would have stunted that growth.
But this is different now.
Rex hasn't shown any improvement. He's making the same mistakes, minus any of the spectacular throws from last season, and there's no reason to believe it will get any better. It didn't a year ago.
There's a reason Lovie Smith has resisted making a switch. It's not because he's personally vested in Grossman. It's because Rex is so overwhelmingly more talented than Griese or Orton. It's like a high school basketball coach having a clumsy 7-footer on his roster- if his next tallest guy is 6'2", he's gonna try and ride out the big man.
But the Bears don't have that luxury now, and guys have won Super Bowls working with far less than what Grossman has (Trent Dilfer anyone?). Could Brian Griese or Kyle Orton get the Bears back to the Super Bowl?
I'm not sure they can.
Griese is a 10-year veteran who lost the starting job on his previous 3 teams because he never led them to the playoffs. Yet, some out there are fanatical about him starting. Be careful what you wish for.
It's at a point now where a change might have to be made just for the sake of change. But one thing is certain- the Bears are stuck with the guys they have.
There's no phenom rookie waiting for his chance, a la JaMarcus Russel in Oakland or Brady Quinn in Cleveland. This is it. That small window a team usually gets to win a Super Bowl is closing, not opening.
And if the Bears win a Super Bowl, it's gonna have to be with one of these guys.
Comments
Grossman showed his real stuff at the Super Bowl, and has never gotten better.
He can hang in there for a few plays. He weakens the defense who have to double up to cover his blunders.
Down, down, out, out, I say.
I haven't liked him since the day of his arrival.
With big bucks floating in the Bears finances, I vote heartily for using the other 2 players, revising offense and defense accordingly.
Or find an outside quarterback and put Grossman on water duty. Although I dought he can hold on to the buckets!
Posted by: Anne Wilmot | September 25, 2007 10:25 AM
I always wonder about the decision makers on the Bears. Who is the winningest quarterback on their squad?
Kyle Orton, who won 10 games in his rookie season. Kyle needs to play with the first team, while there still is one and he'll do everything he did the first time with a lot more. This time he'll have someone else to throw to. No one can say that Orton does not know how to manage a game. His previous starts have been of the 'sacrificial' lamb variety where no starter were playing with him. Go with the guy with the best record. Orton did great until he lost his deep reciever threat 2 years ago to a season ending knee injury. Plus, he's tall and can actually see over a rush. He does not have the baggage the current #2 guy has, he had the backing of the team two years ago.
Posted by: Bill F | September 25, 2007 2:12 PM
Hi Pat,
Sad, but true.There is no winning answer to this year's Bears.
Posted by: ChristineChristine | September 25, 2007 9:21 PM
First off, to the gentleman who said Kyle Orton had the backing of the team two years ago, WHAT ARE YOU TALKING ABOUT? Orton never had the backing of the team. This team always back Grossman. Kyle Orton, yes he won 10 games but he is not a Super Bowl caliber QB. He is a game-manager and in this era of the NFL, game-managers don't win Super Bowls. Grossman is clearly head and shoulders more talented than the other guys but hasn't progressed in his development, so yes a change for the good of the team and Rex is needed. But I agree with Pat. If you believe that Brian Griese will win you the Super Bowl then you are crazy. Griese is a nice complimentary QB but he is nowhere near a Super Bowl caliber QB. He's never even played in a playoff game. And, yes the Ravens did win a championship with Trent Dilfer as their QB but there's a big difference. The Ravens of 2000 had a better running game, a better Offensive Line, and stellar defense. Our running attack is brutal, our Offensive Line is old and tired, our defensive is good, but it's prone to giving up big yardage. So yes, a change is needed but it will not matter, so please put down the Griese and Orton Kool-aid because the Bears this year won't be hoisting the Super Bowl trophy this year.
Posted by: Cosmo | September 25, 2007 11:53 PM
I am very disappointed in Lovie Smith, I don't even know if I will watch the game Sunday. Rex Grossman may not have fancy foot work like Peyton Manning but he plays with his heart not about the money and making commercials. Am I the only one who remembers the exciting year of football we had last year? He did bring us to the Super Bowl last year. Shame on Chicago fans when the tough gets going the tough trade them up! As a parent I would never put my child down that sure doesn't get positive results. Did you people not watch the same game as I did on Sunday because it wasn't all Grossman. He can not be held responsible for butterfingers, even Hester couldn't hold on to the ball. As far as I am concerned, the Bears are not the same anymore, and that is very disappointing.
Posted by: jaime | September 26, 2007 5:51 AM
Pat--
You're hot!!!!
Anyways. all that we're saying is give Griese a chance!! If he fails miserably on Sunday, we'll know. I'm sure the cameras will be on Rex's expressions if Brian does fail. He better keep a poker face. I agree with Jaime, the offense did have butter fingers on Sunday, but time after time, Rex has goofed, and we can't afford another botched playoff chance.
Pat, did I mention you're hot??
Posted by: Cathy | September 27, 2007 10:41 AM