[CBFF] Bears Treading Water at QB by Re-Signing Kyle Orton and Rex Grossman - FanHouse - AOL Sports Blog - Sent Using Google Toolbar

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Bears Treading Water at QB by Re-Signing Kyle Orton and Rex Grossman -
FanHouse - AOL Sports Blog

Bears Treading Water at QB by Re-Signing Kyle Orton and Rex Grossman

Posted Feb 25th 2008 6:11AM by Michael David Smith
 Filed under: Bears, Chicago
The Chicago Bears have re-signed quarterback Rex Grossman to a
one-year contract and are reportedly close to re-signing quarterback
Kyle Orton to a one-year extension as well. Most sources agree that
they're likely to go into the 2008 season with Grossman battling Orton
for the starting quarterback job, and that the coaches currently give
Orton a slight edge.

Grossman's deal was for one year and $3 million with $1.5 million
guaranteed and up to $2 million in incentives; Orton's deal is
expected to be about the same.

These contracts mean the Bears are just treading water at quarterback,
and are almost certain to be in the same place a year from now that
they are now: Looking ahead to a season in which they have no idea if
they'll have a competent passer under center.

In 2005 and 2006 the Bears had a championship-caliber defense and
special teams, but Orton and Grossman held them back. In 2007 the
Bears' defense declined and the team missed the playoffs. That would
seem to make the 2008 off-season a logical time to blow things up and
start over, but the Bears aren't doing that.

That's a mistake. Grossman and Orton just aren't the quarterbacks the
Bears need if they're going to win the Super Bowl. Unless the Bears
can pull off a surprise move in free agency or the draft, this
off-season will be another missed opportunity for the Bears at
quarterback.