[CBFF] Long goodbye -- chicagotribune.com

[Ross McCoy]

The only QB I am relatively certain we know what we have on is Griese and even
he has disappointed me because I thought we had a solid game manager and his
turnovers in Detroit (second game) just made me sick. Griese is a veteran which
is probably past his prime. If I ignore cap implications, he would be my first
cut to fill his spot with a QB drafted in the 2nd-4th round (assuming Grossman
can be had for a short term reasonable contract).

I STILL don't know about Grossman, but I have seen enough over two years to
have a pretty strong feeling he will never be "special". His fumbled snaps
REALLY are a big minus. His short stature and inconsistency are pretty big
negatives in my mind. That being said, I would bring him back to compete for
the starting QB position if I could do so for a relatively good price. There
still is a possibility that he could be a solid starting QB, but he has got to
eliminate his mistakes and his window for doing so is quickly closing. If 
someone offered him a long term contract, I would let him go because I would
not want to overpay for him or have him as a long term cap burden.

Orton could be almost anything, but so far has been the most consistent QB.
I know Tom doesn't want a game manager, but I think Orton starts off as a 
intelligent game manager with potential to be more than that. Grossman starts
off as a gunslinger with potential to be reigned in and work with more 
intelligence and control. If I am going to take a chance on one of them I
think Orton has a better chance of putting together wins while learning on
the job (as a bonus he hasn't had the fumblitis and is tall enough to get
good views over the offensive line). Of course, one would think there is a
reason Orton has been on the bench for the last 3 years and doesn't have a 
lot of game film on him (recently) which would give us insights into what makes
the coaches most nervous about him.

I think looking for a player on a practice squad or as a free agent has
the possibility of paying off big, but it is a lot like putting a big bet on
2 black on a roulette wheel in Vegas. Odds are it won't pay. Every year there
are 32 teams which are looking for the best possible QB to start for them. Of
those, maybe 6-8 have found someone which is a "franchise" guy. So if you are
confident that you are better than the other 23-31 teams at evaluating QB
talent and assuming there is such a talent to be found, then you might get
lucky (or more likely you will end up with a bust). Derek Anderson cases 
usually just sort of happen and you don't plan them. If you recall Anderson
didn't get the job until Cleveland gave up on Frye and was afraid to ruin Quinn
by putting him in too early. They did not bring Anderson in with the 
expectation he would tear up the league. That being said if we don't fill our
third roster spot with a draft pick, I would probably agree that putting a 
player with potential (and preferably a few years of NFL experience (on the
bench) is a better way to go than another almost good enough free agent vet).

Ross

Tom Shannon (tshanno at gmail.com) writes:
> 
> 
> > -----Original Message-----
> > From: cbff-bounces at chicagobearsfanforum.com [mailto:cbff-
> > bounces at chicagobearsfanforum.com] On Behalf Of Victor Waldron
> > Sent: Wednesday, January 02, 2008 10:54 AM
> > To: post at chicagobearsfanforum.com
> > Subject: Re: [CBFF] Long goodbye -- chicagotribune.com
> 
> 
> > Change for the sake of change is going to keep us spinning our wheels.
> 
> No, it's not.  There's a log jam at QB.  Three guys, none of whom is good
> enough.  Spinning your wheels is keeping them all and praying that by some
> miracle they'll turn out to be something different than they are.
> 
> All I'm asking is that you take a chance on one guy.  Find yourself an
> unknown backup on someone's roster or practice squad that you've always
> liked.  Hell, I'm not a GM.  I don't know what's there.  That's Angelo's
> job.  But they're there.  They're always there.  It's just a question of
> finding someone.  What the hell is there to lose?
> 
> Tom S.
> 
> 
> There is still a difference between something and nothing, but it is purely
> geometrical and there is nothing behind the geometry.
> ? - Martin Gardner
> http://blog.chicagobearsfanform.com
> 
> 
> 
> 
> 
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