[CBFF] Kyle Boller, or the like, should be in Chicago Bears' plans -- chicagotribune.com - Sent using Google Toolbar

Wed Mar 4 06:49:26 MST 2009

Kyle Orton needs legitimate contender at quarterback

already have one.  the Great Brett Basanez!!!

2009/3/4 Tom Shannon <tshanno at gmail.com>

> Kyle Boller, or the like, should be in Chicago Bears' plans --
> chicagotribune.com<http://www.chicagotribune.com/sports/chi-04-pompei-bears-quarterback-mar04,0,1769909,print.column>
>
>
> www.chicagotribune.com/sports/chi-04-pompei-bears-quarterback-mar04,0,4073888.column
> chicagotribune.com Kyle Boller, or the like, should be in Chicago Bears'
> plans Kyle Orton needs legitimate contender at quarterback
>
> Dan Pompei
>
> On the NFL
>
> March 4, 2009
>
> <http://ad.doubleclick.net/click%3Bh=v8/37e6/3/0/%2a/g%3B211111083%3B0-0%3B0%3B12925921%3B4307-300/250%3B30153447/30171324/1%3Bu%3Dhttp%3A//www.chicagotribune.com/sports/chi-04-pompei-bears-quarterback-mar04%2C0%2C1769909%2Cprint.column%3B%7Eokv%3D%3Brs%3D10011%3Brs%3D10017%3Brs%3D10088%3Brs%3D10094%3Bptype%3Dps%3Bslug%3Dchi-04-pompei-bears-quarterback-mar04%3Brg%3Dur%3Bref%3Dchicagotribunecom%3Bpos%3D1%3Bdcopt%3Dist%3Bsz%3D300x250%3Btile%3D1%3Bat%3DThomas+Jones%3Bat%3DBasketball%3Bat%3DChicago+Bears%3Bat%3DFootball%3Bat%3DPeyton+Manning%3Bat%3DJeff+Garcia%3Bat%3DRex+Grossman%3Bat%3DNFL%3Bat%3DMegan+Fox%3Bat%3DSports%3Bat%3DKurt+Warner%3Bat%3DMark+Anderson%3Bat%3DCedric+Benson%3Bat%3DAlex+Brown%3Bat%3DMatt+Leinart%3Bat%3DKyle+Orton%3Bu%3Dhttp%3A//www.chicagotribune.com/sports/chi-04-pompei-bears-quarterback-mar04%2C0%2C1769909%2Cprint.column%3B%7Eaopt%3D2/0/ff/1%3B%7Esscs%3D%3fhttp://clk.atdmt.com/SF1/go/135310258/direct/01/>
> <http://ad.doubleclick.net/jump/trb.chicagotribune/sports;rs=10011;rs=10017;rs=10088;rs=10094;ptype=ps;slug=chi-04-pompei-bears-quarterback-mar04;rg=ur;ref=chicagotribunecom;pos=1;sz=300x250;tile=1;at=Thomas+Jones%3Bat%3DBasketball%3Bat%3DChicago+Bears%3Bat%3DFootball%3Bat%3DPeyton+Manning%3Bat%3DJeff+Garcia%3Bat%3DRex+Grossman%3Bat%3DNFL%3Bat%3DMegan+Fox%3Bat%3DSports%3Bat%3DKurt+Warner%3Bat%3DMark+Anderson%3Bat%3DCedric+Benson%3Bat%3DAlex+Brown%3Bat%3DMatt+Leinart%3Bat%3DKyle+Orton%3Bu%3Dhttp://www.chicagotribune.com/sports/chi-04-pompei-bears-quarterback-mar04,0,1769909,print.column;ord=24815007?>
>
>  Jay Cutler is a fantasy to Bears fans. Megan Fox in shoulder pads.
>
> Go ahead and dream. But understand it's not going to happen.
>
> But Kyle Boller, or a quarterback like him, that should not be a dream.
>
> Perhaps you have heard the adage "Competition is the whetstone of talent."
>
> Hope the Bears have, too, because for Kyle Orton to be the best he can be,
> and for the team to be all it can be, he should have competition.
>
> A couple of years ago the Bears named Mark Anderson a starting defensive
> end in the dead of the off-season, replacing Alex Brown without competition.
> The result was a poor season from Anderson and a pretty good one from Brown.
>
> It didn't work out any better when they traded Thomas Jones to clear the
> path for Cedric Benson.
>
> Football players need not be coddled like significant others on Hallmark
> holidays. At least not football players I would want on my team.
>
> Show me a player who reacts like a distressed turtle when he is asked to
> fight for his job and I will show you a player who will react like a
> distressed turtle when the season is on the line.
>
> Competition is an outstanding way to prepare for a season, like watching
> tape, lifting weights and eating right. Really, it is the essence of sport.
>
> Some of the most successful quarterbacks in the NFL last season were forced
> to compete for their jobs in training camp. Kurt Warner did it, beating out
> Matt Leinart. So did rookies Matt Ryan and Joe Flacco.
>
> The Bears don't necessarily have to bring in a player they expect to be
> matched evenly with Orton. But it sure would be nice to have a veteran they
> know they can count on in case Orton is either unavailable or ineffective.
>
> The chances are good the Bears will start more than one quarterback this
> year. They have started more than one in 35 of the 42 seasons since the NFL
> merged in 1967.
>
> Nobody knows what Caleb Hanie and Brett Basanez are capable of because
> between them they have thrown 11 NFL passes. You can't convince yourself
> they are anything except unknowns.
>
> Each is a fit for the third, or developmental quarterback role. Neither is
> a fit for the primary backup.
>
> If Cutler is available, the Bears would have to explore the possibility of
> acquiring him. Most teams in the NFL would. But the signals out of Denver
> right now are Cutler is not on the market. Because the Broncos no longer can
> trade for Matt Cassel, they probably will be very reluctant to part with
> Cutler, as they should be.
>
> Even if Cutler forces the Broncos' hand, the Bears probably do not have
> what the Broncos would demand in compensation to make him a possibility.
>
> So let's go back to the real world. The Bears owe it to the organization to
> continue their development of Orton unless they can acquire a player they
> are certain is better for reasonable compensation.
>
> I like Orton. I have since he was at Purdue. I think he will be very good
> very soon. But he has not earned the right to not have to compete. We aren't
> talking about Peyton Manning here.
>
> But there is nothing wrong with pursuing someone like free agent Jeff
> Garcia. Orton is not the type of player who needs to be pushed to work hard,
> but having an able competitor on his heels certainly shouldn't hurt.
>
> Orton told the Tribune's Fred Mitchell he believes he can get a better feel
> for wide receivers if he gets more than half the reps through the off-season
> and training camp. Last year Orton and Rex Grossman split practice time as
> the Bears tried to determine who should start.
>
> How many off-season reps with the starters do you suppose Cassel had last
> year in New England? Not many. And his numbers were better than Orton's
> across the board.
>
> The Bears could benefit from waiting until after the draft. It's not like
> there is any quarterback out there now who is a must have. And waiting would
> enable Hanie and Basanez to get the off-season reps that would aid their
> development. Veterans still will be available late.
>
> The best thing for the Bears organization, and the best thing for Orton, is
> for the team to acquire a player at some point who can be a threat at some
> level to their starting quarterback.
>
> dpompei at tribune.com
>
>  Copyright © 2009, Chicago Tribune <http://www.chicagotribune.com/>
>
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