For your Saturday night/Sunday morning reading pleasure, I present Mike Downey's Tribune column regarding the once - and possibly future - king. Every once in a green sky we present a piece in its entirety and I'm happy to do it for a terrific columnist like Downey.
ORTON WAITS FOR A CHANCE
Mike Downey
In the wake of the news
October 28, 2007
Question: "Don't you miss all those questions about who's playing quarterback, Coach?"
Lovie Smith: "Oh, I can't wait for them. It was a part of every interview I did for so long.
"Kyle Orton, by the way, is doing a heck of a job behind the scenes. Let's get that quarterback controversy going again."
Kyle Orton came off the practice field on a sunny Friday afternoon, perspiration dripping into his beard.
I intercepted him to ask, "Kyle, wasn't it like two years ago this week that you and the Bears beat the Lions in overtime?"
"Was it?" he asked back. "Your memory is better about things like that than mine."
"Didn't you throw a 54-yard pass to Mark Bradley that day?"
"Did I?" Orton replied.
Yes, you did.
As a matter of factâ€â€stop me if this sounds familiarâ€â€Orton on that October day in 2005 took the Bears on a 99-yard touchdown drive that ended with a leaping catch by Muhsin Muhammad in the end zone.
Brian Griese a week ago led a 97-yard touchdown drive that ended with a leaping catch by Muhammad in the end zone.
A whole lot has happened to the Bears in between. I suppose that's why a few gaps exist in their ex-quarterback's memory of it all.
"It has been a long couple of years," said Orton, a qualified pro quarterback who is ready, willing and able but will be inactive Sunday for his 27th Bears game in a row.
"I'm still happy here. I think I have got a future with this team. But I do know there's a demand out there for quarterbacks who can play in this league, so who knows?"
Quarterback is not the panic-stricken, polarizing position in Chicago that it used to be.
The head coach even was able to have a tongue-in-cheek moment about it in his conference call with Detroit's reporters, jokingly inviting a quarterback controversy to resurface.
Maybe later, coach. Best/worst we can come up with for the moment is this:
Is Donovan McNabb an option for 2008?
Or is the football in good hands with Griese for a while?
Is Rex Grossman coming back to be a backup or going off to a Buffalo or an Atlanta or an Arizona for a fresh start?
Or is there a college quarterback the Bears should snap up in the draft?
And where would any of this leave Orton, who is only 24? He isn't blind to the way desperate NFL teams grasp at straws and give a shot to a green third-stringer or to a washed-up 43-year-old like Vinny Testaverde.
"I saw how long Brian Griese had to wait for a chance to get back on the field," Orton said. "It's hard to not play."
Orton is in NFL limbo, so much so that even J.T. O'Sullivan has a better chance to play in Sunday's game than him.
O'Sullivan is the No. 2 to Jon Kitna at quarterback for Detroit. The Bears released him July 7 and he signed three days later with the Lions.
After a comment by Kitna a few days ago about how much he hates to play an opponent twice in one season, Lions offensive coordinator Mike Martz couldn't resist kidding Kitna this way: "OK, we're just going to play J.T. this week."
At least the 28-year-old O'Sullivan did get into a game this season, throwing his first NFL touchdown pass. Orton won't play unless both Griese and Grossman can't.
Smith gave the ball to Griese for the Sept. 30 game in Detroit, the veteran's first start as a Bear.
"Of course his first start wasn't exactly how we envisioned it," Smith said after Friday's practice, ruing the interceptions that were costly in a 37-27 loss. "But he really has made progress."
It wasn't a snap decision to bench Grossman, a quarterback who had steered the Bears to a Super Bowl.
It also wasn't the first hard call Smith had to make. Orton was in the midst of an eight-game winning streak on Oct. 30, 2005 when he and the Bears beat the Lions 19-13 on a Charles Tillman interception in overtime.
Orton was a player thenâ€â€a player who played.
He threw for more than 9,300 yards for Purdue. He then became the first Bears rookie to start a season opener at quarterback in more than 50 years.
But not only hasn't Orton been in a game for the two NFL seasons since, he hasn't been activated.
Football isn't a sport like baseball or basketball where a bench guy can grab a little playing time in a one-sided victory or defeat.
"Do your starting days seem a long time ago?" I asked him.
"A real long time ago," Orton said. "My time will come. I still believe that."
Until then, no one needs to ask the coach who his quarterback is, so we don't.
Maybe next year?
Copyright © 2007, The Chicago Tribune
#2 BRIANsong said . . .I hope Orton gets another opportunity here in Chicago before it's all said and done. I would hate for him to discover success elsewhere when another team finally gives him a the reins to an offense. Did he really quarterback a 99 yd touchdown drive? Holy shit.
But, you gotta believe he's a 3rd string QB for a reason... Right?
October 28, 2007
#3 fred said . . .Only be in the league three years and chasing a free agent and a number one draft pick. I think next season he'll get the chance to back-up if not compete for the job. The kid had a big time arm in college.
October 28, 2007
#4 Jimbo said . . .rex is gone. brian plays till the season is gone which its not yet, then play orton. its that easy .
October 28, 2007
#5 Shady McBears Fan said . . .Orton was a stud in college and may come around one of these years in the League, but let's not forget how painful it was to watch him play. If you've forgotten, in 15 games he completed passes at a 51% clip and posted a rating less than 60. Was it the Bengals game when he threw 6 picks?
Let's just be happy that we now have Chuck Norris under center.
Go Bears.
October 28, 2007
#6 Phillip said . . .Assuming Greezy continues to start next year, who would you rather see backing him up: Kyle Orton or Rex Grossman? Orrrrrr, would you rather see one of those guys starting instead?
October 28, 2007
#7 Al in WI said . . .Hey I just wanna say, all the Chuck Norris-y Griese talk was NOT my creation, I just posted it off of the Trib's blog.
Bear the fuck down fellers!
October 28, 2007
#8 Nicole is CELEBRATING in this blue city said . . .I agree Jimbo. The problem that I had with Orton is he got worse as the season went along, a lot worse. I had the displeasure of watching the 05 finally in the dome when Lovie played all backups. And Orton was brutal, wildly missing guys all over the place. That said it will be interesting to see if he gets another chance what improvement there has been. He does have a big time arm, but also seems to lack the accuracy to get the job done at the nfl level.
As for next year, I commented on this in a different post, but so much depends on the rest of the season. Does Griese play well and get the Bears to the playoffs? Does he falter or get hurt, and how does Rex responds in he gets another look? Or does the season turn downward and Orton gets a shot? Too many unknowns at this point.October 28, 2007
#9 Hoosier Daddy said . . .So I'm obviously on the Orton train since I cheered him on at Purdue but I'm not sold that he's our saving grace in the windy city.
That being said, I didn't get to see Orton at Homecoming today but I did see Neil Armstrong and that, along with a Boiler win today, makes me hella optomistic for another dubya for my Bears.
BOILER UP, BEAR DOWN!
October 28, 2007
#10 Nicole is CELEBRATING in this blue city said . . .Puck Furdue!
October 28, 2007
#11 jdawg said . . .Hoosier: I'll excuse your clever post. Must be rough when your team gets whipped by 30 points.
October 28, 2007
#12 RandomName said . . .oh for fucks sake
October 28, 2007
#13 RandomName said . . .well two years ago he was 22. so what do you really expect from a 22 year old.
OK truth be told i wanna see the guy , but not bad enough to remove the veteran right now.
someone said he's 3rd string for a reason, I say he's in the NFL for a reason.
Grossman's gonna do well but probably not for the Bears.
Kyle went through some growing pains.
Greise is old? nah look at Testaverde.
Later,
RNOctober 28, 2007
#14 Rancid said . . .Oh yeah guys i almost forgot, I had a dream.
I dreamt that I was watching the game and they kicked the ball to us now who's on the other end a mysterious number #21( i have no idea if we have a #21 on the roster or not).
He's mysterious because he has a sunvisor and a nose/mouth covering..like a scarf in the old westerns or a turtleneck like Ricky manning jr. wears in cold months.
but anyway as they are announcing the kickoff
they are calling the player Rashied Davis. and so the play goes underway.The ball is caught and there are pursuing special team players, the guy jogs a bit up to about the 20 and the zig zagging is on. There's a cut here , a sprint here weaving in and out of defenders and a long stretch of emptiness towwards the goal line the 30, the 20,and brought down at the 10.. well the cameras zoom in and the player reveals his face.
It's none other then Devin Hester. wow!! the fans go crazy As our offense takes the field..
well do we get points from the 90 yard play? I don't know cause this is where i woke up.
A dream from a Bears fanatic.
I guess all the the Hester "sneaking" unto the field. and special team "tricks" have gone to my head.. "kick it into Lake Michigan" indeed..
later,
RNOctober 28, 2007
#15 Jimbo said . . .Random - I can't really veiw that as a good dream. Who would ever bring Hester down on the 10? Nobody's anywhere near him at that point in the return!
October 28, 2007
#16 Garrett Wolfe said . . .We'll know a helluva lot more about our beloved Bears at 4:00 today. We have every reason in the book to go out and win this game.
I'm going to enjoy watching them do it.
Go Bears.
October 28, 2007
#17 Shady McBears Fan said . . .Just to let you all know, I'm inactive for todays game.
October 28, 2007
#18 Decatur Staleys #7 said . . .Things to look for in today's game:
The Bear offense taking shots at the big play to get the crowd in the game early.
Cedric Benson finally performs - his play will be scrutinized for the next 2 weeks so he better show us why he was drafted #4.
Wrinkles in the special teams return game - if the lions try that pooch kick crap, I'm pretty sure the Bears will have something up their sleeves.
Jon Kitna may actually die in todays game from head trauma, I'm guessing from Tommie or Mark.
As always Shady's keys to the game (If you win these, you win the game)
Turnovers
T.O.P.
Line of ScrimmageNot gonna lie, I'm pretty nervous for today's game. I don't know if I can handle this comeback shit again, hopefully the Bears get ahead early and put the game away late in the 3rd quarter. (But I feel it's not gonna be that easy).
BEAR DOWN for 4 quarters today men!
Go Bears!
October 28, 2007
#19 Shady McBears Fan said . . .Today on Wild Kingdom we're big game hunting
,An Lions are on the menu.
Today we'll be using a relentless D,to flush out the Lions.Followed by a crushing blow from the Offense to the head.Bear Down!
October 28, 2007
#20 Shady McBears Fan said . . .Brian Urlacher has serious arthritic back problems. He told Jay Glazer it's more painful than when Tommie tore his hammy - he has trouble bending over and back-pedaling. May be season ending if the disc inflames. He said he'd play through it though - so sorry I had to be the bearer of bad news.
October 28, 2007
#21 Shady McBears Fan said . . .Both Penut Tillman and Manning Jr. should have picked 2 of Kitna's passes. Can't afford to give the Lions any more downs than they deserve.
October 28, 2007
#22 Shady McBears Fan said . . .Pretty good drive from the Bears here... Annnd Robbie Gould hooks it just wide left. Again.
0-0
October 28, 2007
#23 Shady McBears Fan said . . .Bonehead play from D. Manning: pass interference on Roy Williams... Now a big 3rd and goal from Detroit after a Wale sack on Kitna... Lions try an underneath pattern and you can fuggetabboutit... 26 yd. FG attempt will come after the 1st quarter.
And the kick is...Good
0-3
October 28, 2007
#24 Shady McBears Fan said . . .Bears offense has a series to forget. 3 and out.
On the bright side, Maynard kicks a BEAUTIFUL punt that pins Detroit on their own 3. No way Kitna passes on 1st down. Bears would love a 3 and out and force Detroit to kick to Hester.
October 28, 2007
#25 Shady McBears Fan said . . .BRIGGS with a big sack! Hester can't escape the lions kick coverage this time, but the Bears still have good field position on their own 45. It's about time they throw some points on the board here, I wouldn't be surprised to see a play-action bomb here.
October 28, 2007
#26 Shady McBears Fan said . . .Benson getting more than a few touches on this drive, he's ran for a couple 1st downs now. Like to see the Bears eat up some clock and set-up the pass... And the pass is intercepted. Looks like Greezy audibled to a Bradley streak along the left side which hung up just long enough (and short enough) for the safety to pick it off...
Bears need a takeaway.
October 28, 2007
#27 Shady McBears Fan said . . .Kitna is passing all over the Bears secondary, throw in a Calvin Johnson reverse and Detroit has 1st and 10 at the Bears 4 yd line. The defense is bending... And is easily broken by a Kevin Jones touchdown run.
0-10
Really? They fucking RAN IT IN? Damn it!
October 28, 2007
#28 mikebdot said . . .I can't watch Kitna pass on the defense anymore. I'm going to vomit pretty soon... Lions manage to get into Bears territory for a 54 yd. FG attempt is... Fuck me. Off the fucking upright? Fuck Detroit. Fuck Kitna. Fuck Hanson. Fuck Miranelli.
Halftime. Am I talking to myself here?
0-13
October 28, 2007
#29 johnny said . . .Griese gave the Lions 3 points. I wanted to let you know before PO'd. Calling a timeout there was a big mistake.
October 28, 2007
#30 Shady McBears Fan said . . .the 1st half looked like shit. penalties are killing us. cb needs to run forward and cut his shit on trying to fake the defenders. ron turner needs to use deven hester out of the backfield. defense needs to step up. archuleta needs to getout the starting defense.....he sucks
October 28, 2007
#31 Shady McBears Fan said . . .Bears catch a break. Detroit drives about 70 yds and Hanson misses a chip-shot FG. NOONAN! Bears need to capitalize on this mistake. At the very least, they need to take back the field position advantage.
October 28, 2007
#32 Shady McBears Fan said . . .Nope. 3 and out. Defense right back out on the field.
October 28, 2007
#33 Max said . . .Hester is a baaaaad man. Just gave the Bears at least 3 pts.
October 28, 2007
#34 Shady McBears Fan said . . .not if we keep goin backwards on penalties
October 28, 2007
#35 Max said . . .Sexy time. GRRRREGGGG OLSEN! #82 TD!
Big Time. Good route, good throw bears, touchdown. TOUCHDOWN BEARS!
7-13
October 28, 2007
#36 Max said . . .G REG!!!!
October 28, 2007
#37 craig said . . .Be nice if we could stop them though
October 28, 2007
#38 Shady McBears Fan said . . .Tough time for Bears fans when our defense is becoming our biggest liability...
October 28, 2007
#39 Max said . . .Yeah. It would be nice. Too bad they can't. It's pretty clear the Bears secondary is overmatched.
Tommie. That encroachment penalty is getting old... Especially on 4th and inches.
Now 1st and goal for Detroit inside the Chicago 5.
October 28, 2007
#40 Max said . . .inside the 2
October 28, 2007
#41 Shady McBears Fan said . . .after 1st and goal from the 2, I will take the FG. Bend but not break defense
October 28, 2007
#42 Shady McBears Fan said . . .Big stand by the Bear defense, even though Detroit went about 70 yds again with no problem. Guess you can't take advantage of the secondary when you're only 3 yds away. Defense kept 'em out though. Offense needs to respond with some points again...
7-16
October 28, 2007
#43 Max said . . .Greezy throws a pick after getting jacked up. There's a nail in the coffen that is the Chicago Bear season...
October 28, 2007
#44 Shady McBears Fan said . . .Griese is down. . . Sexy Rexy????
October 28, 2007
#45 DisplacedBadger said . . .There it is. The takeaway. Tillman punches it out and Hillenmeyer gives Chicago new life. The offense NEEDS to capitilize... Berrian drops ANOTHER pass....
October 28, 2007
#46 Max said . . .Sorry all, but I don't believe the Bears will beat the Lions. The defense misses Tank and it shows.
October 28, 2007
#47 Shady McBears Fan said . . .Nother interception in the end zone
October 28, 2007
#48 Al in WI said . . .and interception. underthrown. again. 3rd takeaway. *sigh*
October 28, 2007
#49 Rancid said . . .Put in Grossman!!!!!!!!!!! Griese and his fucking limp arm bullshit needs to go.
Grossman, Grossman!October 28, 2007
#50 Shady McBears Fan said . . .Can anyone check BG's history and find out if he was a Lions fan growing up or something? Both Lions games, unbelievable, it's not like they have a great defense.
October 28, 2007
#51 JL said . . .Bears will start from their 9 yd line with out 2:45 down 2 scores...
October 28, 2007
#52 said . . .Ron Rivera, you are missed.
October 28, 2007
#53 Shady McBears Fan said . . .no offense. run games suck. receivers cant catch. quarterback cant throw.
October 28, 2007
#54 craig said . . .Hey surprise surprise - another underthrown pass in the endzone. 4th turnover today. It's gonna be a long bye week here in Chicago... I can't wait for the calls for Grossman and Orton.
October 28, 2007
#55 Shady McBears Fan said . . .A not-so-pleasant reminder that Griese was a backup for a reason...
October 28, 2007
#56 tommy said . . .Clearly is doesn't matter what QB or RB is starting behind such an unmotivated and unfocused offensive offensive line.
October 28, 2007
#57 Windy City Packer Fan said . . .I'll second that, Shady. And, some receivers that catch the ball would help. What in the hell is wrong with Berrian?
October 28, 2007
#58 Rancid said . . .BEAR DOWN!
My favorite part of Sundays like this...listening to O'Bradovich and Buffone in the post game.
P.S. They fired the wrong Ron.
October 28, 2007
#59 Shady McBears Fan said . . .Even though he hasn't posted yet I'd like to be the first to welcome Mike back
October 28, 2007
#60 Al in WI said . . .Lovie said the bright spot, the silver lining if you will, is that the Bears get to "work on the basics". How many fucking times are we gonna 'work on the basics'? Basics are for the preaseason and maybe after the first loss, but not for week 9. That's just embarrasing.
Lovie, get ready for media HELL. The coaching staff deserves it. The cover-2 looked like soft cover poo. They had their opportunities early to pick off Kitna, but the majority of the blame should go to the offense. They continue to struggle to establish any resemblance of a running attack, create ANY sort of consistancy or do anything to help the TEAM. When Hester gives you great field position all day, and you fail to come up with more than 7 points - it's pathetic. How many times can you ask the defense to win the game. It's just ridiculous. I'm tired of watching this offense throw the D under the bus by keeping them on the field as much as they have. It's pathetic.
October 28, 2007
#61 Brian Griese's QB rating said . . .Well, I hate to say this, but I'm not suprised at all. Every time it looks like they've turned the corner they blow it. Everyone has the time when they have their eyes opened. I know Po'd said his was after the Dallas game and 1st Griese led Lion debacle. For me it was after the meltdown to Minnesota.
I bet others will choose this game. The division is now out of question, and I don't see them jumping over anyone for the wildcard either.
2007 Bears R.I.P.October 28, 2007
#62 Shady McBears Fan said . . .38.3
October 28, 2007
Brian Urlacher opens up to Glaze:
http://msn.foxsports.com/nfl/story/7384004
October 28, 2007
Here at DaBearsBlog, you are free to kill us or the Bears as you so wish. You are not free, however, to be an asshole. So if you spew racism or ill-meaning foul language (cursing about football is just fine) or anything of that ilk, your comments ain't gonna last long, jerk.