QB-phobic Bears headed for a crash
Angelo's stubborn assessment of quarterback situation is maddening
April 28, 2008
BY JAY MARIOTTI Sun-Times Columnist
The Bears, I'm convinced, are playing a different game than the other 31 NFL franchises. They're involved in some sort of gonzo science experiment to prove they don't need a quarterback to win a Super Bowl. The draft came and went without any legitimate new blood at the position, which completes an offseason in which they didn't feel compelled to acquire a serious passer.
So, as a hermetically sealed door slams on a one-and-done Super Bowl run, Halas Hall enters 2008 with Rex Grossman, Kyle Orton and an undrafted free agent who will clutch a clipboard and scan the sidelines for Belichickian spies. If that isn't enough to make you physically ill, their stubborn refusal to draft a quarterback over the weekend -- passing on possible rookie starters Chad Henne and Brian Brohm in the second round and the development-friendly likes of John David Booty, Josh Johnson, Dennis Dixon and Andre Woodson on Sunday -- means no one is in place to potentially groom for the future.
If you'd like to submit Nick Hill of Southern Illinois, signed Sunday evening, it's your life. But it seems the Bears are a bit late on research regarding in-state directional schools, having missed on an Eastern Illinois kid in 2003. You may have heard of Tony Romo, either from game highlights or gossip blogs.
And to think we began the winter actually wondering if they might trade for Donovan McNabb or Derek Anderson. Now, you almost hope the Bears slip-slide to 3-13 territory, earning them an invite to the Tim Tebow draft party next April. All of this could have been avoided, please realize, had general manager Jerry Angelo signed ready-made running back Michael Turner in free agency, which wouldn't have forced him to select Matt Forte with the 44th choice, which would have yielded him a quarterback at that spot instead of letting Brohm go to the Packers and Henne to the Dolphins.
Of course, who am I to question this team's quarterback evaluation skills? Obviously, the Bears know the position better than any other organization, having produced countless franchise players, Pro Bowl selections, record-smashers and Super Bowl MVPs. In fact, some of us have been arguing about who's the more worthy Hall of Fame candidate: Grossman or Cade McNown, those crazy 8s.
Pardon the sarcasm, but Angelo and coach Lovie Smith have earned the barbs. The Bears remain frighteningly vulnerable at their traditional black hole, an endless blind spot for most of their 88-year history. Not having a real quarterback cost them a Super Bowl title two seasons ago. Not having a real quarterback helped send them reeling to 7-9 mediocrity last season. And not having a real quarterback dooms them to another year of also-ran status in the soft NFC North, where the Vikings are favored because they have an All-Pro running back and ferocious defensive front to offset their own QB issues. For all the civic fretting over Brian Urlacher's ill-timed contractual demands and Lance Briggs' ongoing irresponsibility, the most damning problem for this operation continues to be the offense.
"How many points are the Bears going to score?" asked ESPN analyst Cris Carter, doubting that the league's 27th-ranked offense will improve much. "You're looking for the defense to score one touchdown and Devin Hester to score one touchdown."
FULL STORY
http://www.suntimes.com/sports/mario...042808.article
Quarterback-phobic Bears Headed for Crash
Quarterback-phobic Bears Headed for Crash
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