Bleacher Report - Articles by John Marchetti

A Look at the NFC North in 2009

John Marchetti — Fri, 15 May 2009 16:23:43 -0400

The NFC North, inheriting the blue collar, tough-guy bravado from the former NFC Central, failed to ignite much excitement in 2008.

It holds the dubious title of having a team that finished with zero wins. The division was also captured with only ten wins. Only the AFC West (eight wins for the champ) and NFC West (nine) were more pathetic.

However, 2009 might be known more for quarterback play then hard-hitting defense. The Vikings may still land Brett Favre. Jay Cutler slings for the Bears, Aaron Rodgers proved his worth last season, and the Lions have their $40 million man in Matthew Stafford.

The Vikings have to win now, and there’s not much reason they shouldn’t. With a proven offensive line and the stellar (although fumble-prone) running attack led by Adrian Peterson, average quarterback play is all they need, which makes the potential Favre acquisition preposterous. The Vikings don’t need a gunslinger or a gambler. They need a game manager.

The Lions are in complete rebuilding mode. How sad can a team be that simply achieving one victory will be an improvement? With the recent financial collapse and auto industry implosion, Detroit definitely needs to catch a break.

The Packers are solid and are a viable contender for '09. The Brett Favre drama is over and Aaron Rodgers solidified himself as the team’s future. However, their offense isn’t the problem. Their 20^th ranked defense is. And with the Bears upgrading their offense in one dramatic move, the Packers will have their hands full.

The Bears made the most noise during this offseason. They won the Jay Cutler sweepstakes and vaulted themselves instantly into front-runner status. While Kyle Orton was serviceable in 2008, Cutler will make the lackluster receiving corps better, just by being there.

Matt Forte was a wonderful surprise, and the aging offensive line proved itself still formidable. Sad to say, but the Bears defense might be the biggest problem in 2009. A diminishing middle linebacker and inexperienced safeties might keep the Bears from walking away with the division.

In true NFL dramatic fashion, could there be a more fitting way to end the first Sunday of the regular season than with the Bears invading Lambeau Field, under the lights, in what will be the first of many toe-to-toe slug-fests between the two young, hot0shot quarterbacks?

Jay Cutler: Believe It Bear's fans, He Is Ours

John Marchetti — Thu, 02 Apr 2009 21:06:49 -0400

At roughly 4:00 pm central daylight time on Thursday, Apr. 2, the long, sad, and infamous legacy of Bears quarterback mediocrity came to a screeching halt.

No longer will training camp be shrouded in quarterback controversy.

No longer will Chicago sports radio be flooded with requests to see the second or third string quarterback supplant the starter.

No longer will the Bears specialize in three-yard runs and call it an offense.

No longer will there be a debate between Rex Grossman and Kyle Orton.

No longer.

With one bold and ballsy move, Jerry Angelo silenced his critics with a powerful and long reaching shout, channeling his inner Obama: "Enough!"

Today in Chicago a new era begins, and you can just feel it.

Sports talk show hosts on local radio were giddy in their excitement. Bewildered in amazement.

Callers couldn't complete their thoughts. You could see the smile on their faces through the radio.

As I write this, I still can't believe it. Jay Cutler, starting quarterback for the Chicago Bears.

I feel like a kid on Christmas Eve. Except I know what the present is and I have to wait four months to play with it.

I suppose the question remains: Who the hell is he going to throw to? Devin Hester? Rasheed Davis? Greg Olson?

The Cutler signing instantly makes these three players better and they will certainly put up better numbers.

The fundamental difference is that this is no longer the city where receivers go to die. Chicago is now the city wide receivers will want to come to.

Just ask Brandon Marshall how he liked his numbers last year.

A 6'4", 230-pound stud with a cannon for an arm will lead the Chicago Bears on the field this fall. I still can't believe it.

After I read the news and processed that it wasn't April Fool's Day any longer, my brother called me. He sounded more excited than when he told me his wife was pregnant.

But he said one thing that, at first, I brushed aside: "I feel bad for Orton."

I am not a Kyle Orton fan. I felt he was a solid backup who only got the job because it was PR suicide to make Rex Grossman the starter.

However, both Grossman and Orton showed class and professionalism during their tenures with the Bears and I think they both received somewhat of a raw deal.

But today isn't about them.

Tomorrow won't be either.

Jay Cutler is the starting quarterback for the Chicago Bears.

Pinch me!

Whatever It Takes: Get Jay Cutler!

John Marchetti — Wed, 01 Apr 2009 00:04:16 -0400

This is it Bears fans. This is our chance to have a consistently capable quarterback under center for the next decade, barring injury. Jay Cutler is everything that was great about Rex Grossman, only with height, and more consistency. Cutler is a gun slinger, with a cannon for an arm. The quintessential franchise quarterback is there for the taking. Screw the immaturity factor and the hissy fit, he’ll mature eventually.

I’m sorry Kyle but your days are over as a Bears starting quarterback. I hope you enjoy the mile high atmosphere because you’ll definitely be part of the trade. I would love to have you as my backup quarterback, but you proved that you aren’t a franchise caliber guy. Your stubbornness last year to not rest your bum ankle and return way too early cost the Bears wins. Some saw that as courageous. I see it as stupid and arrogant.

However, the moves cannot end with Cutler. Cutler will need receivers to throw to. Devin Hester might return to form, and Cutler’s arm might actually be able to hit him in stride. (Anyone think that Grossman wasn’t over throwing Hester last year, but Hester wasn’t used to a deep ball he had to run too?)

What should the Bears be willing to give up?

Anything.

Everything.

No one is untouchable on this current Bears roster. Urlacher? Take him. Hester, Forte, Briggs? Ship em. Two first round picks? Take em.

This is the moment Bears fans where the team can finally settle on a guy. And settle on him for a very, very long time. There is no downside to this. None.

Kyle Orton and the Double Standard of Bears Fans

John Marchetti — Tue, 23 Dec 2008 04:42:33 -0500

On a night with playoff implications on the line, the Bears offense combined for 46 yards in the first half. Dropped passes, underthrown balls, ineptitude to the nth degree—and yet the boo birds weren't in full throat.

Do the frozen faithful just accept it? Are we simply used to watching a clueless passer struggle to throw a deep pass or perhaps look off a safety? Or were the boo birds simply silent because the signal caller had a "1" in front of his "8" and his name wasn't Rex Grossman?

Rex Grossman has been the most vilified athlete in Chicago this century. After three injury-plagued seasons, he helped lead his team to the Super Bowl, which they eventually lost. They went as far as they could and lost to a better team.

The following season, a disastrous decision to let Thomas Jones go and hand the keys to Cedric Benson, coupled with the firing of Ron Rivera, led to the Bears' demise more than any interception Rex Grossman threw. Yet the Chicago fans had enough.

Rex is not our quarterback.

Never mind the perennial deep threat or the sheer excitement (see nervousness) brought by each play when number eight stepped back to pass—the Bear fan wanted meat and potatoes football. Five-yard passes, three-yard runs up the gut, and relying on your special teams for points.

I'm confused.

Kyle Orton has been awful since the first half of the Detroit game. The same game in which he was injured. The same game Rex Grossman was brought in to save. Yet Grossman was booed as he stepped on the field. He was booed for overthrowing Devin Hester. He was criticized for spiking the ball too hard.

What is the problem with Chicago football fans?

Kyle Orton can't throw a pass with any accuracy over 15 yards. This hasn't changed since the scouting report on him when he left Purdue.

He and Olin Kreutz have combined for over three mishandled QB-center exchanges. Yet now it's Kreutz's fault. Not Orton's.

Orton has been throwing interceptions at an alarming rate. Not his fault—look at his receivers. Devin Hester is learning.

Orton had a first half of monumental mediocrity—meh, it was cold out.

The Chicago Fan: “Give Orton a break.”

Orton has now started more games than Rex Grossman. He has more experience. Yet in last night's game he laser-guided two passes right to the Packers in very critical situations. I didn't hear boos. I didn't hear the calls for Caleb Hanie.

So what gives, Chicago?

Do we give Orton the slack that Grossman never got? Grossman was a first round pick, after all, and with that comes expectations Orton never had. Grossman showed flashes of brilliance early in 2006 and in the playoffs. Did he set our expectations too high? Are we so frustrated with him because we know what he's capable of? Is Kyle who we thought he was—a mediocre game manager with a bum ankle who seems to just win?

For now, I'll take it. The team obviously believes in him. They did make him a captain. Perhaps Orton’s greatest strength is intangible, and that may be his saving grace—for better or worse, he isn’t Rex Grossman.

Michael Phelps...Who Cares?

John Marchetti — Tue, 12 Aug 2008 17:40:53 -0400

Am I the only one out there who couldn’t care less how many gold medals Michael Phelps wins?

Don’t get me wrong, I find it to be an amazing accomplishment, I really do. He has now won more gold medals than ANYONE in Olympic history—congratulations, that’s just sick! The 4x100 relay was amazing, and I jumped out of my seat and cheered when they won that race. Bravo!

Then again…

I still think 600 home runs is a much bigger deal. Or even Kobe’s 81 points in one game. That’s not even a record!

Is it because I’m a typical American who likes my baseball and football and can’t appreciate other sports such as cycling (yawn) and (gasp) swimming?

I think my problem with sports such as swimming is that I feel you need to have an opponent. Yes Michael is racing against other top notch athletes, but there’s no one in that pool attempting to drown him.

There’s no one sixty feet six inches away throwing him a straight change.

There’s no one trying to get in his face to block his three pointers.

There’s no one blitzing him from the corner position.

Am I just simply not appreciating this for what it is? Is it like most American’s not appreciating Lance Armstrong’s amazing run of Tour de France wins?

Or is it exactly what I think it is; a guy who can swim really fast.

And when you put it that way, there’s no wonder I’m more excited by preseason football.

Former Bears Need To Grow Up

John Marchetti — Mon, 11 Aug 2008 13:58:10 -0400

I guess today was “Throw Rex Under the Bus” day. Muhsin Muhammed and Tank Johnson decided to open their mouths and bash former team mate Rex Grossman. Wow there’s something original—bash everyone’s favorite scapegoat. What next? Are you going to call President Bush dumb—because that’s really original.

Mushin Muhammed was a bust in Chicago, and an extremely whiney player. He was quoted as saying "(chicago) is where receivers go to die." Well last I checked, Carolina must have been where your talent and hands died.

Muhsin dropped about as many big passes as he caught, and often blamed everyone else for his lack of production. In 2005, after not catching a pass in a game against Green Bay, he claimed to have played a great game and it was the Quarterback’s fault for not throwing it to him.

He once said “(you) catch one ball, one's thrown over your head, how many plays can you make with that?" You’re right Moose Rex isn’t the greatest – but maybe in week two against Kansas City if you catch that pass that hit you right in the hands Rex doesn’t throw an interception on the next play.

Or on Sunday night against the Cowboys if you finished your route, perhaps that pass isn’t intercepted. Grow up Moose and admit your best days are well behind you and that you were an overrated, whiney, narcissistic jerk who can’t admit his own flaws.

Tank Johnson referred to Rex as "brittle" and "soft". Well all I need to say is Rex is as brittle as you are stupid. How many chances does one guy get? You’re lucky there’s an owner in this league that’s willing to see past your lack of judgment.

I’m just surprised he sees past your lack of talent. I seem to recall it was you in the Super Bowl that couldn’t bring down the ever elusive Peyton Manning on the play that got Indy back in the game. How soft and brittle of you. Oh and your current Quarterback has never won a playoff game. Not one, never.

I’ll admit it; I’m a Rex Grossman fan in so much as I am a Bears fan. I support Rex as long as he’s a Bear and I probably will once he’s gone from the team because I feel bad for the guy. He’s been the scapegoat by Chicago fans. Hell I’m sure Cubs fans will find a way to blame Rex when the cubs choke in the playoffs this year.

I just can’t understand the level of vitriol this poor guy gets not only from his own hometown fans but from his former team mates who buy into the B.S. Maybe I’m completely wrong and Rex is actually a piece of garbage who deserves all the boos he receives.

But last time I checked he’s never served a day in jail, was never arrested for a DUI, and never threw his teammates under the bus when they let him down.