Chicago Shot The Sheriff But They Did Not Shoot The Deputy In The Windy City!

2005 was the year that Kyle Orton hit the scene in the windy city, and he led them to the playoffs with a 10-5 record in his starts, but he threw 13 interception compared to 9 touchdowns. 2006 was the year of the Grossman, who led the Bears to their epic defeat to the Indianapolis Colts, where he threw for 20 interceptions and 23 touchdowns.

Going into 2007 there were questions about who would be under center for the Chicago Bears, Rex Grossman or Brian Griese. The year started off with Rexy who went 1-2 in his first 3 starts with 6 interceptions and one touchdown (to a lineman), then Griese got his shot and went 3-4 as a starter with 9 touchdowns and 11 interceptions.  Then back to Rexy for two games where he threw 3 more touchdowns and 1 interception in a 1-2 effort again.  Finally came Orton who threw 3 touchdowns and 2 interceptions in his way to a 2-1 record.

I can still remember in the Monday Night Game against Minnesota last year when a woman in a Bears jersey was standing there with a sign that said Rex Grossman is our Quarterback, scratched off, below that Brian Griese is our Quarterback, scratched off, below that Kyle Orton is our Quarterback.

Going into the 2008 season Rex Grossman and Kyle Orton battled it out and Orton won the position. Was this good or bad? I say good, true the Bears are 6-6 (6-5 when Orton starts) but for the most part it's been the defense that have lost these games for the Bears, having meltdowns in the second half to Carolina, Tampa Bay, Atlanta, and Tennessee. Orton this year has thrown for 12 touchdowns and 7 interceptions and has been consistent for the most part. He had a streak of 205 consecutive passes without a pick until being picked off three times in 7 tries this past Sunday against the Vikings.

Is he the long term solution to the Bears problems? No, and neither is Rex Grossman! Rex Grossman is a walking turnover and Kyle Orton is more of a game manager then a game winner even though he had that amazing drive against Atlanta to put them in the lead with 11 seconds left. He has a small history with injuries but has shown that one injury drastically effects his play. Caleb Hanie looked good in the preseason but doesn't look like the all-star quarterback that the Bears need.

During the off-season look for the Bears to either try to pick up Donovan McNabb, whose time in Philly will hopefully finally be over, or go after a hot handed player in the draft like Tim Tebow if he ends up graduating this year.