Orton chosen lesser of three evils

by | Aug 18, 2008 | NFL News

Kyle Orton will stick his hands under Olin Kreutz’ butt for the Chicago Bears on the season opening Sunday night in Indianapolis, as the Bears attempt to repeat their 2007 fourth place performance, according to the Associated Press.

He beat out Caleb Hanie, a free agent rookie who probably isn’t ready to challenge for the job, and Rex Grossman, who probably isn’t good enough to challenge for the job on a team with any qualified starting quarterbacks.

The Bears lack offensive parts, which will handicap any quarterback that takes a snap this season. Orton is probably the right choice given that he is (slightly) less apt to give away easy scores through turnovers than Grossman, who has 33 interceptions to 31 touchdowns in 30 starts.

Coach Lovie Smith selected Orton following Grossman’s less than inspiring performance against the blitz-happy Seattle defense last weekend. Orton, on the other hand, led a two-minute drive that resulted in a field goal, receiving praise from the coach after the game.

If I were these two quarterbacks I’d scour the desks of any scouts that might be hanging out at training camp to see if there are any round-trip plane tickets to Tampa hiding anywhere. The Bucs have about 30 quarterbacks on their roster and former starter Chris Simms A) played last weekend and B) apparently looked competent, though C) he isn’t expected to have much chance to stick on the final roster.

If I was the Bears, I’d be thinking of making those Bucs an offer. The spleen-free Simms would be an immediate step up – though you still have no wide receivers.

Lessons from the Titans-Raiders game

by | Aug 15, 2008 | Fantasy Football, NFL News

I didn’t catch the first quarter of the Tennessee v Oakland game Friday night but it only took a quarter to learn two lessons.

First, Tony Siragusa is one of the worst sideline reporters in the history of football. He stands on the sideline making stupid wisecracks and adds nothing to the Fox broadcasts, just like two or three years ago when the only difference was that he did the same thing only louder.

Second, damn, Chris Johnson is fast. The Titans’ Lightning to Lendale White’s Thunder doesn’t appear to have the softest hands when it comes to catching the ball. But whether it’s running outside or busting up the middle the fastest rookie at the 2008 NFL Combine in Indianapolis (4.24 40-yard dash) translates that speed to the field well.

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48,434? Toronto should be thrilled

by | Aug 15, 2008 | NFL Random Thoughts

The Buffalo Bills preseason game in Toronto against Pittsburgh drew an announced crowd of 48,434 at Rogers Centre Thursday night, roughly 20,000 more fans than the Toronto Argonauts‘ last home game drew.

Reports indicate that many of those seats were discounted and as many as 15,000 might have been given away for free. And some fans were chanting “the Bills belong in Buffalo” and “Argos” as fans tailgated and then headed to the game.

But overall organizers disappointed by the turnout need to remember that this was a meaningless preseason game played primarily between two teams that featured players who will be backups at best and grocery baggers in most cases by the time the regular season starts in less than a month.

If there were really 48,434 fans on hand to watch the game – even if many were there to watch the Steelers, who played in the NFL last game in Canada nearly 50 years ago – they should be thrilled. It’s still the NFL in Canada, it’s not the main sport north of the border and it’s still drawing fans for a game that doesn’t mean squat.

The December game featuring the Bills and Miami Dolphins will be a far better measurement of fan interest in the NFL. I think it’s still questionable whether or not Toronto will ever end up being a legitimate candidate for NFL expansion or relocation. But the same could be said for Los Angeles. I think under the circumstances the city represented itself well in this first foray.

McNabb looks good, Delhomme looks … rushed

by | Aug 14, 2008 | Fantasy Football

While the Carolina Panthers and Philadelphia Eagles wait out a lightning delay in Charlotte it’s a good time to make some fantasy football observations about two quarterbacks coming off of injury seasons. During the first 10 minutes of play Donovan McNabb looks reasonably sharp.

He’s connected with four receivers mostly on short routes hitting them in stride and letting them run after the catch. One such play went to Brian Westbrook on first down. He caught a three or four yard pass and turned it into a 14 yard gain. McNabb also hit rookie DeSean Jackson with an 11-yard catch along the sidelines on one third down.

After going 10 for 13 for 97 yards with a touchdown last week against Pittsburgh McNabb appears to be in regular season form. Fox Sports also talked during the pregame show about how McNabb and coach Andy Reid spent more time talking this offseason allowing McNabb to go into the season not only more physically healthy than he has been since tearing an ACL in 2006 but also mentally healthy.

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