by Andy | Aug 6, 2008 | NFL Breaking News
In what might be more of a punishment than a reward Chicago Bears coach Lovie Smith has tapped Kyle Orton as the team’s starting quarterback for the first preseason game Thursday against Kansas City.
Smith cautioned against reading too much into the announcement as the team intends to give Rex Grossman equal snaps with the first team … or whatever of the first team exists at the moment. Only two projected starters on the offensive line – center Olin Kreutz and right tackle John Tait – might be in action at their positions.
The two quarterbacks have rotated in camp and Grossman will start the second game, according to an Associated Press story posted at Yahoo! Sports.
“We want both guys to get an equal opportunity and that’s what we’re going to do,” Smith announced after the Tuesday practice.
It’s said that a team with two leaders truly has none. The Bears have enough struggles ahead on offense with a mediocre collection of receivers and an unproven – though full of potential – running game lead by Matt Forte and backed by the other Adrian Peterson and Kevin Jones. Those backs have the skills to be adequate – but they’ll only be so if one of the quarterbacks steps up and at least provides the threat of a passing game. Otherwise it’s Goodnight Irene for the Bears this season.
by Andy | Aug 6, 2008 | NFL Breaking News
While the Web site www.SaveBrett.net was wrong about the timing of a potential trade announcement it does appear as though the Green Bay Packers will deal Brett Favre within the next several hours.
Several media reports indicate that while the New York Jets are interested in Favre the Tampa Bay Buccaneers appear to be the likely destination for the diva/star quarterback.
Some reports indicate he will be traded for a draft pick. Fanball cited a Tampa Tribune story that I have not yet located saying Brian Griese will head north to backup Aaron Rodgers.
A move to Tampa creates a few more interesting sidenotes. First of all, Jon Gruden has accumulated an entire roster’s worth of quarterbacks including Chris Simms, Bruce Gradkowski, Griese, Luke McCown and, of course, Jeff Garcia, who had a solid season last year but who also has been upset at the Bucs’ refusal to renegotiate his contract.
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by Andy | Aug 5, 2008 | NFL Breaking News
SaveBrett.net, yes, the fan site SaveBrett.net, is reporting that Brett Favre is being traded to Tampa Bay.
In yet another example of how this bizarre soap opera continues to set new thresholds for the bizarre, the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel is citing the web site in reporting that Brett Favre has been traded to Tampa Bay.
Ted Thompson reportedly has been with Favre and family discussing trade possibilities all day. SaveBrett.net, which has someone on site at Packers training camp, believes coach Mike McCarthy will be announcing the deal in a press conference shortly.
SaveBrett.net apparently informed the Green Bay Press Gazette, the Journal Sentinel, and another fan site, BringBackBrettFavre.com of the deal, which it sources to “a source close to Favre.”
SaveBrett.net, which wants management to restore Favre to his positions of Lord, err, quarterback of the Packers, claims the mood at training camp is “very down and gloomy.” The site is also asking fans to sign a petition protesting the team’s decision.
Has a fan site beaten Jay Glazer, Adam Schefter, all the local papers and every other news source in the world to the news of a Favre trade? Time will tell. Can this get any weirder? One can only guess.
by Andy | Aug 5, 2008 | NFL ... something
A couple days after it came out that Brett Favre would be allowed to compete with Aaron Rodgers for the Green Bay Packers’ starting quarterback position, FoxSports.com’s Jay Glazer is now reporting that there will not be an open competition.
It’s only fitting that this bizarre saga continue to unfold with reports that Favre will get a chance to compete for the job … or not.
This situation couldn’t get any stranger if the Packers brought in a former White House press secretary to help them with crisis communications.
Errrrr…
by Andy | Aug 4, 2008 | NFL Random Thoughts
Devin Hester apparently is making a case to start for the Chicago Bears at wide receiver this fall.
Umm, I think I could make a case to start for the Chicago Bears at wide receiver this fall.
Okay, maybe that’s a stretch. And Hester did apparently beat both Nathan Vashar and Charles Tillman, two solid cornerbacks, in practice, according to the Chicago Daily Herald. But it’d still be more surprising if he didn’t make a case for a starting role given that he is competing with Mark Bradley (injury prone), Marty Booker (aging) and Brandon Lloyd (crappy).
They might not have a choice but to give him significant minutes on offense. But my biggest worries if I were the Bears would be A) Rex Grossman and Kyle Orton throwing him the ball and B) whether a regular role in the wide receiver rotation would have an adverse effect on his skills as a return man.
If the answer to the latter question is yes I’d be hesitant to put him out on offense every down. As a receiver he is unproven. As a return man he is a game changer and by scoring four or five touchdowns on punts and kickoffs could easily steal a game or two that the otherwise offensively undertalented Bears don’t deserve to win.
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Thanks Paul ... I will nominate more anyway. Maybe someone I like can break through again, similar to Chuck Howley.
You can submit as many as you like but Hall still reserves right to add or reject nominees (based on…
Help me out guys ... getting older fogs my memory more but I am about to do another write-in ballot…
Paul I guess but did you see my other comment
There is a tight timeline of only a few weeks to schedule these, perhaps Joe and Jerry had previous commitments