# NFL offseason discussion (up to but not including draft) **URL:** \ **Category:** The Game Room\ **Created:** [February 22, 2008, 7:02am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nfl-offseason-discussion-up-to-but-not-including-draft/438702 "2008-02-22T07:02:31Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 20
**Author:** ![Least\_Original\_User\_Name\_Ever](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/e480ec/32.png) [@Least\_Original\_User\_Name\_Ever](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Least_Original_User_Name_Ever)\ **Post date:** [March 16, 2008, 12:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nfl-offseason-discussion-up-to-but-not-including-draft/438702/381 "2008-03-16T12:52:48Z")
[QUOTE=FoieGrasIsEvil] Kitna absolutely fucking sucks. You are crazy. Did you happen to watch the 2005 playoff game between the Bengals and the Steelers after Carson Palmer was injured? Noodle arm, small hands, severe case of spontaneous fumbleitis when under pressure, forces throws…his best season as a starter was that lone Seahawks 9-7 team where they backed into the playoffs and they lost in the first round. Are you kidding me? Kitna is a good guy and a leader, but lacks the sheer physical tools to be a good QB, especially on a team like the Lions where Martz wanted to throw 40 times a game. Kitna is horrible. A good guy to lead team prayer circles, though. Never blamed Jesus when he lost, but was quick to give God praise when he won…blech. God has no place in football. It’s an evil game. [/QUOTE] I hate the “praise Jesus” stuff myself, but compared to what we had before, Joey Harrington, Kitna is a big improvement. Kitna has eaten the ball for a sack more and he’s had the green light to throw in Martz’s system. Trust me, Kitna’s not perfect. He’s roughly averag. The difference betweein him and Harrington was amazing. I shit you not. Yes, that’s how low the bar is. ---
**Author:** ![FoieGrasIsEvil](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/foiegrasisevil/32/16638_2.png) [@FoieGrasIsEvil](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/FoieGrasIsEvil)\ **Post date:** [March 17, 2008, 12:07am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nfl-offseason-discussion-up-to-but-not-including-draft/438702/382 "2008-03-17T00:07:45Z")
[QUOTE=Least Original User Name Ever] I hate the “praise Jesus” stuff myself, but compared to what we had before, Joey Harrington, Kitna is a big improvement. Kitna has eaten the ball for a sack more and he’s had the green light to throw in Martz’s system. Trust me, Kitna’s not perfect. He’s roughly averag. The difference betweein him and Harrington was amazing. I shit you not. Yes, that’s how low the bar is. [/QUOTE] I don’t disagree that Kitna was an upgrade over Harrington, but that’s just dissecting shades of grey on the shittitude scale, IMO. I love referencing that Bill Maher schtick about how if atheletes are going to praise God when they win, they need to be consistent and BLAME God when they lose. ---
**Author:** ![gonzomax](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/e8c25b/32.png) [@gonzomax](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/gonzomax)\ **Post date:** [March 17, 2008, 12:27am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nfl-offseason-discussion-up-to-but-not-including-draft/438702/383 "2008-03-17T00:27:24Z")
The difference between Harrington and Kitna was day and night. The way the team played was far superior. He can make throws Joey can not even dream. Theoretically Joey had the tools to be a star. Apparently he did not. I hate the religious crap Kitna spews. I wonder if he feels god has deserted him for his evil ways now.? But I see him as a better than average QB. ---
**Author:** ![FoieGrasIsEvil](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/foiegrasisevil/32/16638_2.png) [@FoieGrasIsEvil](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/FoieGrasIsEvil)\ **Post date:** [March 17, 2008, 1:02am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nfl-offseason-discussion-up-to-but-not-including-draft/438702/384 "2008-03-17T01:02:58Z")
[QUOTE=gonzomax] The difference between Harrington and Kitna was day and night. The way the team played was far superior. He can make throws Joey can not even dream. Theoretically Joey had the tools to be a star. Apparently he did not. I hate the religious crap Kitna spews. I wonder if he feels god has deserted him for his evil ways now.? But I see him as a better than average QB. [/QUOTE] Kitna is a good team guy, so therefore the team is arguably “playing better for him” then they were for Harrington after his honeymoon wore off. Could it be argued that the Lions gained some offensive line talent prior to installing Kitna? When I watched the Lions play (rarely) under Harrington, I always felt that a lot of his crappy play was attributable to poor offensive line protection. When Kitna was here with the Bengals, he had Chad Johnson, Rudi Johnson in his prime, a stellar offensive line group, etc, and all he could muster was 8-8 as his best season, hence my belief that he is truly mediocre at best. He always had the knack for throwing the crucial INT that ruined games/playoff chances. Or spontaneously fumbling without contact. He does have very small hands and suspect arm strength. ---
**Author:** ![Least\_Original\_User\_Name\_Ever](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/e480ec/32.png) [@Least\_Original\_User\_Name\_Ever](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Least_Original_User_Name_Ever)\ **Post date:** [March 17, 2008, 1:09am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nfl-offseason-discussion-up-to-but-not-including-draft/438702/385 "2008-03-17T01:09:05Z")
[QUOTE=FoieGrasIsEvil] Kitna is a good team guy, so therefore the team is arguably “playing better for him” then they were for Harrington after his honeymoon wore off. Could it be argued that the Lions gained some offensive line talent prior to installing Kitna? When I watched the Lions play (rarely) under Harrington, I always felt that a lot of his crappy play was attributable to poor offensive line protection. When Kitna was here with the Bengals, he had Chad Johnson, Rudi Johnson in his prime, a stellar offensive line group, etc, and all he could muster was 8-8 as his best season, hence my belief that he is truly mediocre at best. He always had the knack for throwing the crucial INT that ruined games/playoff chances. Or spontaneously fumbling without contact. He does have very small hands and suspect arm strength. [/QUOTE] Watching Harrington eat the ball constantly for sacks and skip the ball to wide open receivers got very old. Trust me, the first game, I was happy with the switch. It’s not even close. ---
**Author:** ![FoieGrasIsEvil](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/foiegrasisevil/32/16638_2.png) [@FoieGrasIsEvil](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/FoieGrasIsEvil)\ **Post date:** [March 17, 2008, 4:59am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nfl-offseason-discussion-up-to-but-not-including-draft/438702/386 "2008-03-17T04:59:35Z")
[QUOTE=Least Original User Name Ever] Watching Harrington eat the ball constantly for sacks and skip the ball to wide open receivers got very old. Trust me, the first game, I was happy with the switch. It’s not even close. [/QUOTE] How good do you think Kevin Jones would have been pre-injury behind a solid offensive line? Why would you extend the same courtesy to Joey Harrington? He was David Klingler with another uniform… ---
**Author:** ![Omniscient](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/omniscient/32/3290_2.png) [@Omniscient](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Omniscient)\ **Post date:** [March 17, 2008, 8:12am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nfl-offseason-discussion-up-to-but-not-including-draft/438702/387 "2008-03-17T08:12:49Z")
**Chris Brown** [signed with the Texans](http://www.tennessean.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20080314/SPORTS01/803140401/1027) over the weekend for 2-years and $3.6 million. Considering only $800k of that is a bonus it’s a pretty cap friendly deal and it seems like a pretty good price for the guy. He’s had trouble staying healthy but he’s also shown some flashes of brilliance. He looks like one of those guys that could have a break out year in the right circumstance. The Texans probably aren’t it, but I bet he wins the starting job. He was another guy I would have liked to see in a Bears uni for that kind of price. He’d have been a decent alternative to Benson at a good price, I’m guessing Kevin Jones will be quite a bit more expensive than that. Time will tell. ---
**Author:** ![Really\_Not\_All\_That\_Bright](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/e8c25b/32.png) [@Really\_Not\_All\_That\_Bright](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Really_Not_All_That_Bright)\ **Post date:** [March 17, 2008, 1:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nfl-offseason-discussion-up-to-but-not-including-draft/438702/388 "2008-03-17T13:27:54Z")
[QUOTE=Omniscient] **Chris Brown** [signed with the Texans](http://www.tennessean.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20080314/SPORTS01/803140401/1027) over the weekend for 2-years and $3.6 million. Considering only $800k of that is a bonus it’s a pretty cap friendly deal and it seems like a pretty good price for the guy. He’s had trouble staying healthy but he’s also shown some flashes of brilliance. He looks like one of those guys that could have a break out year in the right circumstance. [/QUOTE] Psst… he already had his breakout year. He rushed for just over 1000 yards in his second season, and hasn’t done anything since. ---
**Author:** ![Least\_Original\_User\_Name\_Ever](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/e480ec/32.png) [@Least\_Original\_User\_Name\_Ever](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Least_Original_User_Name_Ever)\ **Post date:** [March 17, 2008, 1:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nfl-offseason-discussion-up-to-but-not-including-draft/438702/389 "2008-03-17T13:39:05Z")
[QUOTE=FoieGrasIsEvil] How good do you think Kevin Jones would have been pre-injury behind a solid offensive line? Why would you extend the same courtesy to Joey Harrington? He was David Klingler with another uniform… [/QUOTE] There’s a difference. Kevin Jones is good. He had a monster of a rookie season despite playing half of it and put up some solid numbers with limited playing time in the Martz system. We jettisoned him because of the injuries and his salary cap number. I’ve heard that the Lions are actually talking about getting him back at a cheaper price (I don’t think I put much stock on that, though). With Jones, you could see that he was pretty good. You couldn’t see that with Harrington. There’s a reason that Joey’s on his 4th team now. ---
**Author:** ![Omniscient](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/omniscient/32/3290_2.png) [@Omniscient](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Omniscient)\ **Post date:** [March 17, 2008, 8:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nfl-offseason-discussion-up-to-but-not-including-draft/438702/390 "2008-03-17T20:14:37Z")
DJ Hackett is [off the market](http://sports.espn.go.com/nfl/news/story?id=3298035) after signing with the Panthers to a 2 year deal worth $3.5 million. The Panthers have pretty much remade their WR corps adding Hackett and Muhammad to run with Steve Smith. I’d be impressed if they had a better QB situation to go along with that. I’m starting to sound like a broken record here, but that seems like another pretty cheap contract for a proven guy like Hackett. The Bears should have looked harder at him. Looks like the Bears are standing pat until the draft. I really hope this doesn’t mean they are targeting a WR with their #1 pick, too many questions about the WRs in this draft and we need lineman much worse and they aren’t available in free agency, Look at the WR deals signed this season. Bernard Berrian - 6year, $42 million. Javon Walker - 6 year, $55 million. Jerry Porter - 6 year, $30 million. Bryant Johnson - 1 year, $2 million. DJ Hackett - 2 year, $3.5 million. That just doesn’t jibe. ---
**Author:** ![Least\_Original\_User\_Name\_Ever](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/e480ec/32.png) [@Least\_Original\_User\_Name\_Ever](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Least_Original_User_Name_Ever)\ **Post date:** [March 17, 2008, 8:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nfl-offseason-discussion-up-to-but-not-including-draft/438702/391 "2008-03-17T20:28:20Z")
I don’t want to sound like a homer, but if you can snag a Mario Manningham in the draft in the second round, I think you’ll be happy with that. He’s got game speed and he’s a pretty damned good route runner. ---
**Author:** ![Really\_Not\_All\_That\_Bright](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/e8c25b/32.png) [@Really\_Not\_All\_That\_Bright](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Really_Not_All_That_Bright)\ **Post date:** [March 17, 2008, 8:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nfl-offseason-discussion-up-to-but-not-including-draft/438702/392 "2008-03-17T20:33:31Z")
[QUOTE=Omniscient] Look at the WR deals signed this season. Bernard Berrian - 6year, $42 million. Javon Walker - 6 year, $55 million. Jerry Porter - 6 year, $30 million. Bryant Johnson - 1 year, $2 million. DJ Hackett - 2 year, $3.5 million. That just doesn’t jibe. [/QUOTE] Well, if that list proves anything its that GMs will overpay for speed or even perceived speed time and time again. Porter is a one-trick pony; he can run downfield from the slot really, really fast, but makes no guarantees about actually catching the ball once he gets there. Walker had excellent speed before two severe knee injuries; is he really worth paying $55 mil to find out if it’s still there? Not a chance, IMHO. For Berrian, see Jerry Porter, although he’s at least proven that he can catch the ball without needing Jerry Rice and Tim Brown to draw away every defender. I’m not impressed by Johnson, but he and Hackett came astonishingly cheap considering what the other guys got paid. Other than Berrian and Hackett, the three players on the list are has-beens or never-was’s… but one of those two is going to be 1,200-yard receiver this year, and my money’s on Hackett. ---
**Author:** ![Least\_Original\_User\_Name\_Ever](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/e480ec/32.png) [@Least\_Original\_User\_Name\_Ever](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Least_Original_User_Name_Ever)\ **Post date:** [March 17, 2008, 8:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nfl-offseason-discussion-up-to-but-not-including-draft/438702/393 "2008-03-17T20:42:12Z")
[QUOTE=Really Not All That Bright] Well, if that list proves anything its that GMs will overpay for speed or even perceived speed time and time again. Porter is a one-trick pony; he can run downfield from the slot really, really fast, but makes no guarantees about actually catching the ball once he gets there. Walker had excellent speed before two severe knee injuries; is he really worth paying $55 mil to find out if it’s still there? Not a chance, IMHO. For Berrian, see Jerry Porter, although he’s at least proven that he can catch the ball without needing Jerry Rice and Tim Brown to draw away every defender. I’m not impressed by Johnson, but he and Hackett came astonishingly cheap considering what the other guys got paid. Other than Berrian and Hackett, the three players on the list are has-beens or never-was’s… but one of those two is going to be 1,200-yard receiver this year, and my money’s on Hackett. [/QUOTE] If I were the Eagles, I’d have paid for Walker. He’s very good after the catch and McNabb had an amazing year when he had a receiver like that (T.O.) ---
**Author:** ![Omniscient](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/omniscient/32/3290_2.png) [@Omniscient](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Omniscient)\ **Post date:** [March 17, 2008, 9:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nfl-offseason-discussion-up-to-but-not-including-draft/438702/394 "2008-03-17T21:35:12Z")
[QUOTE=Least Original User Name Ever] I don’t want to sound like a homer, but if you can snag a Mario Manningham in the draft in the second round, I think you’ll be happy with that. He’s got game speed and he’s a pretty damned good route runner. [/QUOTE] I’ve seen him show up in a few Mocks in the late 1st round and he hasn’t even had his Pro Day yet I don’t think. Getting him in the middle of the second round might turn out to be a steal. Though just about every team at the top of the draft needs a WR so I’d be shocked if he got past the Dolphins, Rams, Chiefs, Jets, Ravens, Saints, Bills and Broncos the second time around. Also, the Bears don’t have a stellar track record with former Michigan stars and I hate Michigan personally, so I’m pretty OK with us not taking him. The biggest issue I have is that there are positions which are much more scarce which need attention in the second round. Joe Flacco!!! ---
**Author:** ![Omniscient](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/omniscient/32/3290_2.png) [@Omniscient](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Omniscient)\ **Post date:** [March 17, 2008, 11:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nfl-offseason-discussion-up-to-but-not-including-draft/438702/395 "2008-03-17T23:29:12Z")
[QUOTE=Least Original User Name Ever] I’m sorry, get Jonathan Stewart in the first round? What did you say? Apparently, I’m betting happy with the draft this year. A coworker and I have a bet going to see if McFadden will be the best rushing rookie (I say it’s Stewart) and I delayed the actual bet until after the draft. I’m betting with you. Someone else at work wants to bet on Mendenhall being the Lions’ pick (he says he bets his entire paycheck..I’m perilously close to accepting). [/QUOTE] Apparently Stewart is [done for 4-6 months](http://sports.espn.go.com/nfl/draft08/news/story?id=3294633) after having toe surgery. Always what you want to hear about a young running back. Mendenhall probably just earned an extra couple million. ---
**Author:** ![Least\_Original\_User\_Name\_Ever](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/e480ec/32.png) [@Least\_Original\_User\_Name\_Ever](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Least_Original_User_Name_Ever)\ **Post date:** [March 17, 2008, 11:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nfl-offseason-discussion-up-to-but-not-including-draft/438702/396 "2008-03-17T23:49:13Z")
[QUOTE=Omniscient] Apparently Stewart is [done for 4-6 months](http://sports.espn.go.com/nfl/draft08/news/story?id=3294633) after having toe surgery. Always what you want to hear about a young running back. Mendenhall probably just earned an extra couple million. [/QUOTE] Yeah, Mr. Stewart is now coming at a much lower draft position. Really, I’m sure you’ll be fine with any of the receivers, **Omni**. Chicago has such a good tradition of receivers and…oh…wait a minute… I think it’s the water. It must muddy the speed or something. ---
**Author:** ![Omniscient](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/omniscient/32/3290_2.png) [@Omniscient](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Omniscient)\ **Post date:** [March 18, 2008, 12:05am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nfl-offseason-discussion-up-to-but-not-including-draft/438702/397 "2008-03-18T00:05:23Z")
[QUOTE=Least Original User Name Ever] I think it’s the water. It must muddy the speed or something. [/QUOTE] The WRs are probably just fine. It’s just the QBs only learned about the legalization of the forward past a couple seasons ago. They are still trying to sort that out. ---
**Author:** ![Least\_Original\_User\_Name\_Ever](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/e480ec/32.png) [@Least\_Original\_User\_Name\_Ever](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Least_Original_User_Name_Ever)\ **Post date:** [March 18, 2008, 12:18am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nfl-offseason-discussion-up-to-but-not-including-draft/438702/398 "2008-03-18T00:18:47Z")
[QUOTE=Omniscient] The WRs are probably just fine. It’s just the QBs only learned about the legalization of the forward past a couple seasons ago. They are still trying to sort that out. [/QUOTE] Yeah, a stud farm for quarterbacks you have not been. Shush, you. ---
**Author:** ![Omniscient](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/omniscient/32/3290_2.png) [@Omniscient](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Omniscient)\ **Post date:** [March 18, 2008, 1:39am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nfl-offseason-discussion-up-to-but-not-including-draft/438702/399 "2008-03-18T01:39:08Z")
[QUOTE=Least Original User Name Ever] Yeah, a stud farm for quarterbacks you have not been. Shush, you. [/QUOTE] One of my favorite ESPN articles on the topic, [for Insiders](http://proxy.espn.go.com/espn/page2/story?page=fleming/050914). > [@David Flemming](#): > > \ > So simple, in fact, that I can sum up the Bears’ QB Carousel from Hell in one sentence. > > Now, you might want to start in 1993 when Jim Harbaugh begat Peter Tom Willis (honest) who begat Erik Kramer-Steve Walsh-Dave Krieg-Rick Mirer and Steve Stenstrom (that’s a real dude, I swear), but for a franchise as horribly troubled as the Bears, to me it only seems appropriate that the Bears QB Carousel from Hell begins with journeyman Jim Miller, who by the end of the 1999 season appeared to have found a home in Chicago, that is until he was suspended for the final four games after testing positive for a banned substance he inadvertently ingested from an over-the-counter supplement (of course, happens to everyone’s quarterback, right?) – thus ending his attempt to become the only Bears QB other than Sid Luckman (in, oh, 1943) to break the century mark in QB rating; now, if memory, Google, the Bears’ media guide and the collective brainpower of my football fanatic friends from Chicago serves me correctly, that season Miller beat out someone named Moses Moreno and then replaced the ineffective No. 1 pick Cade McNown who, himself, had been filling in for the injured Shane Matthews; which didn’t really make sense in the first place since the Bears traded away their chance at some guy named Daunte Culpepper (whatever happened to that guy?) to take McNown (not to be confused with McNabb, McNair, McMahon, McCown-Luke, McCown-Josh or McDonald, Ronald) – who ended up being very offensive in his own way (he got nailed for parking in handicapped spaces at UCLA), just never on the actual playing field, which, of course, didn’t stop then-coach Dick Jauron from having him lead the 2000 team to a 1-8 start until, mercifully, Miller was reinserted for two games at which time he blew out his Achilles tendon and had to be replaced by Matthews, who was dumped, again, for McNown, who went 14 for 40 for 133 yards, one TD and one pick in the final two games of the season (and pretty much his NFL career) after which things finally began to calm down behind center in Chicago in 2001 when the Carousel from Hell went a little something like this: Matthews in then Matthews hurt, Miller in for Matthews then Miller hurt, Matthews in, props to Matthews, whose legendary noodle-arm did muster one sweet Hail Mary against Cleveland, then Matthews out, Miller in for the playoffs, Miller knocked silly by Philly, Matthews in, playoff hopes over-and-out, causing the 2002 Bears team to do what any cutting-edge NFL brain trust does when in need of a talent infusion at quarterback: look to Rhode Island and Calgary – meaning, former RI QB Ken Mastrole who was cut in favor of former CFL’er Henry Burris, which was a big mistake because Mastrole went on to play for the Firecats in Arena2 which, frankly, sounds like a made-up league, while Burris went 0 for 1 as a Bears starter with a passer rating of 28.4, by far the worst rating of the eight players – Miller, Chris Chandler, Cory Sauter, Marty Booker, Leon Johnson, Brad Maynard and Brian Urlacher (39.9 passer rating after missing on one pass) – who filled in for the chronically banged-up Miller during a 4-12 season that so thoroughly discombobulated the Chicago front office it reasoned that after Jake Plummer turned down huge coin to become a Bear, the answer for 2003 was former Steelers QB Kordell Stewart and his run-first-pass-worst style, which might have worked had he not been, sadly, sidelined by an (un) injury thus subjecting fans to the QB known as Chandelier whose play was so gross, man, the Bears had no choice, man, but to insert 2003 first-round pick Rex Grossman who, after becoming the first Bears rookie QB in 22 years to win his pro debut, started the last three games of the Jauron era and the first three games of the Smith era only to blow out his left wheel diving for a TD in Week 3 of 2004, something that, of course, the Bears were totally prepared for – right? – because seamlessly in stepped Jonathan Quinn, from the Cradle of Quarterbacks known as Middle Tennessee State, to throw for a net 34 yards in Week 5 and 49 more in Week 6 before being replaced by Craig Krenzel, who cranked things up a notch, exploding for 69 yards in Week 7, which is enough to make the QB Ring of Honor in a place like Chicago, until he was re-re-re-replaced by Quinn and then by Jerry Jones reject Chad Hutchinson who, luckily, was there to lead the team to dead last in nearly every major statistical passing category and a QB nadir of such incalculable depth that the team actually signed Jeff George, a guy disliked more in locker rooms than impetigo, who, thankfully, wasn’t invited back to 2005 camp, which left room for the kind of quarterback who embodies the Bears QB Carousel from Hell: Kurt Kittner (cut by five teams in seven months last season); and recent No. 1 QB Hutchinson (3-11 as an NFL starter), who was cut along with – I swear – someone named Ryan Dinwiddie, whom the Bears still preferred, presumably, over other available 2004 free-agent QBs such as Kurt Warner, Jay Fiedler, Brad Johnson, Jeff Garcia, Drew Bledsoe, Kelly Holcomb and Lance Covington (no, that’s a made-up name, I just wanted to see if you were still paying attention) who had all signed with other teams long before Grossman broke his ankle in the preseason; leaving only Jeff Blake (because, obviously Steve DeBerg did not return their calls) and bringing us (directly, simply, effortlessly … finally) back to Orton who – God love ‘em – even in light of what this week’s opponent, Detroit, did to Hall of Fame QB Brett Favre in the 2005 season opener, still thinks he could be the one to end the Bears’ QB Carousel from Hell, saying, “I know the recent history, so I know the city and all the fans want a talented quarterback who is going to go out there and play well and win a lot of football games. Hopefully, I am that guy – I think I will be” > \ That was written in 2005. Here in 2008 things still have not improved. ---
**Author:** ![Really\_Not\_All\_That\_Bright](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/e8c25b/32.png) [@Really\_Not\_All\_That\_Bright](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Really_Not_All_That_Bright)\ **Post date:** [March 18, 2008, 3:18am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nfl-offseason-discussion-up-to-but-not-including-draft/438702/400 "2008-03-18T03:18:04Z")
[QUOTE=Omniscient] That was written in 2005. Here in 2008 things still have not improved. [/QUOTE] Well, in all fairness, for about seven and a half games in 2006 it looked like Rex Grossman was going to the Pro Bowl. Perhaps he was the victim of a truly cruel practical joke and thought he’d been traded to the Rams or something, then noticed that his jersey was the wrong shade of blue in Week 8. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nfl-offseason-discussion-up-to-but-not-including-draft/438702.md?page=19) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nfl-offseason-discussion-up-to-but-not-including-draft/438702.md?page=21)