Fan Pulse: Bears fans react to Orton over Grossman

By Neal Coolong  |   Wednesday, August 20, 2008  |  Comments( 4 )

Chicago Bears
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Is Bears quarterback Rex Grossman a sucker? Chicago Tribune writer Steve Rosenbloom thinks so.

In a scathing blog written for the Chicago Tribune's Web site, Rosenbloom creatively accuses Bears head coach Lovie Smith of giving Grossman a one-year contract in bad faith, never intending Grossman to wrest the job away from Kyle Orton. Smith named Orton the Bears' starter, a position that has been on a merry-go-round for the past several seasons.

One of the factors that went into the decision to give Orton the nod was the fact he went 2-1 to end last season. Rosenbloom really didn't like that answer.

"If you stage a competition to find out which quarterback is the best for the upcoming season, you let them play in training camp and then the fake games, and you judge them on that. But if you’re going back to last season, when you benched one of the guys involved in this alleged competition, then you don’t have a fair fight."

Bears fans on the team's Official Message Board are weighing in heavily on the matter. In a thread titled "Rosenblog Tells the Truth About Lovie Smith," it seems Bears fans aren't as upset about Orton over Grossman as they are over the whole situation, and what some are perceiving to be a 2008 season that is over before it begins.

"I can only hope that when 2009 roles [sic] around we pick up soneone [sic] who can play well at QB despite Lovie's crap."

Most fans in the forum seem to agree Grossman's issues are with his head and his feet. While probably a better athlete than Orton overall, on the field, he's slower and has much more trouble handling pressure.

"Rex's issue is his lack of mobility. His arm is OK, and I can live with a few picks. But, his lack of mobility means the plays are shorter, and exposes him to fumbles and getting rocked on like that int Saturday night. Kyle is no spring chicken, but appears more comfortable around the pocket."

The reality is that it's not as if Smith is choosing between Unitas and Montana. One poster doesn't really have a problem with Orton being named the starter, writing that, basically, Smith had more than enough information to make his decision.

"Rosenbeef complains in [the blog] that Smith needs to avoid considering 2007 and wait until all 4 games (preseason) are over to decide.
1) how can the head coach forget about previous year's play when making such a decision? Can he un-remember?
2) wait all 4 games? The writer along with all his other toadies in the media would have jumped on Smith's case for taking that long. 'You've coached these two for 4 years now, how much longer do you need?' etc. would be the complaint. What a pile of dung. The writer, that is. His article is manure."
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About Neal Coolong

Neal Coolong is a freelance sports writer with contributions to Scout.com, AOL and Steelers Live. He lives with his fiance in St. Paul, Minn., and saves every dime (that she knows about) for their wedding next June. He's already made the prediction that the Steelers 2007 draft class will be one ...
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