Kyle Orton Gets Endorsement For Next Year

by Adam T on Dec 30, 2008 7:29 AM CST

Ok, all those hopes and dreams we had about getting rid of some of the coaching staff and making some real changes at some spots, especially QB have just taken their first shot.

Lovie Smith and Ron Turner have both officially endorsed Kyle Orton as the QB for next year.

Smith:

''All players will have competition,'' coach Lovie Smith said. ''Everybody's in the same group. But Kyle is our quarterback. He has done a lot of good things for us this year, but we all start from scratch and go from there.''

Turner:

''Yeah, no question about it,'' Turner said. ''He played really well. It took him a while to get back into his groove after his [sprained] ankle. I still don't think he's 100 percent, but in this league that is usually the case. Early [in the season] he was playing great, and the last couple of weeks, he was playing really well.''

So by the fact that they made these statements tells me we will also be keeping Ron Turner as well. So this leaves us with Bob Babich, but I get the impression he'll get another shot on grounds of him being new to the spot. But if the Bears were interested in making a change there are some options.

Rod Marenelli was canned in Detroit - I think Marenelli would be huge plus for any staff that picks him up regardless of whether he is their DC or any lower position. Even though Detroit finished 0-16 those players never quit on him. He had their respect and they played. They gave a lot of teams including us, Green Bay, Minnesota and Indianapolis a run for out money for a good portion of our games. Players respect him and he respects them back. I think he is a solid character guy, who just found his way into one of the worst run teams in professional sports. He deserves another shot and I believe he will eventually get it.

Cleveland has also let go Romeo Crennel - Crennel also found himself in a bad situation. They got burned by the whole Derek Anderson deal. Then both Anderson and Quinn go down and they have to finish with their 3rd string QB. They have some major league divas over there that can't be good for the team. Braylon Edwards went from a world beater to a guy who cannot even hang onto the ball.

Eric Mangini has been fired as the NY Jets head coach - I know the least about Mangini. He was the defensive backs coach in New England for 5 years and then their defensive coordinator for 1 before taking the Jets job. As we are seeing guys who leave NE and Belichick aren't having a whole lot of success.

Obviously if my vote counted, we would make a strong move for Marenelli, but we will end up sticking with Babich.

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Congratulations Lovie Smith

Your stupid endorsement of a player being your starter will cause another holdout and result in the Bears caving in again, and meeting the contract demands of an agent.

I predict, Kyle’s agent to the Bears: “Well Kyle’s your starter, and you don’t have anyone else but Caleb friggin Hanie. So, we’re holding out until you give us more money.”

Just like last year, when Hester’s agent says: “Well, Lovie just named Hester your #1 WR, and you don’t have anyone else worth a damn, so we’re holding out for WR-type money.”

I'm not going to even bother trying to update this sig everyday anymore... that's what the standings column on ESPN is for.
Updated on May 25, 2008

by SackMan on Dec 30, 2008 8:00 AM CST reply actions

As for the guys from New England not having the same success on their own...

They should’ve brought Belichick’s video tape spy crew with them.

I'm not going to even bother trying to update this sig everyday anymore... that's what the standings column on ESPN is for.
Updated on May 25, 2008

by SackMan on Dec 30, 2008 8:46 AM CST reply actions

Add Charlie Weiss to that list... he sucks.

I'm not going to even bother trying to update this sig everyday anymore... that's what the standings column on ESPN is for.
Updated on May 25, 2008

by SackMan on Dec 30, 2008 8:47 AM CST up reply actions

Weis is a bit different.

It’s a whole different world in college sports. A coach could be the most brilliant X’s and O’s mind but suck at the college level because of his or her’s lack of people skills. recruiting is probably the most important aspect of the college game and I find it hard to believe that Weis is a good recruiter. He would probably do pretty well back at the pro-level. That is just my own unsubstantiated opinion, but that’s how I feel.

by dakoose on Dec 30, 2008 12:20 PM CST up reply actions

Weis was very lucky

Sorry, I’ve seen a few Notre Dame games, and Weis is just an awful play-caller. Probably 95% of Domers would agree, too.

It should also be noted that the Patriot offense got significantly BETTER once Weis left.

by garsky on Dec 30, 2008 3:33 PM CST up reply actions

Hold out talk

I don’t see Kyle Orton as the holdout type of player, he drives a prius or something like that and also doesn’t buy razors (so he has to save some money there). He also just signed an extension last year, if he is playing well at the begining of ’09 you will start to hear the extension talk again.

by PVL on Dec 30, 2008 9:34 AM CST reply actions

Not so fast about Babich

People seem to be forgetting that the Lovie tried to hire Marinelli before, but was blocked by Tampa Bay at the time. I think they’ll pick him up quickly now, and Babich relegated (or fired) to towel boy.

by Waylon on Dec 30, 2008 9:43 AM CST reply actions

not firing babich will look REALLY BAD

last year, okay, you have the excuse that the defense was really banged up. this year, no excuse whatsoever. it was painfully obvious to anyone watching that we did not play a scheme that took advantage of our strengths. that’s either all on lovie or babich. when you have physical corners and a small d-line, you need to jam at the line to buy your line time to generate pressure on the QB, especially when doing the opposite got the defense toasted repeatedly. that’s all about coaching. they won’t can lovie (too cheap to eat his contract), but they can’t possibly justify not firing babich at this point. especially when guys who were very successful as DCs are available, like marinelli or crennel.

by guy incognito on Dec 30, 2008 9:55 AM CST reply actions 4 recs

Also

Eric Mangini who was called Mangenius when he was the Patriots defensive coordinator so thats another successful DC.

by chase17 on Dec 30, 2008 11:35 AM CST up reply actions

Angelo differs

I can’t give you the exact quote, but Angelo said he wasn’t sure that Orton is the guy to lead the team. Pretty surprising words.

by Hatchetm on Dec 30, 2008 12:08 PM CST reply actions

i think i got the link you are talking about

via the Sun-Times

Angelo also mentions Marinelli and Babich in this article. The quotes on Orton(a few paragraphs) are halfway down the page.

"I like to use 'I Can't Believe it's Not Butter' on my toast in the morning, because sometimes when I eat breakfast, I like to be incredulous.

How was breakfast? Unbelievable."

by chibullsfan03 on Dec 30, 2008 12:50 PM CST up reply actions

yes that is it

I heard it on the radio. those are some really juicy quotes. “I’m not 100% convinced” he’s the guy.

by Hatchetm on Dec 30, 2008 1:03 PM CST up reply actions

Angelo

sounds (mostly) smart in that article, what happened? (emphasis added)

"I think we have to have competition at that position. We have to keep an eye on that position, more than any. We have to get that position right. I know there’s going to be a lot of talk about a No. 1 receiver, but it starts with the quarterback. It’s all about the quarterback. You don’t win because of wide receivers. You don’t win because of running backs. You win because of the quarterback. We have to get that position stabilized. We’re fixated on that.

"I don’t want us to lose sight of that.

"I don’t know [who he might go after]until I know who’s out there. If we feel that’s our best option then we have to look at it very seriously. That position has to get righted. The offense starts with the quarterback. We know it’s the most valuable position on the football team. We’ve gone through so many scenarios at that position we can write a book, moreso on what not do.

"But I do have confidence in Kyle. I don’t want anyone coming out of this thinking we don’t believe in Kyle. We do believe in Kyle. But he has to take another step. That’s the bottom line.

“You’re seeing more and more recycled quarterbacks do well. This year was the "over the hill quarterback gang.” When you look at [Gus] Frerotte, [Kerry] Collins, what Kurt Warner did. It’s amazing. Looks like it could from anywhere at any age now.

"Is it all on his shoulders? No. You still have to block and run the football. You still have to catch.

and yeah, Babich is done, calls the defense inconsistent, which it definitely was…

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by thecubreporter on Dec 30, 2008 1:07 PM CST up reply actions

GOOD.

So he and Lovie disagree on QB. Thank god.

I'm not going to even bother trying to update this sig everyday anymore... that's what the standings column on ESPN is for.
Updated on May 25, 2008

by SackMan on Dec 30, 2008 7:12 PM CST up reply actions

Angelo's an idiot

I’m sorry.

I realize we need to do something at QB, but he’s just gonna go out, get a new QB, and we’ll be stuck with the same crappy line and the horrendous WR’s.

By the way, if Rashied Davis isn’t let go, I’m calling for Angelo’s head.

I'M A MAN! I'M 22!

by ChiFan13 on Dec 30, 2008 11:40 PM CST up reply actions

lot of stuff in there actually...

believes in Urlacher…

says Tommie Harris had “a lot of things going on” early in the season, thought he got better as the season went on…

seems to think Earl Bennett should play more

not afraid to cut anyone just because of $$ (so he says)

not surprised at all by Hester’s dropoff in the return game

and yeah, lots of praise for Marinelli

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by thecubreporter on Dec 30, 2008 1:15 PM CST up reply actions

Not to pick apart

a media quote, but what the hell?

from turner above…

I still don’t think he’s 100 percent, but in this league that is usually the case. Early [in the season] he was playing great, and the last couple of weeks, he was playing really well.’’

so he’s making an excuse for Orton being hurt, but then says you usually have to play hurt in the NFL…so pick one.

and what in Jim McMahon’s name did he see to say Orton played well the last couple of weeks? The game versus Houston was pretty good, but they have an atrocious pass defense.

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by thecubreporter on Dec 30, 2008 1:10 PM CST reply actions

"and what in Jim McMahon’s name "

I lol’d

Residence: Portland, Oregon Pro Team: Da Bears NCAA Football: LSU Baby!! Make sense?

by Dane Noble on Dec 30, 2008 2:34 PM CST up reply actions

I don't get that quote either

Rodgers basically didn’t practice at all after about a third of the season in, because his shoulder was pretty banged up. And yet, he still had a hell of a year – everyone plays hurt at some point in the season, and the good ones still find a way to get it done.

by Waylon on Dec 30, 2008 3:49 PM CST reply actions