Mr. Angelo, it’s time to play "Let’s make a deal."
by SackMan on Jan 19, 2009 8:44 AM CST
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The morning after Ben Roethlisberger and Kurt Warner advanced onto their 2nd and 3rd Super Bowls, I pause and realize we’ll soon be entering season 9 of the Jerry Angelo era. The man who currently speaks of the great importance of stabilizing the QB position, is the same man who’s given us 12 different QBs during his tenure: Chris Chandler, Henry Burris, Cory Sauter, Kordell Stewart, Rex Grossman, Chad Hutchinson, Jonathan Quinn, Craig Krenzel, Kyle Orton, Jeff Blake, Brian Griese, and Caleb Hanie.
Year after year, when the Bears season has finished (normally several weeks earlier than the rest of the league), Jerry steps up to the podium and gives us the same colorful off-season speech. Occasionally getting all riled up, he discusses player evaluation, creating competition, looking at all available options, and of course the quarterback position.
This past couple of weeks has not been much different. Except, for one shiny self-indictment flying straight out of Jerry’s mouth. “You win because of the quarterback. We have to get that position stabilized. We're fixated on that,” Angelo said.
He then continued, “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.”
Well, Mr. Angelo… you sir, are absolutely, positively, 100% correct.
I recommend that you actually go ahead write that book. You can title it, “Pick up that rock, there might be a QB underneath it.” With your superb expertise in the area, and a little bit of marketing buzz, it may even become a national best seller. And, judging from your track record, the book money could surely come in handy this time next year, when you may lose your job after bringing in yet another mediocre, veteran free agent QB to “provide competition.”
Jerry, it’s time to put up or shut up. If you really want to stabilize the QB position, then why don’t you try doing the opposite of what you always do? Grow some balls for once, get a little creative, and go make a deal.
Franchise QBs don’t grow underneath rocks. They grow underneath the management of football franchises who know how to scout and develop young talent at the QB position.
Initially, it would be worth suggesting that you put yourself in a position this April to draft a top QB prospect such as 6’5” Chase Holbrook from New Mexico State, or 6’6” Josh Freeman from Kansas State. But, that would be asking you to make a correct evaluation of QB talent, which is obviously asking too much.
So, why not lay some cards on the table and offer up a draft pick or two (which will probably go to waste anyway on a speedy, undersized defensive end from a D-II school… who can’t tackle), to a team who knows what a QB looks like?
You might find that the Patriots could be willing to part ways with young QB Kevin O’Connell, another classic 6’ 5” pocket passer, who they drafted last year in the 3rd round. Interestingly enough, the selection of O’Connell marked the first time that Scott Pioli and Bill Belichick chose a QB on the first day of the draft. In fact, O’Connell was chosen 24 picks after you selected a WR from Vanderbilt, who couldn’t even get onto the field this year, behind arguably the worst group of receivers in the NFL.
Or, perhaps the Titans are willing to move former top pick Vince Young, a very talented young man who may just get his head straightened out with a change of scenery. If it’s Donovan McNabb you really want… then go get Donovan McNabb. If it’s Tom Brady you’re after… then go get Tom Brady.
The point is: It’s not impossible, and it wouldn’t be the first time a deal like that has happened in the NFL.
This league has seen young QBs like Steve Young, Brett Favre, Mark Brunell, and Matt Hasselbeck all get traded before they made regular trips to the Pro Bowl. Other great players like Eric Dickerson, Herschel Walker, Marshall Faulk, Jerome Bettis, and Randy Moss were all traded in the primes of their careers.
Jerry… everybody has a price, and nobody is un-tradable. You’ve picked up 12 different rocks while searching for a QB. Maybe it’s time to look elsewhere, and knock on the door of a GM who actually knows how to find one.
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Just for the record
the first 2-3 years that JA was here, he wasn’t making many decisions. So some of those QBs don’t fall on him.
Being Who You Thought We Were Since 2005!
We hired a GM that for 2-3 years wasn't making any decisions?
Wow, I wish I could get a job like that…
Things will get better as they improve...
What are you talking about? Seriously.
The incumbent QBs he inherited were Jim Miller and Shane Matthews. I omitted those QBs from the list. Hence, he brought in all the other crud.
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
I was one of the biggest supporters for drafting O'Connell
but I still don’t get why the Patriots would trade him. Last season, they were one small Matt Cassell injury away from having to let him start, and apparently they seemed comfortable with that, seeing as they didn’t sign a veteran QB to back Cassell up.
It seems like they really like him, so if we wanted him, we’d have to give up a 2nd.
I am like your Dan Aykroyd and biglow would be Jane, the ignorant slut. -Chad
Well... like I said.
Everybody has a price… nobody is “untouchable.”
If you call the Patriots and offer the right package… you can have O’Connell. And, it’s likely that no other team would be bidding on him for trade… which doesn’t hurt.
They may trade Brady or Cassel this off-season… but with their good evaluation skills, I;m sure they could take several draft picks for O’Connell and draft someone else to replace him.
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
Are you kidding me?
Why in God’s green earth would the Pats attempt to trade Brady? If he’s healthy he’ll retire when he’s an old man. I do like the O’Connell idea, although not for a 2nd rounder. He may come fairly cheap and could provide the Bears with some competition. If they won’t trade him for a 3rd please look elsewhere Jerry. I was in support of bringing in Warner when he was available, as did I prefer that JA draft Big Ben and/or Flacco. At some point he has to take a chance other than reaching for an overrated Grossman, or a journeyman backup.
"I'm not so mean. I wouldn't ever go out to hurt anybody deliberately - unless it was, you know, important, like a league game or something." - Dick Butkus
Why would they trade Brady?
Well… for one, what if he doesn’t recover well from injury? What if he’s not ready to start the season?
They franchised Cassel, which means they have a boatload of money tied to the QB position for next year between him and Brady. One of those guys could likely get dealt.
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
I think the best thing about this draft
from a Bears fan viewpoint is the lack of Elite QB talent in this draft. By this I don’t mean that there are few good prospects but as of now there are only 2 projected first rounders(Stafford and Sanchez) This means there could be plenty of QBs in later rounds however this would require our front office guys to do some work and evaluate the players before the draft.
Derrick Rose-2009 ROTY Tyrus Thomas-2009 MIP...hope I'm at least half right
by CHCOWNTHECENTRAL on Jan 19, 2009 11:07 AM CST reply actions
One of the best rants I've seen
Angelo is a hypocrite and wants to have his hand in a lot of cookie jars. Problem is, he’s confused about which to attack first.
I'M A MAN! I'M 22!
you bite your tongue
Henry Burris is the man
ol Smilin Hank is making a comeback with Calgary Stampeders, this year he was a CFL all-star and took his team to the Grey Cup (WTF is the Grey Cup)
you guys keep talking about o’connell but i say lets make a deal for Hank Burris
but more seriously i doubt JA has the balls to make a move for O’Connell
and furthermore i doubt he is still our GM 1 year from now
Lets get Henry Burris
Says the man with Ryan Leaf as his pic. Haha I know you’re joking it was funny.
But yeah and who knows the Pats could have missed on O’Connell, I have never heard anything about him or remember him tearing it up in the preseason. Cassel, the Pats were smart enough to do their homework and find out that he was nearly as good as Palmer and Leinhart at USC but since he had 2 ounces less talent he was a back-up. We need to find a GM who can do that type of hw or JA needs to figure out how to do it.
Grey Cup is the CFL’s Super Bowl.
Fire Ron Turner!!!
Fire Angelo!!
by Sam Householder on Jan 19, 2009 12:56 PM CST up reply actions
yes i do have Ryan Leaf as my profile pic
because i think we should give him a shot at a comeback, and hes available after being canned from his coaching job
Ron Jaworski is infatuated with O’Connell, he had him as a top 5 QB last year, and many agree, he has uncanny accuracy, he played on a bad team with a bad o-line that made him “NFL Ready”
the fact that the patriots took him means a lot to me because they know a good QB when they see one
by SamuraiMike50 on Jan 19, 2009 1:00 PM CST up reply actions
mhm
hes pretty much my favorite nfl player ever, just behind bill romanowski, terrell owens and all of the other class acts that have come in the league
by SamuraiMike50 on Jan 19, 2009 3:00 PM CST up reply actions
in a year or two you may see another Cassell
out of USC. Seriously, they have Mustain, Corp and Barkley.
If Mustain doesn’t win the starting job, he could come out in 2010 or 2011 and would be worth a 3rd round pick AT LEAST.
People thought Carroll was mad at Sanchez because he left USC in a bind. But, I don’t think he was, since he has the top-rated QB from the last three classes all at his disposal.
the CFL might be worth a look.
seriously. or maybe the the bears are above looking there.
I hope you're not serious.
If so, you’ve completely missed the point of my writing. Maybe you should be reading a book titled, Pick up that rock. There might be a QB underneath it.
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
i like your point.
i like mine too. warner came from under a rock.
long but some valid points in the post
I think Angelo needs to trade for John Beck and let him get a shot at the starting job.
And another guy I would like to see brought in is Charlie Batch. My last memory of him was filling in for an injured Ben Rotheliesberger in 06 I believe and doing quite well in about 5 or 6 games. I think he would be a great veteran backup to Kyle. Kyle appears to gel well with the veterans, alla Griese, so even if there is no comp this summer bringing in a vet like Batch could help Orton especially late in the year with some decision making.
I don't see Batch leaving his cushy job
He gets to back up Big Ben — when not injured. Leftwich is a more likely option, and I’m 50/50 on him. He has more talent than Orton, but is a statue unless he’s suddenly returned to his form pre leg-injury at Marshall.
Yuck, yuck, and more yuck.
You guys sound like Angelo… signing crappy veteran QBs over and over again.
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
Rick Morrisey saying the pretty much the same thing I'm saying...
Bears could use a quarterback search firm
Team may need search firm to find stellar QB
Rick Morrissey
January 21, 2009
I want to make sure I quote Bears general manager Jerry Angelo accurately here.
“We have to get that position right,” he said recently, referring to the quarterback spot.
Note the phrasing. If you’re looking for tearful accountability in that sentence, you better reserve a large block of time for the search. It sounds more like an observation than an admission of guilt. It’s as if the Bears’ quarterback problems had cropped up unexpectedly. You could just as easily imagine Angelo saying, “We have to get that clogged toilet right.”
This discussion isn’t about Kyle Orton, on whom Angelo isn’t completely sold as the Bears’ starter.
It’s about the Bears and Kurt Warner, who will be the starting quarterback for the Cardinals in Super Bowl XLIII. After the Giants said goodbye to him following the 2004 season, Warner took a tour of Halas Hall and Angelo & Co. told him they would like to sign him, but only as a backup. Why?
I think you Bears fans know the answer.
Because Rex was our quarterback.
I’ll go along with the premise that the Bears have to get the quarterback position “right,” as long as someone, anyone in the organization acknowledges they’re responsible for making it so wrong.
I’m not positive Orton is the quarterback of the future, but he needs time to prove he can be. After eight seasons of giving us the likes of Chad Hutchinson, Craig Krenzel, Jonathan Quinn, Kordell Stewart and Henry Burris—not to mention Rex Grossman—Angelo has picked an odd time to decide the position needs stabilizing. Especially when he had a chance at Warner in 2005.
The bad judgment didn’t come in taking a pass on Warner, as a lot of teams did that year. The bad judgment came in having an interest in Warner but telling him he wouldn’t have a chance to be a starter.
“I was just looking for that one team that thought Kurt Warner can still lead,” he said.
This will be Warner’s third Super Bowl. He’s a two-time NFL Most Valuable Player, as well as a Super Bowl MVP, all when he was with the Rams. Why would anyone think a guy like that still could lead?
Since joining the Cardinals, his completion percentage has not dropped below 62.3 in any season and his passer rating has not dropped below 85.8. Neither Orton nor Grossman has come close to those numbers.
This year, at 37, Warner had 30 touchdown passes and 14 interceptions.
Remember how the Bears decided on Angelo as their general manager in 2001? They hired a consulting firm to find the right person to run the football side of the organization. It seemed strange at the time—a football team hiring a company to tell it how to run a football team. OK, it still seems strange. The search firm came up with Angelo, who was no secret, seeing as how he was working for Tampa Bay, a team then in the Bears’ division.
I bring this up because the time has arrived for the Bears to hire a quarterback-acquisition consultant to help them find QBs in the draft or in the free agent market. And if there is no such animal as a quarterback-acquisition consultant, someone should put up a shingle. Angelo needs one the way Lindsay Lohan needs a life coach.
What are the chances of getting something right if you can’t begin to figure out what’s wrong? Back to the toilet imagery: Don’t you call a plumber when it’s broken?
Warner is looking pretty good for a washed-up quarterback. Knowledge and experience apparently matter. There’s nothing the man hasn’t seen on the football field. In the NFC championship game against Philadelphia, he completed 21 of 28 passes for 279 yards and four touchdowns. Not bad for a quarterback who went undrafted out of college and played three seasons in the Arena Football League.
Angelo says a team first has to stabilize the quarterback position and everything else will follow. Yes, but it helps to have three 1,000-yard receivers. You think Orton could be pretty good if he had Larry Fitzgerald, Anquan Boldin and Steve Breaston as his receivers? Yeah, me too.
Hmmmm. The Bears might want to hire a consultant to help them choose quarterbacks and receivers.
Oh, and that Donovan McNabb guy—he’s not too bad either. Somebody better apprise Angelo of it before he pronounces the 32-year-old Eagles quarterback over the hill. McNabb will be a free agent after the 2010 season.
Quick—is there a consultant in the house?
rmorrissey@tribune.com
Copyright © 2009, Chicago Tribune
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
This is scary
I’m pretty sure this is the first article of Morrissey’s that I’ve agreed with 100%.
A+, Rick.
I'M A MAN! I'M 22!
LOL. Ditto.
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
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