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Question of the day

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* I’m gonna steal Mike’s question because I’m getting sick of reading purely political comments…

Whould you rather the Bears start an injured Kyle Orton or a totally healthy Rex Grossman?

Explain fully, please.

posted by Rich Miller
Thursday, Nov 6, 08 @ 11:39 am

Comments

Orton. I compare Grossman to that girlfriend/boyfriend you date because he seems so good on paper, yet in reality continues to disappoint.

“You never meet Mister Right while you’re dancing with Mister Wrong.”

Comment by Yellow Dog Democrat Thursday, Nov 6, 08 @ 11:41 am
The Bears should bite the bullet and start Rex Grossman. That gives Kyle Orton a chance to heal for another week, rather than facing a monster defense. Sure, the Bears will probably lose, though it would be a tough game even with a healthy Orton starting. But they should not take the risk of re-injury, which could put Orton out for over a month.

Comment by cover Thursday, Nov 6, 08 @ 11:41 am
Orton.

The O plays better for him. I know that they are dogs against the Titans and they may lose the game, but he is our best chance. If Grossman plays against that defense - he will throw a minimum of 2 ints and only get us field goals. If Grossman plays Bears lose 27-9. If Orton plays, maybe we have a chance.

Comment by Paul Thursday, Nov 6, 08 @ 11:46 am
Orton

Comment by OneMan Thursday, Nov 6, 08 @ 11:46 am
isn’t Orton’s injury too serious to consider that choice? if they green light him, it’s Orton all the way. but if the injury could be made worse, put Grossman in to take the fire. it’s painful to watch him throw, something about the way he throws is not good, but better he go down than orton get worse.

Comment by Amy Thursday, Nov 6, 08 @ 11:50 am
If Orton thinks he’s good to go, then Orton. Any question, feed Grossman to the Titans ferocious defense.

Orton protects the ball better, sees more of the field, spreads the ball around and is quite simply a smarter quarterback.

Grossman can throw the long ball, but never developed the touch necessary for the NFL and can’t check down to his hot receivers. He fumbles too much, get’s too many balls batted down because of his height and throws devastatingly careless short passes into traffic that are too often returned for touchdowns.

Comment by wordslinger Thursday, Nov 6, 08 @ 11:53 am
I think Orton should start. Then, when Tennessee’s D-line sends him out on a cart, fickle Bears fans who wanted Orton to start this game can blame Lovie for putting him in too soon.

Comment by Six Degrees of Separation Thursday, Nov 6, 08 @ 11:53 am
Injured Orton. He’s better than a healthy Grossman, period. The only thing in Grossman’s defense is that he hasn’t played with a RB the caliber of Forte before.

Comment by Left Leaner Thursday, Nov 6, 08 @ 11:53 am
Go with Grossman this week. The Titans are not the team you want to go up against if you’re not 100%, they are a tough physical defense. That will also give Kyle another week to heal.

Comment by taxmandan Thursday, Nov 6, 08 @ 11:54 am
Assuming playing would not cause anymore damage to his ankle that would hurt the team in the long run, Orton for the following reasons:

1. He can see over the line of scrimage

2. He does not constantly make stupid decisions

3. Chemistry, the office has been working good together, don’t make changes unless you have to.

Now, I will say this, the Defense plays better when Grossman plays, there’s more of a sense of urgency.

Comment by Ahoy Thursday, Nov 6, 08 @ 11:55 am
Neither, they need a better quarterback. If they play Orton while he is hurt he will only make the injury worse and be out longer than he already is.

Comment by Boscobud Thursday, Nov 6, 08 @ 11:56 am
Rex Grossman. Why risk injury to your big money man? Put in a running game and go with it.

I think that Grossman has forgotten more about football than Orton will ever know. moo

Comment by Shelbyville Thursday, Nov 6, 08 @ 11:56 am
kyle orton. it looks like he can see over the line…

Comment by bored now Thursday, Nov 6, 08 @ 11:59 am
Grossman. If you can’t play your back-up when the #1 needs to heal, why keep him?

If they play Ortman, they should cut Grossman loose and put ads in the Trib, SunTimes, and InsiderZExchange for a new backup QB.

Bill may wish to consider the backup QB spot if the Senate bid falls short. Oberweis is also available, and he might do well since everyone seems to want to run away from him. There is also Brent Hassert; he brings leadership skills to the table…

Comment by Pot calling kettle Thursday, Nov 6, 08 @ 12:05 pm
Neckbeard. Consistency, nothing more need be said.

Comment by Gadfly Thursday, Nov 6, 08 @ 12:06 pm
Grossman, he has appeared to be a competent QB 1/2 the time. They are not expected to win this game, so why not let Orton heal. They are still in first, why risk further aggravating his ankle? Let him heal and be back in a week or two. Rex will perform so well, there will be a quarterback controversey anew.

This is a long season, don’t be stupid and risk more injury to Orton’s leg.

Comment by Wumpus Thursday, Nov 6, 08 @ 12:13 pm
I would start me — a 42 year old fat Chicago Irishman with a bad heart who hasn’t played organized football since grade school — over Grossman. Grossman is pathetic. He should be selling insurance. By the way, if this is going to happen, they do have defibrillators near the field, right? Then we’re good.

So I guess the answer to your question is “an injured Orton.”

Comment by Skeeter Thursday, Nov 6, 08 @ 12:16 pm
I came into the thread leaning Orton, but found the argument that Grossman should start b/c Orton could use the time to heal persuasive.

It’s not a must win game. And if the Bears probably wouldn’t win with a healthy Orton, what’s the point of risking aggravation of Orton’s injury? To snub Rex Grossman? That seems more petty than strategic.

Comment by Carl Nyberg Thursday, Nov 6, 08 @ 12:20 pm
I wouldn’t risk putting Orton in so soon. Give Rex another shot and see how bad it is gonna be.

Comment by HoBoSkillet Thursday, Nov 6, 08 @ 12:32 pm
Orton. Besides his consistency, he illicits a better response from the fans and the team seems to play better.

Comment by Nick Naylor Thursday, Nov 6, 08 @ 12:35 pm
Grossman. PLaying Orton without a proper healing time only prolongs his disability. Get him healthy and get him back in there, but dont send him limping through the rest of the season on a bad wheel our of fear of Bad Rex.

Comment by Downstate weed chewing hick Thursday, Nov 6, 08 @ 12:36 pm
“You never meet Mister Right while you’re dancing with Mister Wrong.”

Best comment I’ve read this week. I’ll have to remember it and work it in.

Comment by Sporty41 Thursday, Nov 6, 08 @ 12:37 pm
Grossman. 1. For God’s sake, let’s not get Orton really hurt now. 2. Rex has done well at times and deserves a chance to show what he can do when there’s a running game and possibly even some pass protection. Who knows, they may win, and in any case it will help both Grossman and the Bears know what they plan to do in the off season. Hard to see him in Chicago next year in any case.

Comment by Excessively rabid Thursday, Nov 6, 08 @ 12:37 pm
Rest Orton, start Grossman…an injured Orton will have a much tougher time against an undefeated team than a healthy one.

Comment by Segatari Thursday, Nov 6, 08 @ 12:38 pm
Grossman. Let Orton heal. If Grossman can’t cut it, go to Hanie.

Orton out for a few games > Orton out for the season.

Slow the game down. Run Forte and throw short routes to the sidelines to Davis, Olson and Hester.

Let’s be realistic, too. They’re not beating the Titans, and whoever the QB is will be on the ground a lot.

Comment by doubtful Thursday, Nov 6, 08 @ 12:40 pm
Healthy Grossman. Sacrifice him on the altar of the Tennessee defense. The Bears probably lose this game with a healthy Orton, too. Why risk that Orton be injured even more seriously because he is slow to evade a sack? Then hope that Orton recovers sufficiently to be effective against the Packers the following week.

Comment by The Curmudgeon Thursday, Nov 6, 08 @ 12:57 pm
Go with Grossman and run Forte 35 times. If he throws a stupid pick, put Hanie in and send him on his way. The Bearsssss need Orton back for the last half of the season more than they need a win against the Titans.

Comment by Lefty Lefty Thursday, Nov 6, 08 @ 1:03 pm
Grossman, for the reasons everyone else stated. Green Bay next week is way more important than Tennessee. The Bears wouldn’t win this one even with a healthy Orton since the defense has shown zero ability to rush the quarterback, and Tennessee has a good offensive line.

Comment by South Side Mike Thursday, Nov 6, 08 @ 1:17 pm
No contest….go with Grossman. Why risk long term injury to a guy that has lately shown something positive for the long haul. Titans due to lose, Grossman due to have one of his good games (one in fifty).

Comment by You Go Boy Thursday, Nov 6, 08 @ 1:24 pm
How about Obama. Chicago loves Obama and he is tall and athletic and I bet he can throw the football.

Comment by Boscobud Thursday, Nov 6, 08 @ 1:32 pm
Love the “Feed Grossman to the Defense” comments.

Hey…why not tell him he’s suiting up in kicker’s pads this weekend, and all sit back and pray for a Theismann moment?

You guys are brutal!

Comment by Yellow Dog Democrat Thursday, Nov 6, 08 @ 1:45 pm
YDD-

Are you referring to the 1-yard punt, or the broken leg?

Comment by Six Degrees of Separation Thursday, Nov 6, 08 @ 1:49 pm
How about trade trhem both for a real quarterback?

Comment by Anonymous Thursday, Nov 6, 08 @ 1:56 pm
Orton. It took a lot for him to earn my respect this year, but he’s really impressed me. I think those few years after his rookie season made him mature as a quarterback. Rex is a headcase and a whiner.

Comment by Kevin Fanning Thursday, Nov 6, 08 @ 2:11 pm
Rest Orton one more week. Get the running game going - the Titans D has been susceptible to the run - and see if they can’t get the play action pass working. Grossman, for the most part, has always done better when they had a threat of a running game so the play action pass had a chance of working.

Comment by Anon from BB Thursday, Nov 6, 08 @ 2:31 pm
Play Grossman and rest orton. I would rather have a healthy Orton next week (and the week after that etc.) than a 50% Orton this week. Grossman will be fine. If the running game is working he might even be effective.

Comment by Jaded Thursday, Nov 6, 08 @ 3:08 pm
Rex Grossman gets a raw deal. In the one full season he started, the result was a Super Bowl appearance. Concededly, he played poorly in the pouring rain. But for the season, his statistics were virtually identical to Jim McMahon’s from 1985.

Grossman’s upside is enormous — provided his psyche hasn’t been mortally wounded. Orton is a dressed up version of Craig Krenzel. A serviceable backup at best who only plays well against inferior defenses.

Of course it doesn’t matter who starts at QB as long as Bob Babich is the defensive coordinator. The Bears aren’t going anywhere anyway.

Comment by Last Grossman Fan Thursday, Nov 6, 08 @ 3:08 pm
Depends. Which Grossman? The one who passes to his own time, or the one who throws passes to the opposing team?

Comment by Crafty Girl Thursday, Nov 6, 08 @ 3:58 pm
Grossman, Grossman, Grossman!

Of course, I root for whoever the Bears are playing…

P.S. Amazing how good he looked in college on good Florida teams and how bad he looks now.

Comment by Amuzing Myself Thursday, Nov 6, 08 @ 4:35 pm
Is Squidishi going to suggest Caleb Hanie?

Comment by Suburban Republican Thursday, Nov 6, 08 @ 5:17 pm
I’ll go Sunday. I can still play.

Comment by Bill Thursday, Nov 6, 08 @ 5:30 pm