Neckbeard all the Way!

After two pre-season games Kyle Orton has been declared the winner of the Bears QB battle royale. The Neckbeard will be the Bears starting QB tonight against San Francisco, and September 7th in Indianapolis, but if you ask me Rex Grossman never really had a chance.

Now I’m bitter about this for a number of reasons, not the least of which was a pledge to grow a neckbeard of my own if Orton won the battle. But perhaps the biggest reason is after the game in Seattle it’s pretty obvious Rex never had a shot. Granted Rex’s performance in the American Northwest wasn’t fantastic (9/15, 74yrds, 1INT), but given the constant duress he was under I think it was pretty good. Then Orton comes in for a 3 ‘n out, a 2 minute drill that results in a FG, and he’s declared the winner. Tell me THAT doesn’t smell a little fishy.

This decision was made long ago, but they had to string Rex along so he wouldn’t feel like an idiot for signing that contract (you think he couldn’t have had a better chance in some place like Atlanta or Miami?). The Bears have decided to transport us all back to 2005 and pray a dominant defense and outstanding special teams can carry us to victories. Listen, I’ve got nothing against Kyle Orton, but I’ve never seen anything from him that seems to demonstrate he can be effective. But he brings the allure of the unknown. They always say the back-up QB is the most popular man in town and now as Bears fans we get to reap those words.

I’ll have the opportunity to see Kyle Orton with the #1 group tonight from the United Club in Soldier Field. And hopefully afterward I’ll have a lot better feeling about all of this. I’m by no means saying the Bears season is already over, although the recent O-Line play may suggest otherwise, but I am saying this supposed “QB Competition” was never a fair fight.