Posts tagged ‘quarterback’

In a jump start on the free-agent process the Chicago Bears signed former Northwestern quarterback and Big Ten 2005 offensive player of the year Brett Basanez to a two year deal. While Jerry Angelo did come into this off-season saying that adding competition at the quarterback position was his #1 priority, Bears fans are hoping this isn’t what he had in mind.

Basanez spent the last three year with the Carolina Panthers, two of those mostly on the practice squad and 2007 on injured reserve with a wrist injury. He saw action in only one game back in 2006 when he went 6 for 11 for 56 yards and an interception against the Pittsburgh Steelers.

Prior to that Basanez set or tied nearly every major school passing record at Northwestern, which he left as the winingest quarterback in school history. His other claim to fame was falling just 4 rushing yards short of being the first QB in NCAA Div-I history to pass for 10,000 and rush for 1,000 career yards.

While Basanez has stated that he intendeds to come out and try and compete for the starting job, he also mentioned that where he fit on the depth chart was not part of his discussion with the team. It’s safe to say that he isn’t here to take Kyle Orton’s job and will more likely be competing with Caleb Hanie for third string, while the other will land on the practice squad. Other rumors persist that the main reason Baz was brought in is because the Bears have moved their off-season mini-camps up to March and wanted to be sure of having 3 QB’s on the roster at the time.

That said the Chicago Tribune reported that Basanez did draw interest from Jacksonville, New Orleans, Minnesota, and San Francisco. More than likely though getting a call from his hometown team was the deciding factor for the Arlington Heights native.

None-the-less Brett Basanez will get to live out the dream of so many other Chicago Bears fans, young and old. And from there who knows, if he make it on the field it wouldn’t be the first time a 4th string quarterback ended up playing for the Bears.