madlithuanian

Just curious, why would many have wanted to cut Mongo, Danimal or Jimmy Mac? From my understanding all were consumate team players. They partied, but they showed up for work and kicked butt. I don't recall any of them throwing thier teammates under busses... I really don't think it'd be worth it other than for the train wreck element once TO starts throwing Orton, and others under the bus.

While not the top tire list of needs, I think he'd be a good addition and an improvement over McKie. Not sure it even matters as he played most games and it seems JA's only looking for guys with only 1 start in FA... Sorry, couldn't resist the dig!

...and another one's gone. http://www.rotoworld.com/content/HeadLines...L&hl=140875 Bucs re-signed SS Jermaine Phillips. Terms have not yet been disclosed. Phillips received little free agent interest, with only the Chargers and Seahawks sniffing around. Instead he'll return to the starting lineup at strong safety in Tampa, with Sabby Piscitelli staying in a reserve role. Mar. 5 - 6:14 pm et Source: Tampa Tribune

Thanks for the post. Sad news... He is one of many reasons we all love this franchise. Thankfully we get reminders of this every now and then, albeit this one being a sad one.

Moss wasn't nearly as bad as TO...

I did mean consecutive...as I think orton is the only guy to do it non-consecutive. Adn even if you add him in, it's not good!

Well, soon there may not be a cap! I would say it's never dull with the Bears...but sadly, it is rather dull.

This offers merit becasue it is evidence that what that poster wrote on the Bears blog from the earlier post was indeed true. You're right in terms of new info...nothing new really is added other than better formatting of the story. Apparently it's news for the Sun Times, but not for the Trib. I find that interesting as well... And nothing on PFT. Just interesting...

Too old and has lost too much... I'd rather go for something else. This move reeks of Archuletta...

I'm one of the few! ...and I DO NOT WANT THAT CANCER ON OUR TEAM! No need to explain why, you've done a great job already detailing it.

Me as well... There is simply no excuse... But I don't want owens. We have enough issues at QB...and we get off the bus running apprently.

I know! And in that time, there were only 5 QB's that were starters for more than 1 year! (Jimmy Mac, Harbaugh, Miller, Kramer, and Rex...)

Bewildering... He is an excuse jukebox...

Looks like there's some merit to the earlier post... http://www.suntimes.com/sports/football/be...-bear05.article Team thrift foils Angelo, Kirwan says BEARS | NFL Radio analyst claims free-agent pursuit curtailed by spending limits Recommend (7) Comments March 5, 2009 BY BRAD BIGGS bbiggs@suntimes.com Free agency is a week old today, and so far the Bears have only versatile offensive lineman Frank Omiyale -- with one career start -- to show for it. They're not the only team that has done more window shopping than buying, a product of a diluted free-agent pool and a weakened economy that has some organizations tightening their belts. Pat Kirwan, a longtime NFL coach and executive who now works for Sirius NFL Radio, suggested Tuesday on the satellite station's ''Movin' the Chains'' show that general manager Jerry Angelo isn't all to blame for what some have perceived as the Bears' inactivity. ''This is not exactly the most generous spending team in the history of football,'' Kirwan said. ''So he's got restrictions and restraints, and he's not going to [say], 'Hey, I'm trying to sign this guy, but my owners won't let me.' So he is a little bit bound to his draft picks, where you've got to exhaust every opportunity to make that guy work before you surrender and try something else. ''He's got too many issues where he can't expose what he wants to do. And I'm not going to cite the one that we had a conversation with him about, but he was absolutely sick to his stomach that something might be going on that he couldn't control because he didn't have the cash to do it.'' Reached Wednesday, Angelo declined to comment on Kirwan's remarks. A team source said financial restrictions from ownership have not prevented the Bears from making any moves this offseason. President Ted Phillips, discussing the club's ticket-price freeze last month, said Angelo's football budget would not be affected. The Omiyale deal is worth $11.5 million and maxes out at $14 million. The Bears, who barely ranked in the top half of the league last season in committed cash, hope to re-sign running back Kevin Jones and offensive lineman John St. Clair. They spent more than any team last year on extensions for their players, but they haven't spread the wealth outside Halas Hall. Angelo discussed economics and the reasoning for passing on free-agent wide receiver T.J. Houshmandzadeh on the team's Web site Wednesday. ''Would we have entertained him?'' he said. ''Yes, but we wanted to see what his marketplace was. In this case, we felt like [the $40 million contract with $15 million guaranteed that Houshmandzadeh received from Seattle] was an exorbitant amount of money. Remember, he was a No.2 in Cincinnati. ''He's going to be 32 in '09, and the price that you're paying for that receiver we felt was very high. You have to look at economics when you look at players. Who doesn't want Houshmandzadeh? But you have to look at the economics: What are the implications to the cap going forward, and what does that prevent us from doing in other areas within our team or free agency?''

No doudt, hence my scepticism... http://www.talkbears.com/forums/index.php?...art=#entry59534 This could very well be complete BS. I'd like to see something else come of this. Odds are it can't slip through all media...even PFT. For now, I'm taking it with a grain of salt. And it's too salty.

Thanks for the post LT2_3... It cleared things up at least for me!

I sure would like to know. I still don't know if this is a legit post...but dang...seems too possible.

I'm not 100% sure on the reliability of this...but dang, if there's truth in it, it is really depressing. I still can't lay off Angelo though. As long as he accepts the paycheck, he needs to accept the blame too.

I just got off the phone with Tim Ryan and Pat Kirwan from Moving The Chains. A few callers before a guy named Super Bowl Shuffle was talking to them about the criticisms Jerry Angelo receives. They said that Jerry told them there was a situation happening he couldnt do anything about because of a lack of cash. Ha wasn't given permission to spend the cash needed to make a move he said, quoting the hosts, "made him sick in the stomach." Saying that it was something they could really have use to help the team. Not sure if this is about Cutler, Cassel, Houshmanzadeh or possibley an OL. It sounds as though he is frsutrated by it and said that his comments about Craig Steltz are more about the fact that he is all they have so he cant say they dont have any options. In my call I said about how I keep hearing how all these Chicago Bears guys are moving on and breaking out and they both said, name one. I said well i hear how Justin Gage would be our best WR and they laughed as I said he couldnt catch a cold in Chicago. Then I said about how Marc Colombo couldnt walk barely when we released him and that he in currently one of the top 2 liabilities on the Dallas starting lineup and they agreed. When asked about Kevin Jones, Tim Ryan said that he think they should bring him back but contractually it should be based off of last year with some incentives. He also said that he thinks Adrian can play and is stellar as a ST player but they dont seem sold on playing him at RB, which I agrees with. He said he is convinced Jerry and Lovie want Garrett Wolfe to play this year. As for why Jerry sugarcoats things so much they said they think that his restrictions in terms of what he is given annually to spend on free agents, makes them rely on draftees. They have to exhaust every draft pick because they cant afford to replace them with FA. They explained that Jerry ran the drafts in Tampa and got Chicago to a SB so he has credentials, he came to Chicago with them but that missing on some draft picks really hurt since they financially have to stick with them. I didnt get to ask anything about the McCaskey family. But the assumption on their wealth compared to other owners is that they inherited a charter franchise and their family income is almost 100% the Chicago Bears. Down in Dallas and in Washington those teams are run by billionaires, so they have the actual cash to backup these signings while we are living off of ticket sales and such things. So to make a contract with $10 million bonus is harder for us than for different situations. Now thats something I have known for a while but I also am not sold that we are not willing to spend money. I just think the amount we spent last year in bonuses, is exactly why we werent active last year or this year. Just wanted to put that out there. The way it sounded there was some info they got straight from Jerry that they wouldnt discuss. They talk to alot of people and some info they are given with some trust so they wouldnt violate that. But it did interest me that JA was turned down on a major move he wanted to make. --------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Chicago Bears Quarterbacks 1979-2008 by Roy Taylor © 2007 By popular demand, I had to update this article to reflect changes in 2008. I certainly wish we were talking about Rex Grossman having success as a 16-game starter in 2007, leading the Bears to another Super Bowl, but as we all know the situation has been far from that. The Chicago Bears have now changed their starting quarterback 42 times since 1992, by my count. We've had a lot of questions here on the number of starting quarterbacks the Bears have had, mainly since Brett Favre's reign of terror began. We'll do that one better and go back to 1979 in chronological order. Why 1979? Surely the story goes back much farther than that, but that's when I started watching Bears football as an eight-year-old. Please note: this article does not reflect the three 1987 replacement games during the player's strike. Why not? Well, this article reflects the rediculous number of changes the Bears have made to their starting quarterback when they should have been able to control it. Many teams probably tried a few different replacement quarterbacks during those three games, so I'm not including that. Mike Phipps, Purdue: The Bears traded their 1978 first and fourth-round draft choices to the Cleveland Browns for the eight-year veteran. Phipps started the 1979 season, yielded to Vince Evans and Bob Avellini, then started the team's final eight games to guide Chicago to a wild-card playoff berth. He started the first six games of the 1980 season before again giving up the job to Evans. His last season was in 1981. Traded for: 1977 Started in: 1978-1980 Released: 1981 Vince Evans, USC: Evans relieved Phipps in game two of the 1979 season, started the next three, then was lost for the year with a staph infection. The strong-armed, athletic signalcaller from USC was drafted by the Bears in 1977 in the sixth round. He would become just one of three Chicago quarterbacks in the 27 years between 1979 and 2005 to start all 16 games in a season (1981). After his Bears career ended, Evans played in the USFL then had a miraculous run in Los Angeles/Oakland for the Raiders, lasting until 1995. Drafted: 1977 (6) Started in 1978-1981, 1983 Released: 1983 Bob Avellini, Maryland: Avellini was part of the miracle draft class of 1975, picked in the sixth round. He became the starter that year, not yielding until the end of the 1978 season. Avellini sat on the bench from 1980-1981, but was given a shot as Mike Ditka's first starting quarterback in 1982. Perhaps he shouldn't have, as his nose was broken by the Detroit Lions in that season's opening game. He backed up Jim McMahon and Evans throughout 1983, but in 1984 he made his final start as a Bear against Seattle. Following the 38-9 loss, Mike Ditka said "good riddance" to Avellini. Drafted: 1975 (6) Started in: 1975-1979, 1984 Released: 1984 Jim McMahon, BYU: McMahon is heralded as one of the best two Chicago Bears quarterbacks in their 87-year history (along with Sid Luckman (1939-1950). Indeed, McMahon is the only Bear quarterback to be selected to a Pro Bowl in the modern era. McMahon was known for brilliant football smarts when he stepped to the line to look over the defense. His problem was not being able to stay healthy. From 1984-1987 McMahon won 21 straight regular season games as a starter. But he also missed 29 possible starts during that timeframe. Following a disappointing NFC Championship Game loss to San Francisco in 1988, McMahon was traded to San Diego. Drafted: 1982 (1) Started in: 1982-1988 Traded: 1989 Steve Fuller, Clemson: Fuller was acquired from the LA Rams via trade prior to the 1984 season to serve as insurance for the oft-injured Jim McMahon. Fuller promptly separated his shoulder in the preseason. He then played adequately in relief of McMahon from 1984-1986. He was on the roster but injured in 1987. Traded for: 1984 Started in: 1984-1986 Released: 1987 Rusty Lisch, Notre Dame: Not much to say here. Pressed into service in 1984, Lisch started against the Packers and lost. His performance was so dismal that day, Ditka had to sign an aged Greg Landry to play the final game against Detroit, which Landry won. Signed: 1984 Started in: 1984 Released: 1985 Greg Landry, Massachusetts: Landry completed 11 of 20 passes for 199 yards, 3 interceptions and a touchdown in his lone start (and appearance) as a Bears quarterback in the 1984 finale. He joined Mike Ditka's staff the following season, serving as quarterbacks coach and later offensive coordinator. Signed: 1984 Started in: 1984 Retired: 1984 Mike Tomczak, Ohio State: Tomczak was signed as an undrafted free agent in 1985. The Bears cut Rusty Lisch very shortly after acquiring Tomczak. He would get in for mopup duty in 1985, then actually started seven games in 1986 and six in 1987. In 1988, the good friend of McMahon's shared time with the veteran, starting Chicago's playoff victory in the Fog Bowl over Philadelphia. He entered 1989 as the starter, yielded to Jim Harbaugh briefly, then lost the starting quarterback battle to Harbaugh in 1990. Following that season, he was designated for Plan B Free Agency and picked up by Green Bay. Signed: 1985 Started in: 1986-1990 Designated for Plan B: 1991 Doug Flutie, Boston College: Flutie was deemed too small and short to play quarterback in the NFL. Ditka created an uproar when he started Flutie in the 1986 season finale and the playoff loss to the Washington Redskins. Flutie was traded to the New England Patriots during the 1987 player's strike, spent many years in the Canadian Football League (CFL), then found late success with the Buffalo Bills and San Diego Chargers. He retired following the 2005 season, when in his last play as an NFL player, he drop-kicked an extra point. Traded for: 1986 Started in: 1986 Traded: 1987 Jim Harbaugh, Michigan: Legend has it that Ditka threatened to quit when he was overruled in the draft room about taking Harbaugh with the 26th pick of the 1987 draft. Harbaugh was vilified at times by Bear fans, but is still the team's all-time leader in attempts, completions and ranks second to Luckman in passing yards. After Harbaugh's seven seasons in Chicago, he signed with Indianapolis where he was voted to the Pro Bowl following the 1995 season. Drafted: 1987 (1) Started in: 1988-1993 Released: 1994 Peter Tom Willis, Florida State: Like all other backup quarterbacks, Willis was a very popular backup to fans: until he played. He got his chance to start in 1992 when a frustrated Ditka benched Harbaugh. Willis played pedestrian at best, throwing eight interceptions and four touchdowns in two starts. Drafted: 1990 (3) Started in: 1992-1993 Released: 1994 Will Furrer, Virginia Tech: Furrer was a strong-armed left-handed quarterback with promise. The promise faded in his only start, Ditka's last game at Dallas. He completed 9 of 25 passes for 89 yards and three interceptions against the Super Bowl-bound Cowboys. Drafted: 1992 (4) Started in: 1992 Released: 1993 Erik Kramer, North Carolina State: Kramer would be known as one of the top three quarterbacks in Bears history, with McMahon and Luckman, if he could have done it for more than one year. Kramer piloted Ron Turner's first brilliantly successful offense in 1995, setting Bears season records for attempts, completions, yards and touchdown passes. But he was hurt in 1994, 96, and 98. His original three-year deal, inked in 1994, was extended for two more in '98, but he was cut after the first year. Signed: 1994 Started in: 1994-1998 Released: 1999 Steve Walsh, Miami: Signed as a backup to Kramer in 1994, Walsh took over after a Kramer injury and guided the team to its first playoff appearance since 1991. And its last playoff win since then. He lost the battle for the starting job in 1995 to Kramer and warmed the bench that season. Signed: 1994 Started in: 1994 Lost to free agency: 1996 Dave Krieg, Milton College: Kreig was so old when the Bears signed him in 1996 that the college he played for no longer had a football team as of that point. 1996 was his 17th season in the NFL, and he was signed strictly as a backup. With the Chicago Bears, however, that is an expectation to be playing by game five. That's exactly what happened when a struggling Kramer was lost for the season with a neck disc injury. Signed: 1996 Started in: 1996 Not re-signed: 1997 Rick Mirer, Notre Dame: Dave Wannstedt's Chicago epitaph says something about trading for Rick Mirer. Mirer's cost was a first-round pick, the 11th in the draft. He lasted one hideous, awful season in Chicago. He didn't even start the season, as Kramer was healed and Mirer looked terrible. Traded for: 1997 Started in: 1997 Released: 1998 Steve Stenstrom, Stanford: Stenstrom was one of several intriguing quarterbacks selected in the fourth round of the 1995 draft. Kansas City drafted him, then tried to quickly release him to re-sign him to a lower salary that year. The Bears jumped at the chance to steal the guy praised by Bill Walsh as a budget Joe Montana. Stenstrom was putrid in his 1998 starts, relieving an again-injured Kramer. Walsh then signed him in San Francisco and got to see how bad he was closeup. Signed: 1995 Started In: 1998 Released: 1999 Moses Moreno, Colorado State: Stenstrom was so bad that rookie seventh-round pick Moses Moreno started a game in 1998. He injured his knee, ending his career for the Bears. Drafted: 1998 (7) Started in: 1998 Released: 1999 Shane Matthews, Florida: Matthews was a third-stringer for the Bears from 1993-1995, then again in 1996, and was brought back for a third time in 1999. Following the release of Kramer, Matthews became the first starter for Gary Crowton's "razzle dazzle offense". Matthews played admirably from 1999-2001, but lacked a big-time arm. He struggled when he replaced Jim Miller following Miller's injury in the 2001 playoff game, and was not resigned. Signed: 1993, 1996, 1999 Started in: 1999-2001 Not resigned: 2002 Cade McNown, UCLA: Petulant, arrogant, smarmy, you name a few adjectives to describe the quarterback predicted to be the next Jim McMahon. Declared that he didn't drink, smoke or have premarital sex, but he was indicted for misusing handicapped parking placards. Angered his teammates so much that they reportedly threatened mutiny if he were started over Matthews in the final game of 2000. Had brief stops in Miami and San Francisco but never threw another pass in the NFL following a final completion against Detroit in the 2000 finale. Did pocket close to $20 million on his rookie deal. Drafted: 1999 (1) Started in: 1999-2000 Traded: 2001 Jim Miller, Michigan State: Miller was signed off the scrapheap in 1998 following Moreno's knee injury. He was a longshot to make the roster in 1999. He responded by throwing for huge numbers in Crowton's offense, then led the Bears to the playoffs in 2001. Almost as oft-injured as McMahon. Signed a five-year extension prior to the 2002 season, only completed one year on the deal. Signed: 1998 Started in: 1999-2002 Released: 2003 Chris Chandler, Washington: See Dave Krieg. Again, wasn't supposed to have to play for Miller. Again, had to replace Miller in week seven. Chandler was as injury-prone as McMahon and Miller, and was knocked woozy in Champaign against Philadelphia. Had to be dragged like an invalid to the medical trailer behind the Memorial Stadium scoreboard. Turned in gritty performances in 2003 in relief of Kordell Stewart, but it was for naught. Signed: 2002 Started in: 2002-2003 Not resigned: 2004 Henry Burris, Temple: Touted as the biggest surprise from the CFL since, and better than, Jeff Garcia. "Happy Hank" was his nickname. One pathetic start in Chicago is his legacy. Signed: 2002 Started in: 2002 Released: 2003 Kordell Stewart, Colorado: See Henry Burris, but with a better NFL resume. The Bears signed Stewart to a two-year deal over an available Jake Delhomme due to his experience, albeit bad experience. Finally benched for good after throwing game-changing interceptions at Green Bay, ending Chicago's dim playoff hopes. Signed: 2003 Started in: 2003 Released: 2004 Jonathan Quinn, Middle Tennessee State: Recommended by new Offensive Coordinator Terry Shea to help install his offense. Hoped to only fill mentor role. Was thrust into action when Rex Grossman blew up his knee in the season's third week. Absolutely abysmal: threw three picks and one touchdown with a 53.7 rating in 2004. Signed: 2004 Started in: 2004 Released: 2005 Craig Krenzel, Ohio State: Picked in the fifth round in 2004, ended up starting due to the utter misery that was Quinn's play. Became the starter on October 31st and won three games in a row--not bad for a rookie--but was helped immensely by his defense and poor competition. Injured on Thanksgiving at Dallas and was supplanted by Chad Hutichinson. Drafted: 2004 (5) Started in: 2004 Released: 2005 Chad Hutchinson, Stanford: Claimed off a surfboard following Rex Grossman's knee injury that ended his 2004 season. Defeated the Minnesota Vikings in his first start, looking like the answer to the Bears' quarterback problems of the past. Played very average in four straight losses to end the 2004 season. Looked to start in 2005 after Grossman's last injury, but was atrocious in the preseason. Cut. Signed: 2004 Started in: 2004 Released: 2005 Kyle Orton, Purdue: Pressed into duty when Grossman injured his ankle, and Hutchinson stunk, in the 2005 preseason. Became only the second rookie quarterback since 1970 to win 10 starts, but like Krenzel he was helped greatly by a great defense. Deserves a lot of credit for steadying the ship in 2005 prior to Grossman's return. Orton has also been installed as the third starter of the 2007 season, and has played remarkably well as the fulltime starter in 2008. Drafted: 2005 (4) Started in: 2005, 2007-2008 Rex Grossman, Florida: In 2006, Grossman became the first Chicago Bears quarterback since 1995, and only the third since 1981, to start all 16 games in a season. Alternately celebrated as a potential MVP and vilified as the team's worst problem, he led the 2006 Bears to the Super Bowl. Then generally stunk in that game. Entered the 2007 season with a goal of throwing 30 touchdowns and less than 10 interceptions, Grossman was benched after three games, then returned to start four more before suffering a season-ending knee injury. Final 2007 statistics: 4 touchdowns, 7 interceptions and a 67.1 QB rating. Drafted: 2003 (1) Started in: 2003-2008 Brian Griese, Michigan: Signed: 2006 Started in: 2007 Griese relieved Grossman as the Bears' starting quarterback in week four at Detroit. Griese put up fairly stunning numbers for a Bears quarterback, even winning two close comeback games at Green Bay and Philadelphia. But generally he played hot and cold, finishing with a 3-3 record in games he started, 3-4 in games in which he played a bulk of the snaps. Signed: 2006 Started in: 2007 Fact We've all heard the terrible story, so here's the fact. Brett Favre made his first start as a Green Bay Packer on September 27, 1992. He has started every Packer and Jet game since, through this writing in November 2008. The Bears? Since Jim Harbaugh started that week in 1992, the Bears have made 42 changes to their starting quarterback. Further Reading Starters 1979-2008 1979: Mike Phipps, Vince Evans, Bob Avellini 1980: Phipps, Evans 1981: Evans 1982: Bob Avellini, Jim McMahon 1983: McMahon, Evans 1984: McMahon, Avellini, Steve Fuller, Rusty Lisch, Greg Landry 1985: McMahon, Steve Fuller 1986: McMahon, Mike Tomczak, Steve Fuller, Doug Flutie 1987: McMahon, Tomczak 1988: McMahon, Tomczak, Jim Harbaugh 1989: Tomczak, Harbaugh 1990: Harbaugh, Tomczak 1991: Harbaugh 1992: Harbaugh, Peter Tom Willis, Will Furrer 1993: Harbaugh, Willis 1994: Erik Kramer, Steve Walsh 1995: Kramer 1996: Kramer, Dave Kreig 1997: Kramer, Rick Mirer 1998: Kramer, Steve Stenstrom, Moses Moreno 1999: Shane Matthews, Cade McNown, Jim Miller 2000: McNown, Matthews, Miller 2001: Miller, Matthews 2002: Miller, Chris Chandler, Henry Burris 2003: Kordell Stewart, Chandler, Rex Grossman 2004: Grossman, Jonathan Quinn, Craig Krenzel, Chad Hutchinson 2005: Kyle Orton, Grossman 2006: Grossman 2007: Grossman, Brian Griese, Orton 2008: Orton, Grossman

Points well made... I still think Barnes and Phillips could well be in the mix after they do their money-grab world tour and they are still out there... Moreso, I hope...

Great point! I hadn't even really thought of that angle. So much for me being an elite GM! Looks like I need some good assistants! But, to answer your thread...we need to pursue some FA's. Barnes needs to be had in my opinion. Just get it done. Phillips the FS, also need to get done. And, if he's still out there...I want to talk to jason Taylor. See what he wants and for how long. Tell him we need a teacher and motivator. We'll cut him the slack of limited practice if he can be a mentor. I know we won't do it, but that's what we should do.

And another one's gone...

Great points nfo! I really agree whole-heartedly. It's one thing to let a player go, it's another to sit idley by...