Bears Player Preview: Brett Basanez
Published by Jake Perper on May 19, 2009
Article Source: Bleacher Report - Chicago Bears
You can read Jake Perper’s work at Bearsbacker.com: It’s THE Blog for Any Chicago Bears Fan or at Nfltouchdown.com: The Best NFL Analysis and Commentary on the Planet.
Brett Basanez is competing with 2nd year pro Caleb Hanie for the opportunity to backup Jay Cutler.
Basanez was an undrafted free agent out of Northwestern in 2006.
He was picked up by the Carolina Panthers after the draft was over and stayed with them until 2008.
He’s played in one career game, in which, he completed six of 11 passes for 56 yards and one interception for a 30.9 QB rating. He also had two rushing yards.
Basanez, whose from Arlington Heights, IL, broke many records in his days at Northwestern, including passing yards (10,580) and total offense (11,576).
Basanez ranks 13th on the NCAA’s all-time list for total offense, and 28th on the all-time list for passing yards.
He was close to becoming the only player in NCAA history with 10,000 passing yards and 1,000 rushing yards, but fell short with only 996 rushing yards in his four years at Northwestern.
These are the awards Basanez won in his time at Northwestern:
- Sporting News Freshman All-Big Ten(2002)
- Honorable mention All-Big Ten (2004)
- First-team All-Big Ten (2005)
- Big Ten Offensive Player of the Year (2005)
- SI.com National Player of the Year (2005)
Basanez will most likely be the third string QB, behind Hanie and Cutler.
Although Basanez doesn’t have any experience he is the veteran type who will know the offense inside and out. The biggest problem with him is his lack of arm strength.
Because Hanie has had a full year with the Bears, I expect to settle in nice as the #2 QB and to be a much different QB. He’s better than any free agent quarterback out there, except Rex Grossman, just kidding.
I like the Bears backup quarterbacks, they both can learn a lot under a guy like Jay Cutler.
This is what Basanez had to say, when the Bears signed him to a contract:
“If you’re from Chicago, the Bears just have this mystique about them, it’s just a dream come true. Any time you have a chance to come home, you have to jump on that opportunity.”
all quotes from chicagotribune.com
