Kyle Orton Bears: Why Caleb Hanie Is Right Man to Replace Jay Cutler
Published by Brian Mazique on November 23, 2011
Article Source: Bleacher Report - Chicago Bears
Caleb Hanie deserves the chance to be the backup QB; it really is that simple. This is what you draft or sign a young QB for, this is why they hold the clipboard and sit in on film sessions. Those things are done to prepare them for this type of opportunity.
When news broke that Kyle Orton had been released, many fans and media began to speculate about Orton’s return. Now it seems, the Bears are interested in bringing Orton back.
The Bears are obviously very familiar with Orton, and the irony of having both major pieces of the Jay Cutler trade with the same team is appealing, but Orton isn’t a 32-year-old Kurt Warner.
He is a solid backup QB, that is all he has ever been and all he ever will be. He has had some nice statistical seasons in the last two years, averaging 3,727 yards passing and throwing 41 TDs to only 21 INTs from 2009 to 2010.
Orton kept Tim Tebow and Brady Quinn at bay until this year when he looked horrible and was ultimately benched for Tebow. So while it is a smart play for the Bears to claim Orton off waivers, injecting him into the starting lineup would be a mistake.
The risk outweighs the reward in this case. This would send a terrible message to the Bears’ locker room. Things like this have already come up and the issues ultimately led to safety Chris Harris being waived.
Harris was initially upset with veteran center Olin Kreutz being released and seemed to be further miffed by the acquisition of Brandon Merriweather.
What does this say to Caleb Hanie? The little bit we saw of him in the NFC Championship game last season was good and bad, but not enough to take a flier on his opportunity.
This is a business, a business of winning football games, but Orton does not give the Bears a decided advantage.
Orton is a game manager that can not make plays with his legs. Hanie is a game manager who can improvise, though he is far less experienced than Orton. The job should be Hanie’s to lose, and the leash shouldn’t be short.
Ultimately, Cutler will re-assume the starting spot as soon as he is healthy. So, Orton is going to be a rental anyway.
A rent-a-QB is not worth damaging the confidence of your young backup QB. Especially when you haven’t given him a chance to fail.
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