Bears Blitz

Published by Jake Perper on May 4, 2010
Article Source: Bleacher Report - Chicago Bears

Is veteran QB Josh McCown on his way to the Windy City? If so, would it be a good move by the Bears?

Josh McCown is an eight-year veteran, who was drafted in the third round in 2002 by the Arizona Cardinals out of Sam Houston State. He played with the Cardinals from 2002 to 2005, where he appeared in 33 games, starting 22 games, throwing for 5,431 yards and 25 touchdowns and 29 interceptions. He also rushed for 429 yards in three touchdowns in his time with Arizona.

McCown’s best season in the NFL was in 2004 when he started 13 games and threw for over 2,500 yards, 11 touchdowns, and 10 interceptions while he recorded a 74.1 QB rating.

Since 2005, McCown has played for three different teams: Detroit Lions, Oakland Raiders, and most recently, Carolina Panthers.

McCown played in 14 games over those four seasons. He only started two games and both starts came in Oakland. McCown threw for over 1,000 yards, 10 touchdowns, and 11 interceptions in his only season in Oakland.

His career QB rating is 71.4, and he has five more interceptions than touchdowns, but his 31 career starts could be his way into the crowded quarterback position in Chicago.

Caleb Hanie is entering his third season with the Bears and has had two solid preseasons, but he stepped in for Jay Cutler during the Baltimore beat-down last season and threw seven passes, only completing three and throwing an interception.

Is Hanie really a capable backup if Jay Cutler went down?

I don’t really know. No one does.

Quarterback is all about confidence, and if Hanie has the confidence, then he can be a solid backup. The other backups right now are Brett Basanez , who was basically a coach for Jay Cutler, and recently drafted sixth-rounder Dan LeFevour , who is making a transition from a spread offense to the confusing offense Mike Martz runs.

Here’s what Josh McCown told ESPNChicago.com yesterday about his interest in becoming a Chicago Bear:

“I understand right now there’s not anybody beating down my door to be a starter, so understanding that, where do you go to be in a great situation where you are a backup?

“For me, in Mike Martz’s offense and where I’m at in my career, I feel comfortable with [coming to Chicago]. The fact that Jay [Cutler] is there doesn’t affect me at all, and probably gets me more excited because you get to work with a guy that talented, and hopefully help the coaches get the best out of him.

“The commitment they have to Jay, there’s nothing you can do coming in to get on the field. So for me, my motivation would be to come in and help him be the best he can be, but also get myself ready so if anything happens to Jay, I would be able to help the team win games.”

My Thoughts:

I think McCown would be nice insurance behind Cutler, but I really like Hanie, and I want to see what he would be able to do if Cutler went down.

Basanez probably won’t make the team, and LeFevour will probably be stuck on the practice squad, so McCown has some leverage there and with the offense, because he played for Martz in Detroit.

Adding McCown isn’t a big decision for the Bears.

If they get him cheap, then it’s a solid move, but I wouldn’t be upset if they passed on him, because there is a better guy still out on the market, Marc Bulger .

Marc Bulger would be a great backup , and he would teach Jay Cutler and the rest of the young quarterbacks so much because of his experience with Mike Martz.

Bulger is a better backup plan than McCown. If they can land Bulger, then I think Bears fans would be very happy.

McCown wouldn’t be a bad pickup though.

(All quotes from ESPNChicago.com )

Jake Perper is the creator of www.BearsBacker.com and also covers the Bears for www.NFLTouchdown.com.

Read more Chicago Bears news on BleacherReport.com