Bears Blitz

Kyle Orton Bears: Why Chicago Is Now the Clear Front-Runner to Land Orton

Published by Michael Dixon on November 23, 2011
Article Source: Bleacher Report - Chicago Bears

How many contending teams out there have quarterback issues? Very few.

With Matt Cassel‘s injury, you could make a case that the Chiefs qualify. But while it’s true that nobody in the AFC West has really separated, the Raiders are heating up and the Broncos are finding ways to win. If the Chargers get hot, I like them to finish ahead of the Chiefs.

So, the Chiefs aren’t likely to finish better than about third place in a division that won’t win a wild card. Orton would cost too much money and wouldn’t bring the Chiefs back to the playoffs. Not worth it.

So, that leaves the Texans and Bears, who both have suffered recent injuries to their quarterbacks. According to Adam Schefter, the Texans are about to go away.

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Logically, the Texans wouldn’t be signing another quarterback if they wanted to bring on Orton.

So, that leaves the Bears, Orton’s former team.

While Orton is a former Bear and knows some of the players, as well as the head coach, Lovie Smith, he doesn’t have familiarity with the Offensive Coordinator, Mike Martz.

With a guy like Martz, that’s a potentially huge problem. His offense is significantly different than any other.

But there’s a catch to that.

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Brad Biggs is reporting that while Orton hasn’t worked with Martz, he’s got some familiarity with the system.

In addition to all of that, Vic Lombardi is reporting that Orton himself has some incentive to go to Chicago.

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This is a natural fit for the Bears and Orton. Caleb Hanie can fill in admirably, but Kyle Orton is simply a better quarterback.

The Bears are not only a contender to make the playoffs, but are actually a legitimate Super Bowl threat. They will need steady quarterback play to get there.

Orton’s not Jay Cutler, but he is the best realistically available option. The stars are lined up perfectly for Orton to make a homecoming to the place where his NFL career began.