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Remaining NFL quarterback battles
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Here’s what we know. Kyle Orton and J.T. O’Sullivan have been named starters for the Chicago Bears and San Francisco 49ers respectively. O’Sullivan got the nod today and beat out last year’s starter Alex Smith, the former 2005 No. 1 overall draft choice.
In the 49ers case, the announcement is not shocking, O’Sullivan was impressive against the Bears on Thursday night and has been working with the first-team offense since the beginning of the month. Head coach Mike Nolan said “J.T. O’Sullivan will be our starting quarterback going into the season and I’m expecting him to succeed. I’m very confident J.T. is at the point where he’s our best man for the job right now.”
What this means for Smith’s future is unclear but he should start picking out the best looking sideline hat and a sturdy clipboard. In Orton’s case, the Bears really can’t lose. Rex Grossman, although leading the Bears to the Super Bowl two years ago, has been wildly inconsistent and it finally made the Monsters of the Midway go to Orton for 2008. While it could have been as easy as flipping a coin to pick who would start, Orton has actually been somewhat impressive. In the preseason, yes, I know it’s just the preseason, he has performed well and against the 49ers last week was 10 of 17 for 147 yards and no picks. His passer rating was a dazzling 126.3. Yes, that’s correct, a 126.3.
Word out of Bears camp is that Orton has showed more emotion after winning the job and has the full support of his teammates and maybe even the fans. Let’s not get nuts here, but I’m going to give Orton a chance this year. It’s tough to gauge preseason games but perhaps he can give the Bears just enough this season to ease the quarterback problems for 2008.
Now a look at the teams that don’t know who will be under center to start the season, which by the way, is less than two weeks away. I can smell the wings already. See the next entries on Arizona, Atlanta and Baltimore.
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