Aug

18

Orton Wins QB Derby in Chicago; to Start Opening Day vs Colts

Posted by Matt Loede under Chicago Bears 

Orton

It looks as if the Bears will not have Rex-in-effect come opening day this season as their starting QB.  Following a rather lackluster outing Saturday night vs the Seahawks, the Bears today declared Kyle Orton as their opening day starter when they travel to Lucas Oil Field to take on Colts, passing over former starter Rex Grossman.

Orton started 15 games in 2005 and three last season. He’s thrown for more than 2,300 yards and 12 touchdowns in his career.  “To come to a decision like that, we’ve taken a lot of things into consideration,” coach Lovie Smith said. “Last year, how we finished the season, OTAs, training camp, preseason games. In the end it comes down to a gut feeling that you have. I feel good about Kyle leading our team. We have big plans.”

In 2005 Orton went 10-5 as a starter, but was helped out by a defense that kept the team in games week after week.  The team pushed Grossman back in the lineup and started him in the teams divisional playoff loss to the Panthers at home.  This time Orton thinks the outcome will be different than the first time around when he was the starter.  “I’m real excited,” Orton said. “This is obviously one of my goals going into the season. As a team, we’ve got a lot of goals to accomplish and this is just the start of it.”

Don’t be shocked though if Grossman does get playing time.  While Orton has outplayed the former number one pick so far in camp, there is no doubt that this team is going to struggle, and more than likely Grossman is going to get playing time at one point or another.


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