Kyle Orton Will Start for Chicago Bears

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Chicago Bears head coach Lovie Smith today announced that quarterback Kyle Orton will be the team’s starter when their season opens September 7 against the Indianapolis Colts. Kyle will also start this Thursday’s third preseason game with the San Francisco 49ers. It was an open competition when training camp began, but Kyle beat out QB Rex Grossman for the starting job. Coach Smith said:

“To come to a decision like that we’ve taken a lot of things into consideration: Last year, how (Kyle) finished the season … 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.”

This decision doesn’t surprise me at all. In fact, I figured Kyle would be named the starter before training camp began. I guess the Bears were holding out one final hope that Rex Grossman would develop into the quarterback they hoped he would when they drafted him back in 2003. Still, I don’t think Kyle’s a world-beater. I just think he’s the better of the two quarterbacks. Which isn’t necessarily saying that much. Stats aren’t everything, but neither quarterback has really impressed with their numbers this preseason. Not to sound like a doomsayer, but it’s almost like the lesser of two evils principle.

Kyle does have some experience. If you’ll remember back to 2005, he started 15 games as a rookie before taking the controls for the final three games last season. And he played well enough. I remember when he was a rookie, he ran a simple version of the Bears offense. Now he’s shouldering the whole load. I’m not sure that’s a good look for him, but only time will tell.

Source: NFL.com, Photo: Newscom