Cedric Benson, Kyle Orton Enjoying Post-Chicago Renaissance

 

Cedric Benson spent a lot of time on his back in Chicago. Now he's (statistically) the best running back in the NFL in 2009.

Cedric Benson is leading the NFL in rushing with 487 yards on 111 carries.  Kyle Orton has completed 63 percent of his passes, thrown for 7 touchdowns and his only interception went to Randy Moss.

So, how are the Bears only 3-1.  Oh, that's right.  Neither plays for Chicago anymore.

Despite said 3-1 mark to open the season, GM Jerry Angelo and head coach Lovie Smith are taking some heat for letting these two walk the plank.  Those coming from that angle have misplaced their anger.

Brandon Jacobs is among the late-round running backs to have out-produced Cedric Benson. Both were members of the 2005 NFL Draft class.

If you want to blame Angelo and Smith, just take a look at the players they missed on in the 2005 draft in which they chose Benson with the No. 4 overall pick in the first round and Orton with pick No. 106 in the fourth round.

The first round was littered with busts including Alex Smith, Troy Williamson and Mike Williams.  The jury is still out on Benson and Braylon Edwards.  Same can be said about Adam "Pacman" Jones -- but that would be a different kind of jury.

As for some of the misses, the Bears can look at Pro Bowlers such as offensive tackle Michael Roos (41st pick), linebacker Lofa Tatupu (45th pick), Nick Collins (51st pick) and stud wide receiver Vincent Jackson (61st pick).  The misses continue in the third round as running back Frank Gore (65th pick), defensive end Justin Tuck (74th pick) have panned out to be Pro Bowl players.

If you're brave enough to look at the fourth round players that have gone on to play well, continue reading.  That is where the Bears selected Kyle Orton with the 106th overall selection in the draft.  The following players came off the board in succession:

• RB Marion Barber III (Dallas -- 109th)
• RB Brandon Jacobs (New York Giants -- 110th)
  
• WR Jerome Mathis (Houston -- 114th)
• S Kerry Rhodes (New York Jets -- 123rd)
• RB Darren Sproles (San Diego -- 130th)
  

Bears draft picks that season not named Orton and Benson included Mark Bradley (39th), Airese Curry (140th), Chris Harris (181st) and Rod Wilson (220th).  The most productive player to stay on the Bears and make a name for himself was an undrafted free agent by the name of Robbie Gould.

As for Benson and Orton, there is a truly simple explanation why their stocks have skyrocketed since leaving town.

BENSON BURN OUT

Bears fans should have seen this coming.  After being drafted with the team's first round pick, Benson wept and talked the talk as he seemed primed to be the next great Bears running back.  He was coming off great years at the University of Texas, a school known for producing productive NFL backs.  Crazy.  But productive.

But Benson didn't walk the walk as he and his agent Eugene Parker engaged themselves in a lengthy hold out.  When it came to his run in Chicago, it was all about money for Cedric.  The Bears might have been better off leaving $17 million worth of singles at the doorstep of Pacman Jones.  Benson showed his true colors in the team's Super Bowl loss against Indianapolis, where Benson suffered a tweak injury and never returned.  Not because he was unable to, but because he was unwilling to. 

Then, when the Bears were willing to give him a second chance, he would have rather partied on a boat with several attractive single white females.  And his mother, of course.  The off-the-field issues and the lack of production on the field was the perfect storm which led Angelo to launch Benson to the stratosphere.

With his talent and checkered past, he was meant to be a Bengal.  The only difference with Benson now is that he wants to play football.  You can hear it in his post-game interviews, but you can really see it on the gridiron.  He finishes runs now like he did in Texas.  And he actually executes pass blocks.

Maybe he and Pacman did have a go or two at the club, for Benson is playing like someone looking for a hefty payday.

Kyle Orton couldn't beat out Rex Grossman for the No. 1 QB gig, now he's a star? How did this happen?

As for Orton, I'm still confused.

His defenders will say that he has better talent around him.  That argument will fall upon my deaf ears.

Some will say Orton is benefiting from playing with a great defense.  It's not as if he didn't play with a great defense in Chicago, who allowed a league-low 202 points in 2005 when Orton was the starter for most of the season and posted a 10-5 record as a starter.  It's not like he didn't play with talented teams either, as Orton was around for both of Chicago's playoff runs.

In the end, it comes down to this.  Orton couldn't beat out Rex Grossman for the starting QB job.  Because of that, Orton never reaped the benefits of a 13-3 season that helped catapult the Bears into the 2006 Super Bowl.  That is because at that time, Orton was not more talented than Grossman.  Look at the numbers, they might as well have been the same guy.

That is why Jay Cutler is the Bears' starting quarterback while Orton was shipped out to Denver and Grossman sent to exile.

And no one should be complaining about Cutler's play in Chicago.  He has led two come-from-behind wins against two solid NFL ball clubs as he has lived up to expectations, especially in the guts of the game in the fourth quarter.  And since the season-opening debacle, Cutler has thrown for 624 yards and 7 touchdowns (plus 1 rushing TD), while only throwing one pick.

There is plenty of football to be played this year, and there is a chance that Orton and Benson return to earth.  Benson will get his chance against the Bears in Week 7 in Cincinnati.  But unless Cutler and Orton square off in the Super Bowl, Orton's success in Denver doesn't matter to me -- nor should it matter to Bears fans.

Cutler vs. Orton Picking Up Steam After Week 4 Wins. Are Possibilities Endless?

At times, I find myself peeking on the status of Kyle Orton as if he was an ex and as if his games are his Facebook status updates.  I really do not care what Orton does for the most part, because I'm happy with my new love interest quarterback, Jay Cutler.

Cutler, again, was better than good as he creeps toward being spectacular in the Chicago Bears' 48-24 win against the Detroit Lions.  He completed of 18 of 28 passes -- two of which went for touchdown scores.  One of said TD passes was a 4th-and-1 pitch-and-catch with tight end Greg Olson after Cutler also ran in for a 5-yard touchdown, flying through the air in way that resembled John Elway's Super Bowl scamper against the Green Bay Packers in 1998.

The 121 passing yards fall about 179 short of what I expected him to do, but in the end, it's about the wins right?

And that is exactly what people said about Kyle Orton's time in Chicago and what they're saying about his 4-0 start with the Denver Broncos.

For the second time this season, one of Orton's receivers turned an underthrown ball into a game-winning touchdown.  This time, it was Brandon Marshall, who came away with a pass intended for Dallas Cowboys cornerback Terrance Newman and ran it in 51 yards for a touchdown.  And unlike Cutler, Cowboys QB Tony Romo could not pull out a game-tying score as he continues to fail miserably and fall short of the lofty expectations laid at his feet by the mass media.

If there is such a thing as a group of "Football Gods," it seems as if they are sending the Bears and Broncos on a collision course that would culminate in a Super Bowl that will be filled with more drama than Eugene Robinson's night with a hooker cop.

Don't Fool Yourselves Denver, You Still Suck

Move over John Elway, Kyle Orton is coming through.

Orton's miraculous game-winning touchdown toss-tip-catch play, combined with Jay Cutler's struggles has got Broncos fans thinking about big things.  News flash to Denver, you scored 12 points against the Cincinnati Bengals.  In more breaking news, the Bengals suck, and if you're only getting 12 points against them, I'm not sure how you'll score against a real team.

There isn't a GM in any sport that wouldn't trade Orton and draft picks for Cutler.

So enjoy this week of triumph, Broncos fans.  You'll only get this feeling three more times this season.

What Can I Say About Kyle Orton? He's Just A Winner

Pardon my snicker upon finding out that Kyle Orton threw a game-winning 87-yard touchdown pass to beat the Cincinnati Bengals.

OK, so he didn't throw it the length of the field, but hey, a win is a win, right?

Jay Cutler, Bears Prevail In Denver

Cutler: I caaaaan't heeeaaar yooouuu!!!!

If you asked any football fan who they would prefer as their starting quarterback if their choices were Jay Cutler and Kyle Orton, I'd predict that 90 percent of the poll's respondents would pick Jay Cutler.

No wonder Denver Broncos fans booed so lustily last night.

Oh well.

Denver, you're stuck with Kyle Orton, he of pedestrian career numbers which eerily resemble the dearly departed Rex Grossman.  Brandon Marshall is suspended and Knoshown Moreno is injured.  Orton claims he's got weapons he's never had in Chicago -- but it's looking now like he's a few bullets short of a full chamber.

Then there's Cutler, who bitched, babied and bullied his way out of Denver and into Chicago.  Signs are pointing upward for the Bears, and not just because their quarterback doesn't suck anymore.

Cutler saw his touchdowns and passing yards go up after his first year as a full-time starting quarterback.  And with a schedule that will include games against Detroit (twice), Cleveland, Cincinnati, San Francisco, Seattle and St. Louis, the sky might be the just the beginning (not the limit) for Cutler.

The Bears have two solid tight ends (no homo), a star-in-the-making at running back and an up-and-coming speed-burning wide receiver.  No, the Bears offense will never be confused with one of those mid-90s Dallas Cowboys squads or the Patriots from a few years back, but Chicago might actually have its offense outscore its defense once in a while.

In the end, if the Bears go on to win the Super Bowl, there is one question that desperately needs to be asked.

How much credit does Josh McDaniels deserve ... and what's his ring size?

Ortman!

Photo Credit: AP

If not for his beard, I would not have been able to tell you that Kyle Orton was the starting quarterback for the Chicago Bears on Monday night for their 20-17 overtime win against the Green Bay Packers.

Orton completed 14 of 27 passes for 142 yards with 1 touchdown and 2 interceptions and a 48.7 rating against the Packers, whose defense has as many holes as the swiss cheese many of the Packer fans hold to be holy. This is only where my problem with Bears fans begins.

There is a clear double standard here when it comes to signal caller for the Monsters of the Midway. If Grossman throws those two picks last night, Bears fans would have started an effigy with a fire that would have thawed Lake Michigan. Orton's mechanics are shotty, he stares down his receivers and he can't throw the deep ball.

Devin Hester is without a doubt the fastest player on the Bears, so there should be no reason to under throw him. Unless, of course, you're not talented enough to throw the deep ball.

Yet, Orton is embraced by many as the Jack Daniels-swigging, neckbeard owning quarterback savior.

When Rex fumbles the snap, it's his fault. When Orton does it, something is wrong with center Olin Kreutz. When Grossman can't hit his receivers, he's the worst quarterback in the world. When Kyle can't hit the same receivers, the Bears need better receivers.

Oh, and Rex kicks puppies and hates America.

To me, they're the same player. And the stats would back me on this one.

Orton (career):

• 12-6-0 (record as a starter)
• 55.2 completion percentage
• 4933 passing yards
• 27 touchdowns, 25 interceptions
• 70.7 QB rating

Grossman (career):

• 19-11-0 (record as a starter)
• 54.2 completion percentage
• 6164 passing yards
• 33 touchdowns, 35 interceptions
• 70.2 QB rating

So, I have a question for Bears fans. Where is the proof that Kyle Orton is a substantial improvement over Rex Grossman?

Don't worry. I'll wait.

Battle of Boilermakers

Did you know that Drew Brees and Kyle Orton were both quarterbacks at Purdue University?

Yep. And that's where the similarities end.

''They both went to the same school,'' Bears coach Lovie Smith said without irony when asked to compare the players. ''Both are good, smart quarterbacks that know how to throw the football. Both guys make excellent decisions.

''But I am going to say they are completely different players.''

Well, yeah.

Brees is good. An MVP candidate, kind of. He has thrown for 4,100 yards and 26 touchdowns, but the 14 picks are not pretty. Brees has an innovative offensive mind in Sean Payton calling plays to take advantage of playmakers such as Reggie Bush and Marques Colston.

Orton is "meh" to say the least. The Neckbeard has thrown for 2,414 yards 15 touchdowns and 8 picks, but in his defense, he plays in an offense whose coordinator draws plays in the sand when his high school playbook (circa 1995) is out of options. If that was not enough to hold him back, his best receiving option is his rookie running back.

So when is Orton > Brees.

Drunken montage pics!!!1!!!!!!11!!!!@!!!!!1.

But I have a feeling that Brees has his pick of the litter once Mardi Gras rolls around.

Orton 'Wins' QB competition, Bringing "Rexy Back" is a back-up option

Just in time for the 6 p.m. blog, news that Kyle Orton has officially been named the Chicago Bears' starting quarterback. Orton edged Rex Grossman and Caleb Hanie and will try to completely suck.

Where's the Hawk Harrelson audio cue when I need it, because this quarterback competition is OVA!

Kyle Orton has been anointed as the chosen one and will begin his official reign of terror Sept. 7 in Indianapolis against the Colts. Rex Grossman has been regulated to back-up duties, while Caleb Hanie will be in charge of not taking after the fools in front of him on the depth chart.

Notice in the head I put wins in quotations...I did that for good reason, so allow me to explain myself.

Winning a "competition" between Rex Grossman and a rookie from Colorado State isn't really a great feat. It's like winning a spelling competition against Dan Quayle, or winning a dieting contest against CC Sabathia. Orton's "win" in this QB derby is like being named the valedictorian of summer school.

So while Kyle will likely celebrate with guys named Jack (Daniels) and Ron (Bacardi), maybe he should take the time to convince guys like John St. Clair, Terrance Metcalf and Roberto Garza to block like the early-to-mid-90s O-lines of the Dallas Cowboys. Because if they don't, he'll spend more time on his back than Paris Hilton.

OK, enough with the analogies. The point is that it didn't matter who won the QB derby because this team has bigger holes to fill. The offensive line is just that, offensive. The wide outs are led by a very talented "rookie" and an over-the-hill Marty Booker. The running backs that are expected to be counted on are a rookie and football's version of Mark Prior.

I hope there's an incentive in Orton's contract that awards him billions of dollars for winning the starting job, he'll need it for the medical bills he'll be paying after he gets blitz to oblivion.