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Sunday scrum: Will Bears make the playoffs with Griese at quarterback? No!
By KELLY BEATON, Courier Sports Writer
Chicago will finally make the change fans have been clamoring for when Brian Griese starts in place of Rex Grossman today. But are the Bears still a playoff team? Sports writers Kelly Beaton and Sean Hylton clash on the subject:
The Bears got a Band-Aid.
They needed a tourniquet.
No, I don't disagree with benching Grossman. After all, the former Florida quarterback's putrid play has evoked images of a young Vinny Testaverde, whom some suggested was color blind early in his career with Tampa, due to his penchant for putting the ball in opponents' hands.
But if you think Brian Griese is Chicago's cure-all, you're sadly mistaken. For one thing, Griese can't make up for the fact Chicago's defense currently resembles a M*A*S*H unit, with five opening-day starters ailing.
And, by the way, wasn't it third-stringer Kyle Orton who seemed to get the most praise from Bears players during training camp?
Let's get down to the nitty-gritty on Griese ...
First, even at his advanced age of 32, he has still never played a complete season in the NFL, hinting at durability concerns. Also, the 10-year vet has had just three seasons in which he threw more TDs than INTs. And, making matters worse, he hasn't started a game since October 2005.
Thus, he ain't exactly Dennis Eckersley, strolling in from the bullpen to save the day.
And please, ignore the fuzzy math of my counterpart, Mr. Hylton, who points out the fact Griese owns the 17th-best QB rating in NFL annals. I would also point out that Jeff Garcia (13th) and Brad Johnson (19th) are also ranked among the top 20 on the league's all-time ratings list. Those two signal-callers are hardly Hall of Famers -- heck, they're not even guys most people would want on their fantasy league team.
Griese's final blemish, which should leave the Bears stuck in the neutral zone this season, is a checkered past that strongly indicates an inability to carry himself with poise. You might remember, it was Griese who fell flat on his face -- literally -- at Terrell Davis' house in 2002, knocking himself unconscious.
That, of course, came shortly after the Michigan alum was put on 12 months probation for driving while impaired. These events occurred during Griese's prime, when he had everything to lose, yet he still couldn't muster the requisite professionalism. That's a bad sign for the 2007 Bears.
Yes, the NFC is a crapshoot. Still, I'm not betting on Chicago being around in January.
The Bears got a Band-Aid.
They needed a tourniquet.
No, I don't disagree with benching Grossman. After all, the former Florida quarterback's putrid play has evoked images of a young Vinny Testaverde, whom some suggested was color blind early in his career with Tampa, due to his penchant for putting the ball in opponents' hands.
But if you think Brian Griese is Chicago's cure-all, you're sadly mistaken. For one thing, Griese can't make up for the fact Chicago's defense currently resembles a M*A*S*H unit, with five opening-day starters ailing.
And, by the way, wasn't it third-stringer Kyle Orton who seemed to get the most praise from Bears players during training camp?
Let's get down to the nitty-gritty on Griese ...
First, even at his advanced age of 32, he has still never played a complete season in the NFL, hinting at durability concerns. Also, the 10-year vet has had just three seasons in which he threw more TDs than INTs. And, making matters worse, he hasn't started a game since October 2005.
Thus, he ain't exactly Dennis Eckersley, strolling in from the bullpen to save the day.
And please, ignore the fuzzy math of my counterpart, Mr. Hylton, who points out the fact Griese owns the 17th-best QB rating in NFL annals. I would also point out that Jeff Garcia (13th) and Brad Johnson (19th) are also ranked among the top 20 on the league's all-time ratings list. Those two signal-callers are hardly Hall of Famers -- heck, they're not even guys most people would want on their fantasy league team.
Griese's final blemish, which should leave the Bears stuck in the neutral zone this season, is a checkered past that strongly indicates an inability to carry himself with poise. You might remember, it was Griese who fell flat on his face -- literally -- at Terrell Davis' house in 2002, knocking himself unconscious.
That, of course, came shortly after the Michigan alum was put on 12 months probation for driving while impaired. These events occurred during Griese's prime, when he had everything to lose, yet he still couldn't muster the requisite professionalism. That's a bad sign for the 2007 Bears.
Yes, the NFC is a crapshoot. Still, I'm not betting on Chicago being around in January.
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