Chicago Bears Have 5 Quarterbacks?
The more the merrier? This week, the Chicago Bears picked up one more quarterback in Connor Shaw from the Cleveland Browns. That gives head coach John Fox a complete handful of signal-callers on the team’s roster.
It is no secret or surprise that starting quarterback Jay Cutler‘s future in Chicago has been shaded with controversy. Whether it’s Cutler’s demeanor, injuries, interceptions or offensive coordinator departures, his job is seemingly always in question.
Despite the fact that he showed great improvement last year and his teammates rave about him off the field, at 33 years of age, Cutler is still fighting for his job while the Bears brass think that it is time to groom their future franchise quarterback.
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In 2014, Cutler signed a seven-year $126.7 million contract with the Chicago Bears, with $54 million in guaranteed money. He is just entering the third year of his contract and the hunt for a quarterback seems to be on the mind of GM Ryan Pace and John Fox.
But is that really what’s going on? Is carrying five quarterbacks on the roster to have a realistic and fair competition against all of them to see who wins the job? Or is this about grooming a future quarterback?
Well, maybe it just the need for a solid backup that can actually carry the team in the event Cutler gets hurt.
It actually can be both but with the latter as the strong argument. Last year throughout the league, backup quarterbacks had to step in and finish a game for their injured starter and the results were devastating. The Dallas Cowboys’ season was over once Tony Romo was out. Neither Matt Cassel, Brandon Weeden or Kellen Moore could save them from themselves.
How about the up-and-down performances from the Houston Texans? Brian Hoyer, Ryan Mallett, Brandon Weeden and T.J. Yates all started at one time or another and fortunately head coach Bill O’Brien did a masterful job despite the lack of continuity.
This has to sit in the back of the minds of Pace and Fox as to who can carry the team to victory if Cutler is injured or possibly benched.
The Bears picked up Hoyer to be the veteran backup for Cutler. Apparently, current third-stringer David Fales has not flashed any brilliant preseason action to give them any confidence. So now they added rookie Dalyn Williams from Dartmouth and Connor Shaw of off waivers from the Cleveland Browns and formerly from the University of South Carolina. Shaw held the best record in Gamecocks history finishing his 2013 season with a perfect 17-0 at home.
Fales was actually drafted by the Chicago Bears in the sixth round in 2014, while both Williams and Shaw were both undrafted free agents. Fales has never started a regular-season game, compared to Shaw who was the starter in the final game of the season against the Baltimore Ravens in 2014. He went 14-of-28 for 177 yards and one interception, with zero touchdowns. However, once Shaw was released by the Browns on June 30th, the New Orleans Saints tried to nab him but the Bears wound up winning the prize.
As for Williams, he is a pro-style quarterback who was pegged as a sleeper in the 2016 NFL Draft. His body reflects that of Russell Wilson, but stands at 5 foot, 10 inches yet his career at Dartmouth was stellar. He threw for 2500 yards, completed 64 percent of his passes and a 17/5 touchdown to interception ratio that is rare. He was sought after by the Pittsburgh Steelers and the Dallas Cowboys.
But one of these guys has to go because the Bears will not keep that many quarterbacks on the roster. Hoyer only signed a one-year contract so they are going to keep him as insurance. With training camp in a few weeks and preseason in August, the practice squad will need someone who will be ready. If Fales is released, the New England Patriots or the New Orleans Saints will take him in a heartbeat.
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I wouldn’t be surprised if the competition will be between Williams and Shaw for the coveted role. With some great direction and practice, Shaw may outplay them all. Let the quarterback competition begin.