Thread: Bears Should Check Out McNabb Now......................

I hadn't thought that bringing in McNabb was al that great of an idea until I read this article and David Haugh makes sense. All I had to read was the paragraph about McCown's problems with arm strength and accuracy to know why he's no better a choice than Collins was last year. I didn't realize McCown was as long away from the game as he has been and that what few skills he did have are now gone.

Just because we lost out on Orton doesn't mean we shouldn't have an NFL ready backup just in case and McNabb is far more NFL ready than McCown. That's obvious. Not that it makes all that much difference because if we lose Haine our diminishing hopes for the playoffs become forget it, not gonna happen with any of the three we might use as a backup. It's just that I don't ever want to see the Bears put another worthless QB like Collins on the field again. Memories of Heny Burris abound.

Screw Martz and his system. I can't wait for that system to take itself back to college ball where it belongs. Ever since it's heyday in the Rams Super Bowl year that system has failed to even get a team to the playoffs with any other team it's been tried with. Haugh is right when he says we win more games despite it than we do with it and we clearly lost one last Sunday because of it. When your star QB is questioning the lack of caution excercised by his OC in handing the job off to his replacement you know where the root of the problem lies. Nobody knows this offense and any QB's capablities to run it better than he does.

On top of all that Martz comes out saying that he was "too conservative" with Hanie. I don't know exactly what that means since Martz always talks in riddles but it sounds kind of ominous. How does a 58%-42% pass to run ratio be termed "too conservative". How was calling that screen pass on 2nd and 1 "too conservative"? Clearly Martz was trying to go for broke when all we needed was one more yard to get us four more shots at the end zone. One more lousy yard that Barber could have easily gotten and then we take a time out and set up pass plays into the endzone for the score just like we did later in the game on our last score.

Then Martz throws Hanbie under the bus and wants us to believe it was poor execution that caused the problem. The only problem with the execution was that the pass shouldn't have been thrown. Hanie executed it just the way it was drawn up in your playbook Mike! It's just that the Raider's defense executed better. Maybe you shouldn't have put an inexperienced backup in a position to have that pass jumped like that. You're upstairs and surely you can see how they're playing defense better than he could on the field. In twenty years of calling that play it's always worked inside the ten against an aggressive defense huh? Never failed to get you a TD huh? You lieing sack of shit you! Enjoy the Arizona sun Mike.

This call and the one he called for a reverse in the NFCC Game were setups for failure and Hanie takes the blame in both cases because key picks came as a result of them yet Martz takes zero blame. Not even one comment as to the fact that maybe those calls, even though they have worked before, were maybe not the right call at that moment, at that spot and the field and in the must score situation we were in at the time. You can add fire Martz to my fire Angelo list.

At the very least once McNabb has cleared waivers they should bring him in for a look see. He may be a has been but that's better than the never was that McCown represents. He's looking to be as big a joke as Collins was and you know that Martz will never admit that he's wrong about any of these guys who we bring in to fit his f'n system!!! Screw the system. Find players who know how to play football now, not guys who haven't touched one in two years.

Smith puts brakes on McNabb speculation

Bears coach Lovie Smith declined to discuss whether Bears might go after Donovan McNabb. (Getty photo)

By Vaughn McClure, Tribune reporter 1:39 p.m. CST, December 2, 2011


The chances of the Bears pursuing Donovan McNabb seem slim.

Bears coach Lovie Smith declined to discuss whether the team would put in a waiver claim for McNabb. But Smith made his thoughts clear about his current quarterback situation.

"I like our quarterbacks we have here right now," Smith said."I'm not going to start talking about guys from the outside. That should be enough for you. We have three quarterbacks here. We like them. We're anxious to play Kansas City this week."

Caleb Hanie is set to start his second game with veteran Josh McCown and rookie Nathan Enderle behind.

In other news, nose tackle Anthony Adams is doubtful for Sunday's game with a back injury. Nickel back D.J. Moore won't play as his left ankle continues to heal, although he's listed as questionable.

Vxmcclure@tribune.com

Twitter@vxmcclure23

Copyright © 2011, Chicago Tribune
chi-smith-puts-brakes-on-mcnabb-speculation-20111202

I'm not putting much stock in what Lovie says here other than the fact that we have a game to play Sunday and there's no sense in rocking the boat by stating that we have an interest. My guess is that McNabb will still be around in a week or two and if McCown doesn't work out then we can look at the alternatives.

Personally I think we should at least bring him in to see what he's got left in him. He wasn't in the best of situations playing in Minny and he does have current playing experience. My guess is that he'd do far better here than he did there.

Originally Posted by soulman

My guess is that he'd do far better here than he did there.

He could definitely improve his posture while sitting on the bench.

Originally Posted by Papa Bear

He could definitely improve his posture while sitting on the bench.

Well if we're lucky Papa that's where'd he'd stay too. I say bring him in for a tryout after this weekend is up. If he doesn't cut it it's no harm no foul and if he does then pay McCown for his week, wish him a Merry Christmas and move on.

Here's what ESPN has to say about it;

Chicago Bears Report

McNabb would be an upgrade over McCown
December, 1, 2011Dec 1
10:19
PM CT

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By Michael C. Wright


When an injury takes a team down to its third quarterback, typically it’s over in terms of aspirations for further advancement. (this will constitute the third "no shit" statement of the week)

That’s part of the reason why the Chicago Bears might be wise to put in a waiver claim for recently-released former Vikings quarterback and Chicago native Donovan McNabb. (Don't put in a waiver claim. We're low man on the totem pole already. Wait for him to clear waivers and we don't have to pick up that $1.5 mil. All he gets is a pro-rata for 5 games based on the minimum for a 10 year vet. My guess is that's about $300k)

[+] EnlargeHannah Foslien/Getty ImagesDonovan McNabb would be a much better insurance policy for Caleb Hanie than Josh McCown.


Given McNabb’s background in the West Coast offense, and his lack of familiarity with the system utilized by offensive coordinator Mike Martz, such a suggestion might seem somewhat ridiculous. But ultimately, it’s about players, not just the schemes (that's why fans can expect to see Kyle Orton replace Tyler Palko at some point Sunday when the Bears host the Kansas City Chiefs). That realistically makes McNabb a more attractive option for the club -- in the event that current starter Caleb Hanie goes down with an injury -- than recently-acquired backup Josh McCown.

No knock on McCown, but there’s a reason Chicago put in a claim last week for Orton, the former Bears quarterback, along with the Dallas Cowboys when he was released by the Denver Broncos. While a couple of days of practice aren’t a fair barometer to pass judgment, multiple sources have said McCown has shown definite signs of rust this week during workouts. That’s to be expected from a quarterback that hasn’t played in the NFL since 2009. (Of course it a knock against McCown and it should be since he hasn't played in two years. The word out of Lake Forest is he looks terrible. I smell Todd Collins v2.0 just waiting to throw four picks in a game if he ever gets to play)

McNabb, meanwhile, played six games this season for the Minnesota Vikings, throwing for 1,026 yards and four touchdowns and two interceptions for a passer rating of 82.9 before giving way as the starter in October to rookie Christian Ponder. (That's not bad play on a team as hopeless offensively as Minny. I'll take a 2:1 TD to pick ratio for a third string backup)

Whether he’s familiar with Martz’s system seems relative when compared to the alternative. McNabb, 35, would give the Bears a much better chance to win than McCown if Hanie falters. First off, playing in front of his hometown fans might serve as a major motivating factor for McNabb. Besides that, it’s important to note McNabb’s extensive experience in big games. In Philadelphia, McNabb led the Eagles to five division crowns, and played in six NFC title games, not to mention a Super Bowl. (Those are some facts you can't argue with and it may be nice to see him in a Bears jersey. We wanted to get the guy for year and he may be at the end of his days but here's a chance to come in and do some good even if it's only to provide some moral support for Hanie)

Compare that to McCown’s body of work, which involves 31 starts, 6,587 passing yards and more interceptions (40) than touchdowns (35).

McNabb is owed approximately $1.5 million on his contract. But that figure shouldn’t pose much of a problem for the Bears, considering they were willing to pay Orton close to $2.6 million over the last six weeks of the season. (And if he clears waivers we can negotiate something else for less $$$)

Sitting at 24th in waiver-claim priority, the Bears would almost assuredly encounter competition for McNabb’s services from the quarterback-challenged Houston Texans (26th) and the Cowboys (21), which are searching for a capable backup due to concerns that Jon Kitna’s back issues could knock him out for the season. (If the Cowboys put in a claim we lose out anyway so then it comes down to just us and the Texans who are also playing a four year vet much like we are. Personally I'd take the chance that he clears waivers so we don't have to pick up that $1.5 mil. With Orton I think it would have been worth it because Kubiak would have jumped at getting Orton on waivers. I don't think Houston will be nearly that anxious with McNabb)

So landing McNabb through waivers won’t be an automatic.

But not putting in the claim at all, almost automatically ends this team’s season if injury takes down Hanie and starter Jay Cutler isn’t sufficiently healed to pick up the slack. (If Hanie goes down too our goose is cooked. Even McNabb can't get in sync soon enough to avoid a loss or two and that knocks us out)

I'm beginning to think that Mike Martz is the fucking general manager. He gets everything and anything he wants just like some spoiled rich kid. I sure as hell hope that we don't resign him to another two or three contract as offensive coordinator.

I doubt anyone will jump that hard for McNabb this late in the game unless they can see a big benefit in doing it. So I think he remains on the available list for a bit. Based on the reports about McCown so far he's looked pretty crappy in practice and if tha continues for another week I think the Bears have to either consider other options of look to Enderle as Hanie's back. I don't think that would be a wise move. Just because Lovie says the QB situation is manageable now doesn't mean it will stay that way. We still have five weeks of the season to play.

Originally Posted by Dagan81

I'm beginning to think that Mike Martz is the fucking general manager. He gets everything and anything he wants just like some spoiled rich kid. I sure as hell hope that we don't resign him to another two or three contract as offensive coordinator.

I won't hang the decision to sign McCown on Martz. Orton was obviously our first choice or we wouldn't have put in a waiver claim on him. Lovie says they've been after McCown for several years although for the life of me I don't know why.