Quarterback is the Bears’ most obvious need. With the fourth pick in the draft, taking a quarterback is the most obvious strategy.
It is also the least likely course general manager Jerry Angelo appears ready to take.
“I’m committed to wanting to get a quarterback,” he said. “Is it with the fourth pick of the draft? I’m not going to commit to that.”
The convergence of need and opportunity would seem to make this a no-brainer April 26 decision for Angelo, especially with at least two quarterbacks of fine repute–USC’s Carson Palmer and Marshall’s Byron Leftwich–on the board.
But Angelo sounds like he already has talked himself out of that route, at least as a first option. By the draft, the Bears will have signed at least one free-agent quarterback, which significantly could change draft need. Trading down to add picks in a draft with only one so-called can’t-miss prospect, Michigan State receiver Charles Rogers, probably would be Angelo’s ideal circumstance.
Angelo keeps close track of NFL history, especially his own, and he has noticed the success rate for quarterbacks drafted high is underwhelming.
“It’s hard to anticipate a rookie coming in here hitting the ground running,” Angelo said.
Twice during Angelo’s 15 years at Tampa Bay, the Bucs spent high first-round picks on quarterbacks (Vinny Testaverde, first overall, and Trent Dilfer, sixth overall) only to see them play better after they left. A third time, the Bucs traded their first-round pick for Chris Chandler, only to have coach Ray Perkins ignore him. No wonder Angelo wanted to salvage something and sign Chandler a decade later.
Angelo signed a free-agent veteran, Brad Johnson, and watched him win the Super Bowl after Angelo left the Bucs. That gives the Bears even more reason to explore alternatives to a fourth-pick quarterback who may or may not be special. Leading into the scouting-combine workouts that begin Tuesday in Indianapolis and individual workouts to follow, there is no overwhelming consensus that Palmer or Leftwich is absolutely superior to Florida’s Rex Grossman or even Cal’s Kyle Boller.
Angelo saw one of his second-round quarterbacks, Shaun King, take the Bucs to the NFC title game as a rookie. Rather, he watched King take a ride on the back of a great defense, a distinction well worth noting.
Angelo says, “We’ve created our plan.” It is as yet unannounced because it resembles an unfinished math formula. It involves a combination of free agency, trade possibilities, draft scenarios, crossed fingers and even the bizarre though unlikely notion that the Bears could end up with Jim Miller, Chandler and Henry Burris because those are the only birds in Angelo’s hands.
The parts of the plan are interdependent. Free agency will be explored first, trades a distant second, but only because trades can be made before the draft.
“I’m not ruling [a trade] out, but that would be the [last] thing I would want to do,” Angelo said.
There are three types of free-agent quarterbacks: starters, potential starters and strictly stopgaps. No matter which kind arrives, Angelo will feel no urgency to spend his fourth pick on a quarterback just because he needs one.
As much as Angelo realizes he cannot count on any of the quarterbacks on his roster, particularly long term, he has to feel in the back of his mind that the resilient Miller again will be there when the 2003 training camp whistle blows. After all, he played last year despite a torn rotator cuff.
As desperate as the quarterback situation is, what’s really new? The Bears have been undermanned at quarterback for most of their 83-year existence. The last thing Angelo wants to guarantee is that he can fix right now what’s perennially broken.
“We’re not looking for the perfect guy,” Angelo said. “That guy is not out there.”
Take that any way you like–it’s either experience speaking or a scouting report on Palmer and Leftwich.
Quarterback market: These are the veteran quarterbacks likely to be available, their most recent teams and career starts. They are ranked in order of possibilities for the Bears.
1. Jake Delhomme, New Orleans, 2. Least experienced but most upside of any free agent if he can be convinced that Bears have more upside than, say, Baltimore.
“He’s ready to be handed a job,” said a personnel man from an AFC team.
“We have two [scouts] here who love him,” said a personnel man from an NFC team.
2. Charlie Batch, Pittsburgh, 46. Failure in Detroit is not necessarily a disqualifier. Wants another shot at starting. Got hurt often, but threw more touchdown passes than interceptions, which is more than Jake Plummer can say.
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3. Plummer, Arizona, 82. Winner of the Ugly Contest. The so-called most appealing, or at least most famous, of an average lot. Also the most expensive. Would demand to start. But if Bears strike out on first two, they might take a shot.
4. Shaun King, Tampa Bay, 22. Angelo drafted him and knows strengths and limitations. Could serve as decent bridge if nothing else. A winner and leader.
5. Kordell Stewart, Pittsburgh, 80. Like Plummer, he would demand starting job, but without as much leverage or cost. Must be carefully managed and fit into a system. Coaching would be key.
6. A.J. Feeley, Philadelphia, 5. Bears pro scout Bobby DePaul worked for Eagles when he was drafted. Would cost a draft choice, but if other options fail, worth the inquiry.
7. Todd Bouman, Minnesota, 3. Buried in Minnesota but ready for a look. Considering Super Bowl quarterbacks Brad Johnson and Rich Gannon started with the Vikings, why not?
8. Brian Griese, Denver, 51. Broncos have given up, but he’ll get another chance somewhere. Arm, health remain questions.
9. Elvis Grbac, Baltimore (2001), 70. Intriguing but strictly a stopgap after “retiring” when he was under pressure with Ravens.
10. Jeff Blake, Baltimore, 87. Getting desperate now, but he has shown flashes with three teams.
Angelo has vowed to leave no stone unturned. There is no shortage of quarterbacks living under rocks. Among other possibilities:
Gus Frerotte, Cincinnati, 62; Akili Smith, Cincinnati, 17; Tim Couch, Cleveland, 51; Tony Banks, Houston, 75; Kent Graham, Jacksonville, 38; Doug Flutie, San Diego, 60; Doug Johnson, Atlanta, 3; Chris Weinke, Carolina, 16; Rob Johnson, Tampa Bay, 29; Dave Brown, Arizona (2001), 60.
Still others: Angelo has a theory that number of games played is more important than the won-loss record in assessing a retread quarterback. But he said that wouldn’t preclude an untested prospect like Delhomme.
Two non-starting quarterbacks with more experience than most are Testaverde and Dilfer, but the New York Jets can’t afford the salary-cap hit of dumping Testaverde and the Seattle Seahawks need Dilfer as protection behind Matt Hasselbeck.
Likewise, Rodney Peete has as good a chance to stay in Carolina and start as he does of coming to Chicago and starting. Jeff George, who caught on with Seattle, is one of the few players in whom Bears coach Dick Jauron ever publicly expressed no interest.
Two inexperienced prospects, Quincy Carter and Mike McMahon, appear set to remain in Dallas and Detroit, respectively. Koy Detmer is happy to stay in Philadelphia. The St. Louis Rams can’t afford to let Marc Bulger go. Danny Wuerffel, Shane Matthews and Rick Mirer already have been through Chicago.
Ray of light: Baltimore linebacker Ray Lewis, recovering from shoulder surgery, said he is angrily motivated to come back and take the defensive-player-of-the-year award from Tampa Bay linebacker Derrick Brooks. Lewis also said he’s looking forward to being coached by Mike Singletary.
“I sort of tailored my game after him,” Lewis said. “Mike is a great role model to me. To have him on my side is a great asset. What he brings is one or two things I don’t have. Do I know what they are? No. But even if it’s about life, about being a man, I can use it.”