Bear Goggles On » Chris Simms

Brett Favre sticks it to Bears again

Boomer — Fri, 13 Feb 2009 12:41:05 +0000

Although he spared everyone the weepiness, Brett Favre announced his retirement earlier this week. My first reaction, like many fans, was “Good riddance!” Not so fast, Bears fans. As David Haugh points out here, in his retirement from the Jets, #4 sticks it to the Bears one last time.

But while we wait for Favre’s legacy to be edited predictably once again—how long before a bookmaker releases odds on Favre becoming a Viking?—Wednesday’s development immediately created a ripple effect felt in Chicago.

Without Favre, none of the three quarterbacks on the Jets’ roster— Kellen Clemens, Brett Ratliff and Erik Ainge—has played a full season. Expect the front office to be aggressive in pursuing a starter for new coach Rex Ryan. As the Bears know from seeking a veteran to compete with Kyle Orton, the most acceptable, available options are dwindling by the day.

So the already thin quarterback market just got a little thinner. Add the Jets to the long list of teams looking for help under center. For added excitement, they pick #17, one slot ahead of the Bears for anyone that thought the Bears might entertain the idea of taking a QB with their first round draft pick. With earlier news that Chris Simms favors a return to the Titans and the signings by David Carr and Luke McCown, I’m glad that Jerry Angelo finally decided to target this offseason as the right time to stabilize the QB position for the Bears. W

Chris Simms slipping away

Boomer — Wed, 11 Feb 2009 19:16:52 +0000

UPDATE: As reader Bruce correctly points out, Simms finished the season with the Titans, so they have exclusive negotiating rights with him. Jerry Angelo can only do what the rest of us can; sit around and hope Simms doesn’t sign with the Titans and enters free agency on February 27th. Thanks Bruce!

If Jerry Angelo plans to add Chris Simms to the Bears QB mix, he’d better get with it. Vaughn McClure reports in his Huddle Up blog that Simms is leaning toward signing with the Tennessee Titans. (more…)

I hope this isn’t all you’ve got Jerry

Boomer — Tue, 03 Feb 2009 23:19:19 +0000

I’ve heard the names of Chris Simms, Byron Leftwich, Jeff Garcia and even Kurt Warner as possibilities for the Bears to consider at quarterback. Instead, the Chicago Bears have signed former Northwestern University and Carolina Panthers quarterback Brett Basanez to a 2-year deal. When asked if he had any problem playing in the cold after being in Carolina the last few years, Basanez said:

“I said if they need to test me I’ll come out there in February and wear nothing but my skivvies out there if they want. I don’t care.”

No need to do that Brett; you’ll have plenty of opportunities to do so on the Bears QB merry-go-round over the next 2 years. Welcome home.

Considering Jerry Angelo claimed addressing the quarterback situation as a top priority this offseason, I was holding out hope that the Bears might actually be serious. I’m sure Basanez is a nice kid and the Arlington Heights native is certainly excited about the opportunity to return home, but hopefully this is nothing more than competition for Caleb Hanie’s as the designated clipboard holder, right? This can’t be the only move the Beloved make for a quarterback, can it? Here’s to hoping that the Bears have a something more up their sleeve.

Bears Eyeing Simms Release

beargogglebob — Tue, 17 Jun 2008 04:48:01 +0000

The Tampa Bay Buccaneers have too many quarterbacks and the Chicago Bears have a shortage with only Rex Grossman and Kyle Orton returning a few undrafted rookies trying out for the team. The Bucs have been expected to release quarterback Chris Simms for a few weeks now and the move appears imminent. The rumors around Chicago are the Bears are patiently waiting his release and may give the young quarterback a shot in a Bears uniform.

It wouldn’t be much of an improvement over Grossman or Orton but at least it offers another arm for competition in training camp. Given the lack of success at quarterback for the Bears, they are willing to take gambles to go in new directions.

This by no means indicates Simms has the potential to start in Chicago but it would be an interesting turn in events and a fresh face. Grossman appears to still be the organization favorite but they plan on giving Orton every opportunity to win the starting job.