Bears on the Prowl for a Veteran Backup Quarterback

With Caleb Hanie injuring his shoulder in the preseason opener against the Chargers on Saturday night, the Bears are suddenly very shorthanded at the quarterback position.

Hanie saw extensive time Saturday after starter Jay Cutler was pulled after a successful 8 snap series that led to a field goal and staked the Bears to a short-lived 3-0 lead.  Hanie left the game in the third quarter with a shoulder injury and was seen in a sling around the campus of Olivet Nazarene on Monday.  He is confident that the injury is not too serious:

"“I’ve never missed any games, so if I have to miss a game this is new territory,” Hanie said. “I’m not worried about losing my (No. 2) job. That’s not even a worry for me. What I have is not a season-ending injury, not half-season, not even beginning of the season. I am definitely not worried about losing my position.“The MRI was just precautionary. I don’t show any signs of structural damage. I expect (the MRI) to come back positively negative.”"

After rookie Dan LeFevour’s rough debut, the Bears are on the prowl to get another arm into camp to take some reps and lend a hand.   So far, reports indicate that their primary target is veteran quarterback Todd Collins.

Collins is a 15 year vet who has spent time with Buffalo, Kansas City and most recently the Washington Redskins.  It is his experience with KC and an offense very similar to Martz’s scheme that has attracted the Bears to him.  According to Brad Biggs, the Bears expect to hear back from Collins on Tuesday.

For my money, they should be sniffing around Josh McCown, who by latest reports, is signed with the UFL’s Hartford Colonials.   McCown has direct experience playing under Martz and is a little younger than Collins and other journeymen whose names have come up.

BEAR DOWN!!!

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