MelK
01-10-2003, 10:43 PM
No QB for Bears at #4...The buzz out of Chicago is that the Bears are not likely to use the 4th pick overall at the 2003 draft on a top QB prospect. Rather, the Bears are reportedly looking more at defensive stars such as Penn State DT Jimmy Kennedy and Kansas State CB Terrance Newman. The Bears had originally been thought to be interested in one of this year's elite QB prospects such as Carson Palmer of USC or Byron Leftwich of Marshall. Indeed, the early buzz out of Chicago was that the Bears might even be willing to trade up with Cincinnati to the #1 spot overall to grab Palmer. However, both Bears' head coach Dick Jauron and GM Jerry Angelo are in the final year of their deals with Chicago and may need to win right away to keep their jobs.
As such, it appears, unless of course they are blowing smoke to try and keep the price of a move up down, the Bears think they would have a much better chance to win in 2003 with incumbent starter QB Jim Miller rather than a raw rookie, no matter how talented. The Bears have an additional problem, though, and that is Miller underwent surgery earlier this week to repair a partially torm rotator cuff in his throwing shoulder and may not be available when Chicago opens camp in July.
As insurance the Bears likely will look at several second-tier free agent QBs such as Jake Delhomme of New Orleans to tide them over until Miller is 100%, if needed. At the same, though, the Bears are also likely to look for a young development QB later on the first day at next April's draft.
As such, it appears, unless of course they are blowing smoke to try and keep the price of a move up down, the Bears think they would have a much better chance to win in 2003 with incumbent starter QB Jim Miller rather than a raw rookie, no matter how talented. The Bears have an additional problem, though, and that is Miller underwent surgery earlier this week to repair a partially torm rotator cuff in his throwing shoulder and may not be available when Chicago opens camp in July.
As insurance the Bears likely will look at several second-tier free agent QBs such as Jake Delhomme of New Orleans to tide them over until Miller is 100%, if needed. At the same, though, the Bears are also likely to look for a young development QB later on the first day at next April's draft.