[Be Da Bear]

I heard Tommy Waddel say on the NFL network that he thinks all three QB's will be back next year for the Bears. I don't like to think that it's true but when you look at the list of FA QB's and the draft, there is really nothing to get all excited about. Maybe all three will be back. Also looks like Benson will be on the hot seat for next season. The Bears seem hell bent on bringing in another RB to compete with him for the 08/09 season. And they should.

.main_content_well {font-size:11px;} LAKE FOREST, Ill. – While Bears players cleaned out their lockers, Lovie Smith met with the media Monday at Halas Hall to review the disappointing 2007 season and discuss the team’s plans to rebound in 2008.
The fourth-year coach conceded that a lack of stability at the quarterback position has been one of the most frustrating aspects of his job and hinted that the Bears would like to acquire a running back to compete with Cedric Benson.

Rex Grossman is among a handful of Bears players who are slated to become free agents.Smith also said that he wants his entire coaching staff to return in 2008 and would like to have every player back as well, though he realizes that some turnover on the roster is inevitable.
Last season Rex Grossman helped lead the Bears to the Super Bowl while becoming the first Chicago quarterback to start all 16 games since Erik Kramer in 1995. But a year later the familiar quarterback carousel returned as the Bears plummeted into last place in the NFC North with a 7-9 record.
With Grossman, Brian Griese and Kyle Orton all taking turns under center in 2007, the Bears started at least three quarterbacks for the seventh time in the last nine seasons.
“It’s always tough when you play three quarterbacks, no matter what the reason,” Smith said.
“When you look at the teams that consistently win, normally you’re talking about one guy at the quarterback position. We don’t have to look very far. It’s in our division what the Packers have been able to do with one guy. It makes it a lot easier.
“It’s tough when you play more than one guy, but sometimes that’s the hand that you’ve been dealt and you just have to go with it. I look forward to the day where we have one established guy that we can count on for years to come, and I just think that that’s in our future.”
Asked how to make that happen, Smith said: “You get there by just evaluating guys and giving guys an opportunity to play and eventually someone will get in that position and stay there. And the way you stay there is with good play, and also staying healthy. All those things come into play.”
Smith indicated that he would like all three Bears quarterbacks to return in 2008 including Grossman, who is slated to become an unrestricted free agent in March.
“Rex has won a lot of football games for us around here,” Smith said. “You look at how he played at the end of the football season until he came up with that injury, he is playing good football. We would like for him to come back again.”
Asked Monday if Grossman would return as the starter, Smith said: “I’m not talking about any starting positions right now. We would like for the group to come back as a whole.
“Rex has started for us and done well for us as a starter around here. But I would like for all of our players right now as we go into the offseason to feel like they have to come back in and earn their position in the starting rotation.”
Asked if he anticipated an open competition at the quarterback position, Smith said: “I think when you start a new year every position is an open position. There’s open competition. The best guy will win then. By the time we get to our first game, I would hope that there’s a clear-cut No. 1 at all of our positions by then. But that’s the beauty of the offseason.

Cedric Benson rushed for 674 yards and 4 TDs on 196 carries in 11 games in 2007.“Nothing stays the same, and we do want competition. Competition only makes you better and I would hope that we’d have great competition at the quarterback position and all positions.”
Given that philosophy, coupled with the need to improve a rushing attack that finished 30th in the NFL in yards per game and 32nd in yards per carry, it would appear that the Bears will try to bolster the running back position during the offseason.
Benson, who is recovering from a broken ankle, and replacement Adrian Peterson both averaged 3.4 yards per carry as opponents outrushed the Bears by a whopping 637 yards this season.
“We would like to get competition at all positions,” Smith said when asked if the Bears intended to acquire a player to compete with Benson. “The running back position is one.

"You just look at our production at the running back position; it wasn’t good enough. We need to improve there. But we look to improve every position always. If we feel like there is a player who is good enough to come in and help us at any position, we’ll try to bring him in.”
Smith stressed that the running backs, offensive line and coaching staff were all responsible for the Bears’ inability to mount a consistent rushing attack in 2007.
While offensive coordinator Ron Turner and defensive coordinator Bob Babich were frequently criticized by media and fans this season, Smith stood by his entire coaching staff Monday.
“We know we’ll have to do a better job, but I feel comfortable with the coaching staff we have in place right now,” said Smith, who has compiled a 36-28 record in four seasons with the Bears. “Unless there is a coach that’s moving up and has a better opportunity, I would like to see our coaching staff come back intact.”
Smith feels the same way about his players, though Grossman, wide receiver Bernard Berrian, linebacker Lance Briggs and special teams standout Brendon Ayanbadejo are among those slated to become unrestricted free agents.
“There will be some players that you would like to keep that you’re not able to,” said the Bears coach. “There is some turnover each year, and I assume we may have some turnover this year. If it was an ideal world, we wouldn’t.

"All of the players that could possibly be in that position I would like to have back. I feel like we have a good thing going here. Some of these players I’ve been around my entire time. I hope we can keep them, but we’ll just see where they go.”

[bears9]

I want Orton back just in case the QB we will draft doesn't work out, I could see bring Grossman back. But I'm not bring Griese back all he is right now is a huge cap hit.

[ThePundit]

That's insane. They need to upgrade at the position. It doesn't necessarily have to be a star. Just someone who can manage the game.

[Lefty Noob]

Originally Posted by ThePundit

That's insane. They need to upgrade at the position. It doesn't necessarily have to be a star. Just someone who can manage the game.

I think a Trent Dilfer or a Brad Johnson even would be a huge upgrade for this team, simply because their just game managers.