Our readers have their say…

QB not the issue

There is only one fact when discussing who should start between Rex Grossman, Kyle Orton and Brian Griese: it doesn't matter.

The Bears didn't win 24 games in a two-year stretch because of their splendid QB play. They won because of an effective run game and a dominating defense that created turnovers and prevented long gains.

Until the defense steps up to the levels of the peak of the last two years (which they've failed to do in four of the five losses), or the running game can at least break 3 yards a carry, Joe Montana in his prime would struggle to win.

Since one of the three QB's has to be chosen, I think Griese gives us the most stability to offset Grossman's implosions, and gives us a greater vertical threat than Orton, who obviously has not proven enough to the staff yet to earn the nod.

Go with Griese, and let's get back to good old 14-10 victories.

Michael Schless

Buffalo Grove

Go with Grossman

I've always thought Rex Grossman should start because he's really a guy who hasn't had that much experience. So, although we experience the inconsistency of an inexperienced QB, he does show signs of brilliance and was a big part of our Super Bowl run last year.

I just think we have to give him a chance to work out his issues before we give up on him. Being that his contract is up this year, we need to have a better body of work to determine if he's moving forward or is always going to be inconsistent.

Mark Kirchwehm

Wauconda

It's time for Orton to play

Rex Grossman fumbled the very first snap he took. Most QB's warm up on the sidelines by passing. They warm this guy up by practicing snaps.

He only completed about half of his passes and many of the completions were not well thrown. His claim to a "comeback" was one long ball that he basically just aired out and Bernard Berrian ran under.

Anyone who thinks the Bears are going anywhere this season without an offensive line and no running backs is kidding themselves, so they need to see what Kyle Orton can do.

Angelo has proven that he can't draft offensive talent unless it falls in his lap. It has been proven that the team that loses the Super Bowl needs to make changes and not remain status quo, like the Bears did.

I have no interest in watching and will not watch a Bears team with Grossman at QB, Cedric Benson at running back and crybaby Brian Urlacher at linebacker.

Bill Hoidas

Barrington

Give Jones some credit

At least Jacque Jones played his heart out, day in and day out. Maybe the Cubs are trying to clear some salary, but what are they thinking regarding Omar Infante? He has a lifetime on-base percentage of .298. That's garbage! We deserve all the (crud) we get from Sox fans. I'm a lifetime Cubs fan, but man, they're embarrassing!

Mike Wolske

Chicago

Good riddance to Jones

I am happy that the Cubs finally got Jacque Jones off the team. I never liked the way he played for the Cubs.

He makes stupid baserunning errors, has difficulty hitting the cutoff man, seems unsound fundamentally and rarely delivers in the clutch. I never looked forward to having him bat in crucial situations ...

Goodbye, Jacque, have fun on the bench in Detroit.

I hope the Cubs end their experiment with Minnesota players. They don't fit here.

Frank J. Baron Jr.

Glen Ellyn

Jones had class, guts

I'm sad to see Jacque Jones go. I always saw him as a player who did his best, even though he wasn't well received.

Why he was so poorly received is hard to say, as he sure wasn't the worst arm I've seen in a Cubs uniform over the years. What he did in the last half of the 2007 took not only a lot of character, but also class, talent and guts. For that, I'll always admire and thank Mr. Jacque Jones. Hopefully, the rest of his career will go very well.

B. Amie

Algonquin

You're kidding me

Sad to see Jacque Jones go? That's kind of like asking are you sad that President Bush's tenure is coming to an end.

Jones never lived up to the way he played in Minnesota and was just another mediocre outfielder in the Cubs clubhouse. Sure he bailed the Cubbies out a few times later in the year, but a blind squirrel finds a nut every once in a while. We need a consistent bat and a solid fielder out there, and Jones just isn't it.

Brian Failla

Wheeling

Fukudome would be a gamble

As far as opening up cap space for the Cubs major need, a big left-handed hitting outfielder, I am in total agreement.

But the problem is that there are no bona fide, left-handed hitting outfielders on the market right now who would have more of an impact than Jacque Jones.

All of the big-name outfielders out there right now, except for Barry Bonds, who will not be in blue pin stripes come March, are righties: Torii Hunter, Aaron Rowand, Andruw Jones, Jose Guillen, the list goes on.

They could gamble with Kosuke Fukudome, but he is not a power hitter and could be a bust. Milton Bradley would be extremely attractive as a switch hitter, but he wont be able to play for at least the first couple of months of the season, and I don't know if an outfield of Soriano, Pie and Murton will keep the Cubs above water until June, especially when Pie is the only lefty.

So unless the Cubs are going to sign one of those guys and/or make a trade, they just gave up the one lefty they had who could have made a difference, unless last season was a fluke for Felix Pie.

Unless Jim Hendry has some magic up his sleeve, or is planning a blockbuster trade, I'm not sold.

Drew McGurn

Washington

Cubs must do better

I liked Jacque Jones. He was a decent player but the Cubs have to do better - both throwing and hitting southpaws.

Alfonso Soriano is entrenched in left, he should stay there. Felix Pie may not be able to hit MLB pitching if he doesn't shorten his stroke. He sometimes looks like Corey Patterson, and that is scary. Aaron Rowand would be a good fit on the North side if Pie is deemed not to fit long term plans. Torii Hunter has already stated he didn't want to play at Wrigley.

Jim Hendry would be smart to sign Kosuke Fukudome. He's a left-handed hitter, hits for good average and OBP plus he has a decent arm and good speed. What a way to fill the needs of RF and a left-handed hitter in one shot. Signing him may finally signal the Cubs get this whole "OBP" thing.

I'm not sold on Carl Crawford, especially if the Cubs have to give up good young pitching (Hill, Marmol or Marshall).

Bob Richter

Lake in the Hills

Give Grossman a chance

I say give Rex Grossman another chance. He has the ability to lead us to do great things (look at last year). He is a heck of a quarterback. People in Chicago and the NFL just expected him to be Peyton Manning right out of the gate. I honestly think that he should get the start against Seattle.

The defense looked decent against Oakland's abysmal offense. The run game really didn't do much, but we did get a rushing TD. The receivers need to get physical and make plays.

Seeing Grossman come in and lead the team to victory shows that he's been learning while looking from the sidelines and calling in plays to Brian Griese.

Benching Grossman could have been the smart thing to do to get him motivated. Kyle Orton can stay on the bench. He's a proven backup … and Griese needs to take time to heal.

Paul Elson

West Chicago

At least Grossman plays with emotion

Rex Grossman is an outstanding player and has great potential to follow in the footsteps of outstanding players such as Brett Favre, Joe Montana, etc.

Unfortunately, Lovie Smith and the rest of the Bears staff and team lack confidence, team support and passion, therefore making Grossman an insecure player. The Bears feed off one another's negative energy. Still, Grossman stayed positive and optomistic. Grossman seems to be the only Bear with emotion for the game. Thank you!

Ashtar Shamoun

Schaumburg

Orton needs reps to prove himself

Both Rex Grossman and Brian Griese have thrown interceptions. Kyle Orton can do no worse, but has two key advantages: youth and speed. When the starters stumble, send Orton in. Over time, he will get enough reps and playing time to be the starter of a winning tradition again.

Helmut Haselmajer

Roselle

Play the scapegoat

Hey, it's Rex all the way. I think he was the scapegoat for a whole team that was not playing as they should have been. I have not seen Brian Griese do anything great while he was in.

Sue Bielski

Gurnee

Sign Grossmanto a new contract

I don't think this is about inconsistencies as much as critics think. If you look at last year, especially at the beginning of the season, Rex Grossman was on his way to becoming a Pro bowl QB. He had the run support of Thomas Jones and the offensive line support. As the season moved on, the offensive line looked to wear out, which affected the run and pass. Ultimately, it affected Grossman's play. There was no time in the pocket.

As for this season, no running game and a well-below-average offensive line. Brian Griese has done nothing better than I think Grossman would have done.

Griese was a worn out bandage to the situation. I feel that if we were blessed with a Peyton Manning or Tom Brady we would have not seen much better than Grossman given the exact scenario.

Leave Grossman in there. Sign him next year, maybe to an incentive-based deal or a two-year deal. Get a free agent running back, draft a QB in the middle round.

Most important, draft and sign offensive line help.

Rick Drogosz

South Elgin

Get Grossman more help

I was impressed with the way Rex Grossman moved around in and out of the pocket, something he hasn't done much of before now.

If you surround him with players, he'll be a better QB. The Bears need to replace at least 2-3 members of the O-line, and get some better WRs. Muhsin Muhammad and Mark Bradley need to go.

I think Rex's mechanics got messed up as a result of back-to-back season-ending injuries, and it has taken awhile to get them straightened (somewhat) out.

Anne Graham

Washington

Please, not Grossman!

Am I happy with Rex Grossman. Not one bit. He's too short, too slow, and he can't receive a center snap.

I'd rather have George Blanda right now at his age quarterbacking the Bears than Grossman.

Jim Boyd

Hoffman Estates