Orton awaiting word again

Although offensive coordinator Ron Turner said immediately after Monday night's game that Kyle Orton would remain the Bears' starting quarterback -- and coach Lovie Smith appeared to agree -- Smith hedged on that Tuesday afternoon.

"We're (still) deciding on all of our positions on who's going to start," Smith said when asked specifically about Orton starting Sunday against the Green Bay Packers.

"But some of the positive things that Kyle did … for his first game to play, it's a tough environment (at the Metrodome). I thought he made a lot of good decisions, as far as checking the ball down."

Considering 10 of Orton's 22 completions were to running backs Adrian Peterson (8) and Garrett Wolfe for a total of just 61 yards, there was some concern that Orton may have been overly conservative by checking down to the safe throws too often.

Smith said he didn't agree with that opinion.

"Most of the time, (when) you see a quarterback checking the ball down, he's taking what's there," Smith said. "Maybe the No. 1 and No. 2 options are covered. Maybe there's not enough time. That (the check down to the running back) is the outlet when the quarterback gets into trouble."

Trouble is a familiar position for Bears quarterbacks, who haven't been spoiled by excessive pass protection this season or complemented by a competent running game.

Of Orton's 22 completions (on 38 attempts) at Minnesota, none picked up as much as 20 yards. But he protected the ball, took only 1 sack and wasn't intercepted until his final throw of the night, when the situation called for a desperate heave into the end zone from 60 yards away.

"We didn't have a lot of turnovers," Smith said, "and in a situation like that you want to play just good, steady ball and not lose the game making some bad plays.

"Kyle missed some passes we would like to have back, but I thought for the most part he played -- and we played on offense as a whole -- OK, but not good enough to win."

Nevertheless, Orton's performance seemed to be more than enough to earn him the season's final two starts, based on Turner's and Smith's postgame comments.

"He showed great poise in a hostile environment," Turner said. "We, as a team, didn't give him an opportunity to have success."

Smith also seemed satisfied.

"I thought he did a decent job up until that last pass," he said. "Kyle didn't do anything to hurt himself as I saw it."

But after another look at the videotape Tuesday, Smith was noncommittal regarding the starter at quarterback Sunday at Soldier Field, when the 5-9 Bears will be attempting an improbable sweep of the NFC North champion Packers.

"All those decisions will be made a little bit later on (as) with everyone," Smith said. "We'll put the guys out on the field this week that we think will give us the best opportunity to win, period."

That's the exact same reasoning Smith used last week when he gave the job to Orton, and conventional wisdom says Orton will be under center again Sunday.

Smith's wishy-washy non-endorsement Tuesday is more than likely another ploy in the gamesmanship that is rampant in the NFL, especially at Halas Hall.

Backup Brian Griese has shown that he's exactly that -- a solid backup -- and another couple of starts won't change that.

Rex Grossman is not capable of playing with a sprained MCL, even though the Bears probably will continue to list him as "doubtful," or maybe even "questionable," a tactic they use with injured players to -- supposedly -- keep opponents guessing.

As if it matters to the 12-2 Packers who starts at quarterback for the Bears.

But, even when pressed to confirm Turner's endorsement of Orton, Smith refused.

"We'll play the guys that give us the best opportunity to win," he said. "We're not announcing any starting players, period. Hopefully I'm making that clear."

Yeah, as mud.