Oh, great! QB situation as confusing as ever

So much could happen between Sunday and September.

Ross Perot and Ralph Nader could be the nominees for president by then. A dozen full baseball teams could be named in a steroids investigation. Angelina Jolie and Brad Pitt could adopt the entire Third World, including the New York Knicks.

And Kyle Orton could become the Bears' starting quarterback.

A group led by Britney Spears and Lindsay Lohan might own the Cubs. Kenny Williams might acquire Willie Mays to play center field for the White Sox. You might be able to read about it all in the newspapers if they still exist.

And Orton might be good enough to make Tom Brady seem like Cade McNown.

Then again, the Bears' quarterback mess might be as messy as it is today.

Orton confused an issue in need of clarity by playing just well enough in the season finale for a 33-25 victory over New Orleans.

Bears head coach Lovie Smith was asked, "If you had to fill out a depth chart at quarterback today, what would it look like?"

His response was, "If I had to I know exactly what it would be … but I don't have to."

Well, that could mean unless the stars realigned along with Smith's star-less quarterback corps -- Yikes! -- Rex Grossman would remain the man if he re-signs as a free agent.

Yet the murmurs after the Bears finished the season with a 7-9 record were -- Yikes! -- Orton is in contention to be the starter.

"We believe in Kyle," offensive coordinator Ron Turner said.

Of course, substitute "Rex" for "Kyle" and the Bears would say the same of Grossman, assuming he recovers from injury.

"No," Smith snapped when asked whether the Bears might be fooled by their season-ending, two-game winning streak. "How can you be fooled by a win?"

The answer is simple: By allowing it to obscure myriad questions that must be addressed; by believing the final two games are more significant than the 14 that preceded them.

To be fair, Orton played well while connecting on some long passes against the Saints. You know, passes the coaching staff previously didn't even trust him enough to attempt.

In the process, though, Orton also completed just 12 of 27 throws, one of the misses being an uncharacteristic interception.

Orton was good enough to sneak into the starting quarterback conversation for next year. He also was ordinary enough to not settle it any more than Grossman or Brian Griese had earlier.

One theory is that if the Bears bolster their offensive line, running game and receivers, they could win with Orton, Grossman or you at quarterback.

The weapons should be better next year when Devin Hester, Adrian Peterson, Garrett Wolfe and Greg Olsen have a season's experience in their roles.

But does anybody believe yet that Orton can consistently do that? Heck, if he can, is Grossman even necessary?

"Before you know it," Smith said, "we'll be (back) out on the football field."

First the Bears' so-called braintrust must finish evaluating whether the quarterback answer is Orton or Grossman, or Orton and Grossman, or either and Griese, or none of the above.

To that end, Orton did confuse the matter more than clarify it.

Only one thing is certain as they chug toward September begins: A quarterback conundrum remains.