Orton licking his chops
Everyone loves a quarterback controversy -- except maybe the two players competing for the job, who might find it uncomfortable at best.
Kyle Orton, armed with a contract extension that puts him on equal footing with Rex Grossman, is looking forward to the opportunity.
"I'm just excited to finally get a chance to get a lot of reps in practice and compete for a job and get better," said Orton, who sat idle for two years before starting the final three games last season. "I'm more excited about the reps I'm going to be getting and just the opportunity."
The Bears have assured Orton he will have the same chance to win the No. 1 job as Grossman, and they backed that up Monday with a one-year extension similar to what Grossman got in a one-year deal late last week.
Orton gets a $1.4 million signing bonus and a $100,000 workout bonus this year, and the Bears boosted his base salary from $520,000 to $1.3 million. Orton will earn $620,000 in base pay in 2009, plus another $100,000 workout bonus.
Over the past three years, since he was drafted in the fourth round in 2005, Orton has played only when Grossman was injured. It will be a different relationship, though, when the Bears' off-season program begins and then during training camp. Orton believes their relationship will be fine.
"Rex and I have been around each other for quite a while now, and I think we've got a good relationship and we're comfortable around each other," Orton said. "I expect it to be a stiff competition. I think that's how both of us want it. I know that's how I want it, and I'm just looking forward to it."
Orton went 10-5 as a starter his rookie year, running a scaled-down offense in helping the Bears to the playoffs. He didn't play in a game again until last Dec. 17, when he helped the Bears win two of their final three games.
"Kyle finished strong this past season with the last couple of games," Bears coach Lovie Smith said. "He has played well every time he's gotten an opportunity to play."
Orton's passer rating last season was 73.9, which he said helped him heading into this year's competition.
"It made the off-season a lot easier and just left a little bit better taste in my mouth and (helped) my attitude," he said. "I'm obviously ready to get back to work and excited to compete."
Grossman finished with a 66.4 passer rating.