This Orton's been here all along

A lot of people are going to wonder where Kyle Orton's been all these years.

And the answer is, sitting on the bench, watching Rex Grossman make mistake after mistake, waiting for a legitimate chance to play.

Now, let's not go overboard because of one preseason game, but Orton was terrific Thursday night, and he showed all the reasons we've been saying since the day he was drafted that he's going to be a good NFL quarterback someday.

Can't tell you if that day will come this year, especially with this offense, but that day will come.

Orton offered a glimpse his rookie year, and Thursday night at Soldier Field you saw the leader from Purdue who's always been able to make plays given the opportunity to make them.

You saw a QB who can step up in the pocket and make throws, a full-sized NFL QB who can wait patiently for a receiver to run a route, unafraid of getting smoked, and throwing 2 TD passes - a third was dropped - because he didn't give up on a play too early.

On the first drive, he threw a touchdown pass Grossman never would have thrown because the play took time to develop, and Grossman would have been long gone by the time Orton stepped up and fired a strike to Rashied Davis.

Orton threw a screen pass into the ground, avoiding a turnover and sack, and threw several passes that were available only to his receiver, and not the defense.

He audibled to first downs twice, looking tall and secure, and was clearly gaining the confidence of his teammates and coaches.

"I'm very pleased,'' head coach Lovie Smith told WBBM Radio's Zach Zaidman at halftime. "Kyle Orton's done a great job managing the offense and making throws when he had to.''

Again, let's not anyone lose their heads here.

Orton's not Joe Namath and this was a preseason football game against a bad team, meaning some of what you saw counts for little.

But for the Bears to have any measure of success, they need a quarterback who can take a hit and play without fear, one whose first reaction isn't to run for his life or throw the ball up for grabs.

Sadly, when Grossman entered with the first-team offense against the defense's second unit, his second pass was right to the Niners, though they dropped it, and he was booed several times.

What's new, right?

Orton, who has real NFL size at 6-4, 220, has never gotten a real chance to play here, and maybe - maybe - this will be it.

"We're off to a good start, but we have a long way to go,'' Orton told Fox-TV after he was done for the night. "The guys have a lot of confidence in me. I'm just trying to work hard, gain their respect and be a leader in the huddle.''

It remains to be seen whether this line is good enough to give him a chance, or whether the weapons around him can do enough to help.

But this isn't completely hopeless if the Bears can piece together a little bit of talent on offense.

Health permitting, they should have strong special teams and a decent defense.

They also have a quarterback, but he didn't just arrive.

He's been here all along. It's just that no one would give him a chance.

Golden tones

Congrats to the USA women for their victory in soccer. Not only was it a thrilling, overtime upset, but every girl got on the podium and sang the anthem, many with tears of joy in their eyes.

There's been a lot of U.S. gold in these Games, but not everyone has known the words to the song.

Strongest quote

U.S. gymnastics coach Bela Karolyi, on the Chinese girls: "They're good kids. Too bad they're underage and shouldn't be accepted. It's worse than doping.''

The bright side

At least those young girls have a chance to be treated like human beings in a country where it's not always the case.

Just asking

So you can have some sort of Olympic Hula-Hoop event, but no softball or baseball in 2012?

Enrico Pallazzo-ing

ESPN.com's Jim Caple: "I was hoping Usain Bolt would showboat a little more at the end of the 100 meters. You know, drop a Leslie Nielsen move from 'Naked Gun' and moonwalk the last 10 meters.''

Turn styling

From e-mailer The Last Bear Fan: "Any truth to the rumor the Bears are planning to attach turbines to their offensive linemen, using the energy to power Halas Hall?

"They could sell naming rights. How does 'The Exelon Offensive Line' sound? You know, a low-carbon road map to the quarterback.''

Best headline

Sportspickle.com: "CC Sabathia placed on 200 pitch count to save his arm for the playoffs.''

And finally-

Miami Herald's Greg Cote: "China was criticized for using a lip-syncer in the Opening Ceremonies because the girl actually singing wasn't deemed cute enough. The Chinese girl lip-syncing was 9. I believe she went on to win gold in the floor exercise."

brozner@dailyherald.com