Bears’ need for No. 2 QB nothing new

It’s completely reasonable to wonder why the Bears have no interest in Donovan McNabb.

After all, even with no knowledge of the offense he can’t be worse than Caleb Hanie and at some point someone’s going to have to complete a crucial pass if the Bears are to make the playoffs.

Maybe Hanie will get it done in Denver, all evidence to the contrary, and the Bears can go back to their favored I-told-you-so method of communication.

But it’s also reasonable to wonder why the Bears have done nothing during the Jay Cutler era to get a legitimate backup quarterback on the roster.

And this isn’t hindsight.

The question wasn’t first asked here after Cutler broke his thumb.

It wasn’t first mentioned during the lockout, or last January after Lovie Smith insisted on playing Todd Collins in the NFC title game.

It wasn’t when Cutler was knocked silly by the Giants in Week 4 last year, or before the 2010 season.

It wasn’t even during the 2009 season, when Cutler started 16 games.

Some of us have been asking the question since the summer of 2009, wondering how GM Jerry Angelo could go into an NFL season without a genuine No. 2 QB.

To be fair, there aren’t any Hall of Famers waiting in line for that job, but you also don’t need one. You need someone who can hand off, protect the football and occasionally make a third-down throw.

With a defense like the Bears possess, you just can’t have someone throwing 3 picks a game.

Angelo could probably make the case that in most seasons and for most teams losing your No. 1 QB means your season is likely over.

But this Bears team is a perfect example of why you need a professional backup capable of the bare minimum, and it’s impossible to believe that in three years there hasn’t been one guy out there who could fill that role.

The Bears have lost two games now in large part because of terrible QB play in a season in which a playoff spot was theirs for the taking.

Two games just given away.

Granted, if Cutler doesn’t return in time for the playoffs, it probably doesn’t matter, but if they don’t get in because their backup QB couldn’t make a 20-yard throw to an open receiver, the Bears will never know if Cutler could have made it back in time to steal a playoff game or three.

Perhaps this is the week Hanie gets it done. If not, the screams for answers get louder.

So, no, this isn’t a new question. It’s been asked for three years.

I’ll sit down now and listen for my aneurysm.

Uncoordinated

In spite of so many opportunities to adjust, Mike Martz — with his repeated seven-step drops — continues each week to show why he has no business working for the Bears next year, despite his claim Wednesday that he wants to stay.

Jerry Angelo never wanted Martz, but Lovie Smith sold it, and now Angelo has all the proof he needs that a change is necessary.

It’s hard to imagine Smith — or anyone with a clear mind — being so obtuse as to believe Martz ought to be with the Bears in 2012.

Ivan Boldirev-ing

As forecast before the season, Corey Crawford is having a hard time living up to his spectacular playoff series vs. Vancouver and a new contract to boot. A drop-off from that level of play was not at all unexpected.

But despite being pulled from the last game, and Ray Emery’s start on the Island Thursday, Crawford is still the clear No. 1 and will get his game together eventually.

He doesn’t have to be as good as he was against the Canucks, but he does have to be better than he’s been lately and a couple of days off with some goalie coaching assistance ought to help.

The quote

Steve Young on Tim Tebow: “I learned the hard way what the job in the NFL was. It wasn’t natural to me and I liked to just run around and make plays. But it’s not championship football. It can be winning football, but it’s not championship football.”

Best tweet

TheFakeESPN: “If concussions are tornadoes, Sidney Crosby is the trailer park.”

Best headline

Sportspickle.com: “Marlins hoping to regularly sell out new 74-seat stadium.”

And finally …

Omaha World-Herald’s Brad Dickson: “Carl Lewis is running for U.S. Congress. He’s combining the two least popular things with the American public — Congress and track and field.”

brozner@dailyherald.com

ŸHear Barry Rozner on WSCR 670-AM and follow him @BarryRozner on Twitter.