The Neckbeard Returneth

I was really hoping an athlete would get shot or sent to jail yesterday besides Mike Vick. Not because I'm a bad person, but only because I was hoping for something to write about today.

It didn't happen though, and as a result I'm stuck with what I feared. Kyle Orton.

It's ironic that the announcement that Orton will be starting for the Bears next Monday is symbolically the end of their season, yet I can't escape writing about them. I was thinking of doing an entire post about the war that I hope is soon to be waged between the Cubs and White Sox over Fuck You Dome, but I just don't know enough about the Japanese import to fill enough space.

So here I am talking about a quarterback who won't matter on a team that doesn't matter. I know I lobbied for the Bears to start Orton, but don't confuse that with me thinking he's going to do anything with the job. I only felt it was time because I figured this week is when the Bears should finally start the evaluation process for the 2008 season.

The Bears have gone from having every Sunday be a playoff game to having every Sunday be a scrimmage.

Still, as expected, Orton is looking forward to finally getting another shot after sitting around for two years.

“I’m going to let my play speak for itself,” Orton said, “and I figure if I play well and win football games, it will be my job.”

Winning football games won't be anything new for Orton. He won 10 games as a starter in 2005 as the Bears made the playoffs. It's the playing well part that's going to be his challenge.

Even though the Bears won 10 games under Orton in 05, he didn't exactly have a great season. Kyle completed only 51% of his passes for 1,869 yards in 15 games. That includes his 9 touchdowns and 13 interceptions which led to a rating of 59.7. He was so beloved by Bears fans that the loudest ovation they gave all year was when Rex replaced him in that Sunday night game against Atlanta.

“I’ve changed as a player and as a person,” he said. “I’ve matured. I’ve been in the system now for three years. I feel very comfortable with it. I think everybody around me has been in the system for three years and feels more comfortable with it.”

The hope is that it's two years later now, and Kyle's no longer a rookie. Maybe the time sitting on the sidelines watching the game has helped him figure things out. Maybe he'll have a better understanding of defensive schemes and use it to his advantage.

Maybe the offensive line will all of a sudden turn into a NFL caliber unit.

Maybe.

Most likely, it will be maybe not.



Foul Balls

Speaking Of Fuck You Dome - Kosuke Fukudome made it official yesterday, he's coming to America to play in the Majors. Fukudome has been a free agent for the last month, but up until now he had been considering staying in Japan.

Yesterday he informed his former team, the Chunichi Dragons, that that would not be the case.

"I won't be playing for a Japanese club next season, I'll play in the majors," Fukudome said. "I appreciate the fans who supported me for nine years. I hope that the fans continue to root for me when they see me playing in the United States."

There are three teams who have a clear interest in Fukudome right now. The Padres, Cubs, and White Sox. So with the way things have gone this winter, I doubt either one of those three will sign him. Somebody will come out of nowhere just like the Angels did with Torii Hunter and the Tigers did with Miguel Cabrera.

All I do know is that if the Cubs or White Sox do want to sign Fukudome, they're going to have to top San Diego's offer. The Padres are the only team who've made an official offer and according to team sources it's "one of the two or three biggest offers" in team history.

Michigan Can't Quit Les Miles - I linked to it in the High Five yesterday, and what a shocker it is. Brian Cook reported at MGoBlog yesterday that Michigan was still going after Les Miles, even after his latest contract extension at LSU, and now a day later the story is being picked up by the major news outlets.

Michigan's pursuit of LSU coach Les Miles is apparently not over -- despite the fact that Miles signed a contract extension with the Tigers last week.

Miles spoke Friday morning with Michigan athletic director Bill Martin and university president Mary Sue Coleman, according to several people with knowledge of the call, the Detroit Free Press reported Tuesday.

Miles new contract has the same buyout his last one did, and he can leave LSU for Michigan as long as he buys his way out of the contract for $1.25 million. Considering that Michigan is probably going to offer him at least $2.5 million a year to come to Ann Arbor, they'd probably be willing to pay his buy out as well.

It's either that or end up with somebody like Brady Hoke. Who? Exactly.

Wonder if they'd want to buy out Charlie Weis....

Arthur Blank Has Advice For Mike Vick - With last night's MNF game having the awesome timing of being in Atlanta the same day Mike Vick received his prison sentence, it gave ESPN something to talk about for four hours while a bad football game was played in the background.

It also gave the guys in the booth a chance to talk with Arthur Blank, who is willing to appear on anybody's television show at any time apparently, about what it would take for Mike Vick to make his way back to the NFL and possibly the Atlanta Falcons.

Lay off the fried chicken!!




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