Hutchinson rides perfect wave right to the top
By Larry Mayer
November 29, 2004
LAKE FOREST, Ill. - Jeff George's ballyhooed arrival overshadowed other significant news Monday at Halas Hall, but Chad Hutchinson didn't seem to mind.
Two months ago he was surfing near his San Diego home when the Bears summoned him to Chicago after Rex Grossman suffered a season-ending knee injury. On Monday, Hutchinson was named the starting quarterback for Sunday's home game against the Minnesota Vikings.Chad Hutchinson's last game action came this past summer when he started eight contests for the Rhein Fire in NFL Europe.
"It's awesome," said an elated Hutchinson. "This is all I can ask for. Sitting on my couch and surfing two months to now playing ... Two months ago I was like, 'Man, I just want to get back in the game to just get an opportunity,' and my opportunity is here. I'm just so excited because this is what I love to do and it's another opportunity to do it."
Hutchinson started nine games for the Dallas Cowboys in 2002 and played in one contest in relief last year before being released in the offseason. A star quarterback at Stanford, he signed with the Cowboys as a free agent after spending four seasons as a pitcher mostly in the minor leagues with the St. Louis Cardinals organization.
As a rookie in 2002, Hutchinson completed 127 of 250 passes for 1,555 yards with seven touchdowns, eight interceptions and a 66.3 quarterback rating that would place him second on this year's Bears squad behind Grossman (67.9).
Hutchinson last saw game action this past summer with the Rhein Fire in NFL Europe, where he completed 126 of 207 passes for 1,356 yards with 5 TDs and four interceptions in eight games before missing the final two contests with a sprained right shoulder.
While Hutchinson has worked primarily with the scout team in practice since joining the Bears, he took all but three of the first-team reps in Monday's workout.
"We're very excited about where he is," said coach Lovie Smith. "He's learned the offense. We've gotten a chance to see his arm. We feel like he's ready to take control.
"We've seen him quite a bit going against our defense with the look squad and he really knows what's going on with the offense right now, so we just think that something really good can come out of that. He's played in the league a while; he's started games before in the National Football League, so hopefully we can get something going on that side of the football."
The Bears' fourth starting quarterback this season, Hutchinson takes over an offense that has produced just one touchdown in its last three games and ranks last in the NFL in total yards (237.3), first downs (14.1) and third down efficiency (23 percent) and 30th in scoring (15.6).
With Jonathan Quinn replacing an injured Craig Krenzel late in the first half of Thursday's 21-7 loss at Dallas, the Bears generated a season-low 140 total yards, converted just 2 of 14 third-down opportunities and never advanced inside the Cowboys' 30-yard line.
When asked what he needs to avoid after watching Quinn and Krenzel struggle, Hutchinson said: "I'm not really looking at what I need to avoid. I'm looking at what I'm going to do. It's a difference in mindset. I'm going to go out there and control the things that I can control.
"I'm just so excited because this is what I love to do and it's another opportunity to do it."
"This is the ultimate team game. It takes 11 guys working together in unison to be effective. Hopefully I can bring this offense together a little bit and get a little rhythm going out there and get some drives going. I think it's just a matter of time. If we start getting a few big plays going, it's not going to be long before we're producing like we want to produce."
That type of talk is music to the ears of a receiving corps that's been stymied since Grossman was lost for the season in a Week 3 loss at Minnesota. Starting wideouts David Terrell and Bobby Wade have not caught a touchdown pass this season and Justin Gage has virtually disappeared from the offense.
"We're definitely ready for Chad to play," said Wade, who had two receptions for 23 yards in Dallas. "He's going to throw the ball to us and we just hope for the best success for him."
"He looked good," Terrell said after Monday's practice. "He's been ready. We've all been waiting and anxious, just wanting to get out there and play. He's got an opportunity right now and I think he's going to take it and do well."
Hutchinson certainly doesn't lack confidence in his receivers.
"Let's use them this Sunday to the max," he said. "We've got a lot of talent amongst them and we just need to utilize that. I think all of them have a chance to be big-play guys. They're all unique in their own way and David Terrell is one of them that can make big plays for us. Hopefully I can get them the ball and they can make those big plays."
While Smith hasn't ruled out employing George as the Bears' No. 2 quarterback Sunday against the Vikings, the Bears coach spoke to Hutchinson about not looking over his shoulder.
"It's one of the first things I talked to Chad about," Smith said. "It's Chad's time and it's his turn to lead our team and I'm not just talking about one series. It's his job to run off with it."
Asked what he expects from Hutchinson on Sunday, Smith said: "Realistically we expect to have a guy in the quarterback position to lead us to victory (and) to manage our offense. Chad has a strong arm; he throws the ball well, he knows what's going on right now. We expect to have a productive guy at the quarterback position leading us to victory."
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George ecstatic to be back in NFL with Bears
By Larry Mayer
November 29, 2004
LAKE FOREST, Ill. - Jeff George isn't worried about the past or the future, not when the present looks so bright.
Wearing an orange No. 11 jersey, the 36-year-old quarterback stepped on the practice field for the first time with the Bears Monday morning after signing a one-year contract with the club.
"I'm just so thankful," said George, a 13-year NFL veteran who has been out of the league since being released by the Seattle Seahawks in 2002. "I was home coaching little league basketball a week ago and it's amazing how life changes in a day."
The Bears had been evaluating George for six or seven weeks and decided to sign him after rookie Craig Krenzel was sidelined indefinitely with a sprained right ankle sustained in the second quarter of Thursday's 21-7 loss in Dallas.
Chad Hutchinson will make his first start at quarterback Sunday when the Bears host the Minnesota Vikings. In a perfect world, Hutchinson will help resuscitate a punchless offense and relegate George to backup duty for the rest of season.
New Bears quarterback Jeff George hasn't thrown an NFL pass since 2001 when he was with the Washington Redskins.
It's a scenario that's fine with George, who is ecstatic to simply be back in an NFL uniform.
"I was in downtown Indianapolis for the lighting of the Christmas tree and came home Saturday night and got the call from the Bears, and boy, it was the best news I got in a long time," he said. "So whatever comes my way, I'm just so happy to be here.
"If they ask me to play, great. I'll be ready. I'll be prepared. I've busted my rear end for the last year and a half. I was hoping this time would come. If I don't play, then hey, it means we're doing well. The offense is playing, the defense is playing and we're winning games. Whatever my role is, I'm ready to take that on and just run with it."
The Bears signed George after injuries and ineffectiveness at the quarterback position crippled a once-promising offense.
After Rex Grossman started the first three games, the Bears ranked 12th in total yards and were tied for 10th in first downs. But since Grossman sustained a season-ending knee injury in a Week 3 loss at Minnesota, they've plummeted to last in the league in both categories.
Of the 38 signal-callers in the NFL who have attempted at least 90 passes this season, Quinn (53.7) and Krenzel (52.5) have the two lowest quarterback ratings.
The No. 1 overall pick in the 1990 draft, George completed 2,298 of 3,967 passes for 27,602 yards with 154 touchdowns, 113 interceptions and an 80.4 passer rating with Indianapolis (1990-93), Atlanta (1994-96), Oakland (1997-98), Minnesota (1999) and Washington (2000-01). He also spent part of the 2002 season with Seattle, but did not appear in a game.
"Given the injury to Craig, we felt that we needed a veteran and Jeff by our research was the best veteran out there," said general manager Jerry Angelo.
"It also gives us a chance to get a look at him potentially for next year, so there wasn't any real negative given our situation. He's here and hopefully he gets to learn and Chad does a real good job and all he does is gives us the depth we need in terms of a backup.
"I'm just so thankful. I was home coaching little league basketball a week ago and it's amazing how life changes in a day."
"That is the ideal situation, that he wouldn't play. We'll have an opportunity to get a look at him, get a feel for him in terms of where he is. Obviously his arm is still alive, so we'll take a look."
George has had some well-publicized sideline confrontations with head coaches June Jones in Atlanta and Marty Schottenheimer in Washington. But the former University of Illinois star insists that he's matured and won't be a distraction with the Bears.
"I'm 36 years old and if people want to harp on what I did when I was 26 years old, that's one thing, but I can just say this: I am a blessed man," George said. "I have a wonderful family and to get another opportunity to play football in whatever role I have, I'm definitely going to take advantage of that.
"I know there are people that always doubt me and doubt other people, but that's the nature of the business. I'm not any different than any other quarterback out there. That's part of the job and I understand that. But in the NFL, you need a lot of luck and timing is everything. I believe things happen for a reason."
Bears coach Lovie Smith is impressed with George as a player and a person.
"Having a veteran quarterback around at this stage with some of our young players is good," Smith said. "Jeff has been through an awful lot, which he will acknowledge to you. He's learned an awful lot from it.
"When I met him, I really got a good feel about him and where he is at this time in his life. We've had a chance to see his arm. His arm is as good as ever and he's always been known to have a great arm."
Angelo conceded that George's reputation was a concern, but the general manager's fears were allayed after conducting extensive research with those who've worked with him closely.
Veteran quarterback Jeff George met the Chicago media Monday after participating in his first practice with the Bears.
"We checked with the Seattle people, we checked with the Oakland people and our (quarterbacks coach) Wade Wilson and Jeff played together (with the Raiders)," Angelo said. "So we're very comfortable with where he's at. He's matured a great deal. He knows the situation here and he's coming in here hat in hand."
Trying to fight his way back into the league, George was working out at his old high school in Indianapolis with friends and former wide receivers. Being out of the game was extremely difficult on George and something that no doubt will stick with him as he attempts to convince the Bears that he belongs on the roster.
"Football is all I know," he said. "But I know the business and I know what it's like and unfortunately what's happened to me in the past has continued to follow me I guess. All I wanted was just an opportunity, a fair shake just like the other guy.
"To be a third-stringer, to be a backup, to have to play whatever role that the Bears want me to do, I'm willing to do that. I can't say enough how happy I am really and how thankful to be out here and get this opportunity."
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