Sport-Blog.com

The Chicago Bears will open up their season on September 11 on the road against the Washington Redskins. If the roster doesn't undergo any significant changes in the next 11 days, then rookie Kyle Orton will be the starting quarterback. After projected starter Rex Grossman was sidelined with a broken ankle in one of the Bears' pre-season games, Chad Hutchinson was given the opportunity to assume the starting role. Hutchinson botched his chance with two poor performances, which basically forced the hand of coach Lovie Smith. Orton will be the 20th quarterback to start a regular season game for the Bears since 1990.

Orton played at Purdue University last year, where he led the Boilermakers to a 7-5 record. He showed flashes of brilliance along the way, like when he passed for 522 against in-state rivals Indiana. But he also had his problems, such as when he got pulled from the Northwestern game because he had largely been ineffectual. Orton has gotten significant playing time in the Bears' last two pre-season games, and definitely outshone both Hutchinson and veteran backup Jeff Blake. Those performances boosted Orton from third on the depth chart right into the starting job. Blake will assume backup duties. As for Hutchinson, he went from being an NFL starting quarterback to not even being on a roster or practice squad all in the span of a couple of weeks.

I have been a Bears fan ever since I can remember. I grew up watching football, and never cheered for any team other than the Bears. I have largely stuck by them through thick and thin, which has been increasingly difficult in the past 10 years or so. Gone is the Monsters of the Midway reputation. Instead, the Bears are now known as a team that consistently struggles on offense. It's a running joke among Bears fans that we know exactly which play will be called because the Bears do the same thing in nearly every series. It's no wonder that they have so many 3-and-outs in each game.

Since 1994, we've entered each season with high hopes. That year, the Bears drafter Heisman Trophy winner Rashaan Salaam, and it looked like the team was finally going to get the offensive help they needed. When Salaam failed to make a lasting impact, Bears fans waited patiently for the next big draft pick. We then watched as Cade McNown, Curtis Enis, David Terrel, and now Rex Grossman first raised our hopes, then sent them crashing back to earth. I'm not sure how much more of this we can be expected to take.

I always look forward to NFL Opening Day. Right before kickoff, you get the feeling that this just may be the year. Your team still has a chance to go 16-0 and win the Super Bowl. Every fan should have the luxury of feeling that kind of excitement. But I'm afraid that's not going to happen for me this year. As much as I want to, I can't stir up any interest when it comes to the Bears. I'm writing this season off before it even begins.