Mired in a four-game losing streak, the Bears aren’t going to spend time trying to figure out what didn’t work for Caleb Hanie.
Instead, they’re throwing all of their attention into making sure Josh McCown is as ready as possible to start Sunday night at Lambeau Field, his first NFL start since 2007 as a member of the Raiders. The Bears (7-7) face the Packers (13-1) and MVP candidate Aaron Rodgers on a national stage. McCown becomes the 10th quarterback to start during the Lovie Smith era and it marks the fifth time in 11 seasons under general manager Jerry Angelo the team has used at least three quarterbacks in one season.
Hanie provided the offense with a spark in the NFC title game last January against the Packers but was ineffective in losing four starts since Jay Cutler suffered a fractured right thumb Nov. 20 against the Chargers, the last game the team won. Where did it go wrong?
“Don’t know,” Smith said. “I don’t have a whole lot of time to figure that out. We’ve moved on now. We’re really excited about Josh. No more than that.”
McCown was signed Nov. 23 after the Bears failed in a bid to claim Kyle Orton on waivers from the Broncos. He’s familiar with Mike Martz’s offense and the 32-year-old knows what’s at stake with his opportunity.
“Everybody expects you just to play well, and that’s the expectation for myself also,” he said. “If I keep looking back and saying, ‘I only got here six weeks ago,’ then it becomes an excuse and you leave an area for you not to play well because you’re leaving something to fall back on. I’m trying to refuse to do that and just say, ‘You have to play well. The team’s depending on you.'”
Martz said he couldn’t say why Hanie struggled but said McCown is a better passer now than when they were together in Detroit in 2006. It’s a last-chance move as Cutler looks unlikely to return this season. The only other option was rookie fifth-round pick Nathan Enderle, who has yet to play.
“He has quite a future,” Martz said. “The problem with Nate is, Caleb didn’t have preseason a year ago, he got injured and we spent all our time with Caleb in the preseason so Nate didn’t get a whole lot of work. It’s just too much of an unknown right now. We’re trying to win so, he’ll have his time I’m sure, but right now this is our best opportunity to win.”
