Byron Leftwich is currently enjoying a playoff run from the sidelines, as the backup quarterback for the Pittsburgh Steelers. It's no secret that any competitor would rather have a starting job, and Leftwich is no different. He's even got a specific team in mind.
''We are in the playoff run right now, so I don't even want to go there, but tell them to look me up,'' Leftwich said. ''I'm a fan of Lovie Smith, I'll just say that. I thought that was where I was going to go in the beginning. I remember hoping that I would go there. I just wanted to be a part of the tradition, the history of the Bears. You're growing up, watching games at Soldier Field on TV, I wanted to be a part of that coming out. I thought there was a chance I would go there.
I have to say, I'm intrigued. I don't necessarily think Kyle Orton was the problem this past season. There were worse holes on the team than the quarterback position. Still, you should never shut the door to a potential upgrade at any position, especially when the team was only one game out of the postseason. Leftwich is not inexperienced, and he's not old. If anything, he provides better competition for Orton than Rex Grossman -- who desperately needs a change of scenery at this point.
Leftwich did have a few somewhat productive seasons as a starter for the Jacksonville Jaguars before being summarily dismissed before the 2007 season. His best season was 2005 when he compiled an 89.3 rating in his 11 starts, throwing 15 touchdowns and only five picks. He performed very well in his limited duty this season for the Steelers.
Finally, you might notice Leftwich references the 2003 draft in that quote, where he hoped the Bears would draft him fourth overall. Had they done so, instead of trading down and taking Grossman 22nd, he may have already stuck as the Bears starter. Of course, he may have already worn out his welcome. We've seen how quarterbacks seem to work out in the Windy City.
Byron Leftwich Wants the Bears to Hook Him Up With the Starting Quarterback Gig originally appeared on NFL FanHouse on Mon, 12 Jan 2009 16:15:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.
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