Jay OK

The Bears have a quarterback.

Just let that sink in for a moment.

The Bears.

Have.

A quarterback.

"But, doesn't every football team have a quarterback?" you might be asking. Well, in theory, yes, but the Bears have historically been quite averse to this position. If you sit down to make a Top 10 List of Bears QBs, you quickly realize that this is an oxymoron, and that you don't need that 8.5 x 11 sheet of paper you're using--a Post-It will suffice.

Okay, okay, let's be fair--the Bears had 9-time All-Pro Sid Luckman back in the 40's. He won four championships and is a Hall of Famer, but this was before the Super Bowl even existed and also before color television.

"But we had Jim McMahon! Super Bowl champion Jim McMahon!" No. He does not count. In the '85-'86 Super Bowl season, McMahon threw 15 TD and 11 Int, and totaled just 2,392 yards (20 more than Kyle Orton last year). He got the job done, but it was the Bears defense that had the team doing the Super Bowl Shuffle.

How badly did the Bears need a quarterback? Here's where their QB rating has placed in the NFL the last six years (out of 32 teams):

2008: 26
2007: 27
2006: 25
2005: 31
2004: 32
2003: 31

So Bears GM Jerry Angelo took advantage of a situation gone awry in Denver, prying Pro Bowler Jay Cutler away from the Broncos in exchange for Kyle Orton, two first round draft picks, and a third round pick. Did they give up a lot? Yes. But they ensured they will have someone with an actual arm (with an elbow, and a wrist, and everything!) under center.

Now, Jay Cutler (the Bears quarterback!) isn't Peyton Manning or Tom Brady, but he ranked 15th last year in QB rating and 3rd in passing yards (behind Drew Brees and Kurt Warner). He threw for over 4,500 yards, is just 25 years old, and is signed for another three years. He threw for 25 TD last year, though his interceptions were a bit high (18). Orton threw for 18 and 12 last year, for comparison's sake.

After adding OT Orlando Pace as well, the Bears have a solid offensive line, a good quarterback, a good running back in Matt Forte, and suddenly look like they could have a potent offense in 2009. The receiver position is still a bit lacking (Forte led the team in receptions last year), but Cutler will make them better and Angelo is considering making an addition at that position. Devin Hester automatically becomes a more significant threat because if he breaks free on a fly pattern, Cutler just might, you know, get the ball to him.

For now, if you ask me, just be happy the Bears have a quarterback who can squeeze the ball between defenders; a quarterback who can scramble out of the pocket when pressured; a quarterback who can hit some guys downfield in stride; a quarterback who has seven game-winning drives in 37 career games.

The Bears have a quarterback.