Would David Carr be a better option at quarterback for Chicago than Rex or Greise?

Question

I tend to think Carr could still be a good QB if he had a line to protect him. Nobody has been sacked more than him over the last 4 years. Chicago's line has done an above average job and might make Carr more comfortable back there.

Answer 1

Would David Carr be a better option for the Bears?

Short answer: No.

Long answer follows if you want to know why I say no.

Would he be better overall? We can't really judge that yet. A lot of quarterbacks that started on teams with suspect lines and got their heads handed to them game after game became gun shy and never achieved much afterwards. I think Carr had the physical tools as well as the mental tools to be a success when he came out of college, providing he found a good situation. Houston wasn't it. But the Bears shouldn't sign him either.

The Bears seem content with Rex as their starter, but there is no doubt that he is going to be increasingly under the microscope this season. I think there's a good chance that Rex will end up leaving the Bears at some point in the next two years to be some other team's second or third stringer before leaving the league altogether, kind of like Akili Smith or Tim Couch. Brian is considered an above average backup, and so he may well last longer than Rex, just because he can usually be counted on for reasonably steady play. The Bears may pick up a quarterback that needs some development on the second day of the draft and let him sit and grow into the role. They might pursue Carr, but they'd be setting up a controversy if they did. Everyone knows Carr has been a starter, and there have been more than enough people disappointed with Rex that they'd be calling for Carr to start long before the preseason was over. That'd damage Rex's confidence and the coaching staff doesn't want that at all.

Right now, Rex is the man, and Brian is content to be the backup gunslinger. If the Bears get Carr, then I forsee the fan base and possibly the team developing issues with these three current or former starting quarterbacks on the roster. Controversy develops, boos and catcalls come even more frequently from the stands, the locker room gets divided, and the season goes to hell. So I don't see David Carr in a Bears uniform.

David Carr will get picked up by a team though, and he will be allowed to take a backup spot, get his game fixed, and possibly develop into a starter again. It can happen. Steve Young was once miserable and battered as the starting quarterback for the Tampa Bay Bucs. There's enough teams with strong or popular starters so there wouldn't be a controversy, and he could end up a backup for a team like the Rams, Saints, Patriots, or Chargers and have that opportunity to regain his confidence and then be a starter elsewhere. A worst case scenario would be a trip to Washington, Oakland or Arizona or another team with a suspect (or MIA) line or a hostile fan base.

Answer 2

I don't think that Carr would be better for the Bears than Grossman. Grossman just completed his first complete year, and even though he had some really bad games at times, his stats for his first full season are comparable to Favre, Elway, Aikman, and not far from Peyton Manning's in their first full seasons (look it up). That doesn't mean Rex will be as great as those guys, but what it says is that all of the arm chair QBs should give Rex a little time before calling him a bust. Although he wasn't the reason the Bears made the SB, he did show flashes of real talent. He just needs to start seeing the whole field - which only comes with time. Anyone that has played the game (at any level) knows that there is a big adjustment going through that first full season (i.e., college to pros). I think that the Bears would be starting over by bringing Carr in, but if Rex doesn't improve this season, then the Bears will have to replace him with someone.

Answer 3

I think that he could be. Houston's offensive line has always been extremely poor, and David Carr never had much time to throw the whole time he played there. Carr has physical tools that neither Grossman or Griese can match. He has a strong arm and he's also one of the most mobile QB's in the NFL. Rex Grossman just doesn't seem to be a very good decision maker, and Lovie Smith is being unbelievably stubborn in not considering a quarterback change. He's the obvious weak link on the team.

Answer 4

David Carr is very underrated. The first three seasons he had no offensive line. This last year they went 6 - 10, but some of the games could of been won if their field goal kicker made the field goals. I think Chicago would be a great place to go, since Rex is terrible, and they have a great offensive line and receivers.

Answer 5

Wow thats a great fit. I was looking for him to go to the Raiders or Dolphins but the Bears should try and pick him up. A the beginning of the season Carr lead the NFL in passing ratings. And the Bears could trade away Grossman.... to the Raiders lol and it could actually work. The Raiders need a qb with an arm. Good Call.

Answer 6

I'm sorry if you're a David Carr or a Bears fan, but Carr and Rex Grossman are basically the same quarterback in my opinion. Neither of them are really anything to wow over, so I don't think there'd be any sort of difference at all.

Answer 7

I agree. I'm not a Texans fan, but I think Carr has a bigger upside than he could have acheived with Houston. Chicago would be better off with him than Grossman, and I don't know if Griese will be any better of an option. I think the Bears would have been more competitive in the Super Bowl with a guy like Carr over Grossman.

Answer 8

Yes. David Carr is constantly being harassed and forced to do stuff he shouldn't have to do because his offensive line sucks.
He's never going to be a Peyton Manning, but I think he would be a much better qb with some decent protection - at least better than Grossman or Griese.

Answer 9

yes. although david carr has some throwing issues to deal with, as can be expected from being sacked so much. i believe david carr can be a good qb, but he will need a good qbs coach to work with him and really develop him. i do not feel that he has had a chance to develop despite his time in the league.

Answer 10

No. David Carr wasnt always consistent, but Rex Grossman isnt either, so i think that they should juss rebuild and get a new quarter back, Im a Dolphin Fan so my opinion doesnt really matters.