NFL: McNown Needs To Be McGone

Cade McNown will go into the history books as one of the biggest first round busts of all time. Everyone knows this. Everyone except of course, the Chicago Bears.

Head Coach Dick Jauron made the first step this past Tuesday naming Shane Matthews the starter for the season finale. Bears fans can only hope that McNown's bench time continues into next year.

For all the time Cade reportedly invested in the film room this past offseason, the return has been less than spectacular: 1-8 record, 7 Touchdown Passes, 9 interceptions, and a dismal 67.5 passer rating. All this from the one quarterback who was supposed to be the most prepared of the class of 1999.

As if having the team fare better without him isn't enough, going 3-3 with Jim Miller and Shane Matthews, he also has made some poor off the field decisions as well. The one thing you do not do young man, is mouth off to Bears fans. And skipping team charity functions won't endear you any faster. These are hardcore fans who believe they deserve more than a primadonna head-case of a quarterback. And what's more, they're right.

Looking back, you can't blame the Bears for going with McNown. Out of him, Daunte Culpepper and Shaun King, who could have guessed that McNown would be the one struggling the most? However, it's now been two years and there are no signs of progression. I hate to say it, but the time has come to hand the team over to Jim Miller. Use this year's draft to get a top notch running back, and you will have a comptent offense next year. The defense is young and will get better, led by rookie linebacker Brian Urlacher. The problem centers around the quarterback position. Fortunately, the answer is already under contract. All that is left is for the coaching staff to come to it's senses.