BOURBONNAIS, Ill. — Suddenly, Caleb Hanie is the most popular quarterback in Chicago.
Nothing like a good showing to make Bears fans wonder if he has a shot at playing time, even if it came in the preseason opener against a third- string defense. Hanie’s rise in popularity probably says as much about how fans feel about Rex Grossman and Kyle Orton as it does about his performance in Thursday’s 24-20 loss to the Chiefs.
“I’m just trying to get my foot in the door, trying to turn some heads,” Hanie said. “I think I’ve progressed well up to this point. I think they’re looking for me to keep progressing and show that I can become an NFL quarterback.”
But he won’t become a starter anytime soon.
An undrafted rookie from Colorado State, Hanie opened a few eyes by going 9-for-16 for 101 yards and a touchdown against the Chiefs, while Orton and Grossman did nothing to establish themselves as the front-runners in the two-man race to start.
“I’m striving to be a starting quarterback,” Hanie said. “It’s probably not going to happen right away. I realize that. I just have to keep working hard.”
He has to keep perspective, which shouldn’t be too hard for a quarterback who endured a 13-game losing streak over two seasons at Colorado State.
“That’ll prepare you well for the adversity that you’ll face in this league,” he said.
