BOURBONNAIS, Ill. — Back in March, before free agency began, both John Fox and Ryan Pace said they wanted a quarterback who could make everyone around him better. So initially, the signing of Mike Glennon — a guy with a 5-13 record as a starter — didn’t seem to fit with that “raises all boats” approach.
But in the four months since signing the former Tampa Bay Buccaneer to a three-year, $45 million contract, Fox and Pace have watched Glennon take command of the Bears’ offense with his presence at Halas Hall and motivation to work with his teammates away from the team facilities. What that means for the offense’s success in the regular season remains to be seen, but Glennon has done what the Bears hoped he would with the opportunity he’s been given.
“It’s very natural for him,” Pace said. “Whether it’s in our building, or in the meeting rooms, or it’s away from the building getting the guys together over the summer, doing things away from the building, those are important leadership traits that he has that kind of bring his teammates together. I think that’s very easy for him to do, very easy for his players to follow him.”
The Bears will hold their first training camp practice of 2017 on Thursday with Glennon as the unquestioned starting quarterback, Mark Sanchez as his backup and Mitch Trubisky — for now — a third-stringer. How Dowell Loggains and Dave Ragone split up practice reps over the coming weeks will be important to note, though, as they juggle preparing Glennon to win games while also developing the second overall pick in this year’s NFL Draft.
Trubisky will have opportunities to compete with Sanchez and win the Bears’ backup job, but anything beyond that sounds like a longshot. When asked what could happen if Trubisky exits training camp or the preseason having out-played Glennon, Pace brushed away that thought as something that isn’t being considered.
“Glennon’s here for a reason,” Pace said. “We evaluated him over the years. We’re very confident in him. Glennon’s our starter and we’re confident with that.
“This thing is going to have to play out. But Mike Glennon is our starting quarterback and I don’t think now is the time to deal in hypotheticals going forward.”
NFL
Part of why Glennon has impressed as an offensive leader is because he’s been the unquestioned QB1 since signing in March. Pace called Glennon about 10 minutes after drafting Trubisky to reassure him he’d be the starter, and during OTAs in May, Glennon repeatedly said “this is my year” in comments that left no doubt about his mindset for 2017.
“I don’t really feel like it’s hard because we’re going to have one guy, Mike,” running back Jordan Howard said when asked if having three new quarterbacks could complicate things for the rest of the offense.
Glennon understands, though, that he’ll be under a microscope not only during training camp but for the foreseeable future, with every mistake an opportunity for fans to clamor for Trubisky.
“I think I’ve dealt with plenty of situations in my past where there’s comparisons, dating back to when I was in college (at N.C. State) and Russell Wilson left, people were comparing us all the time,” Glennon said. “When Jameis (Winston) got to Tampa, I was dealing with a similar situation. I know that’s going to happen but I don’t really pay attention to it. Within the building, within the organization, we’re just trying to get better as a team. Hopefully Mitch improves, I improve. Competition makes us both better.”
Eventually, the Bears will be Trubisky’s team. But for now, this is Glennon’s group to lead. He’s said all the right things and done well to connect with his teammates.
Now, he’ll have to prove it on the field.
“It’s just what I’ve dreamed of my whole life, to be a starting quarterback in the NFL and to enter the season as that guy,” Glennon said. “It’s what I’ve worked for. I’ve prepared for it ever since I was a kid and all the way through college and into the pros to get to this moment. So it’s going to be a great opportunity.”
