The quarterbacks Chase have embarked on their quest to carry a clipboard, wear a headset and an outrageously long cape-like coat in the winter, and make a shitload of money.  A nobler pursuit I do not know.  

We’ve come a long way from this….

The halcyon days of Chasery if ever there was one.   The magazine came out just after the Oklahoma State game.  Sure, Daniel did not look great in that game, but heroes are about redemption.  Daniel just had a bad game – he would bounce back and win that Heisman.  Patton finally got the publicity he thought he’d get after thrilling Tiger fans by committing to Mizzou just before he was named Elite 11.   Yes, the Chases were somebodies.  They were cover boys, future NFL stars…. they were men not to be trifled with.  They were Mizzou.

Then some shit happened, yada yada yada, we won a bowl game, there were all-star games, yada yada yada, they didn’t get drafted.  Well, all good things must come to an end, as they say.

But, maybe the Chases have more stories to tell.  Maybe their playing careers include a come-from-behind off-the-bench playoff win or a Matt Cassell-esque season-long effort.   Opportunity has knocked for these Chases and while nothing will come easily, they’ve got their chances before dentristry and graduate assistantry. 

Let’s start with Mr. Erstwhile QB2.

He looks like a professional QB.  You have to give him that.

Tall.  Check.  Excellent arm.  Check.  Mobility.  Check.  Experience.  Uncheck.  The last meaningful pass he threw was in 2003 as a high school senior.  The comparisons to Matt Cassell are unavoidable, but let’s be real.  Matt Cassell is an outlier to the nth degree.  Cassell went to QBU and played behind talent that was drafted in the first ten picks.  The Pats took a chance with a late-round pick and stuck him behind Tom Brady.  Chase Patton is not under contract … yet.  Still, he’s not in a terrible position in Chicago.

Ever since the Punky QB graced the sidelines, the Bears have been searching for a not-terrible QB.  They believe that search ended this year.  No, not with Patton’s invitation, but with acquiring Jay Cutler.  He’s good.  But the Bears will carry three QBs on the roster.  Who are the backups with Orton now a Bronco and Rex Grossman looking for a job?

• Caleb Hanie, second year QB out of Colorado State, currently listed second on the depth chart. 
• Brett Basanez, third year out of Northwestern, currently listed third.
• Drew Weatherford, rookie out of Florida State and a fellow Elite 11 alum.  I do not believe he has signed a free agent contract yet, but like Patton, was invited to camp to compete.
• CJ Bacher, rookie out of Northwestern.  Looks like the Bears like to have local college kids around.  He, too, was invited to camp to compete.

Aside from Cutler, the Bears don’t have anyone in camp who has thrown a pass in the NFL.  Now, that’s good for Patton.  However, the other guys at least threw passes in college.  That counts for something.  I’m crossing my fingers that he makes it through minicamp and gets an extended look.   It could happen.

QB1.

Chase Daniel has signed as a free agent with the Redskins, so he’s actually got a pro contract.  That’s cool.  I was a little rough on him with the Curious Case of Chase Daniel nonsense,* but I do love the guy and everything he did for the Tigers.  Selfishly, I wouldn’t mind seeing him not make the ’skins and come back to Mizzou as a graduate assistant.  Pinkel trusts him and already gives him plenty of leeway to mentor the current Tiger QBs (hopefully, Daniel didn’t advise Blaine Dalton how to carry Hyrdocodone around in his car…) when he’s not trying to make NFL rosters.  I could see him making a nice career for himself on Pinkel’s staff. 

*It’s time to assess credit (or blame)- the whole Curious Case idea was Chet Gristler’s.  Gene Claude suggested calling Chase Daniel “March.”  You know, in like a lion, out like a lamb.  Not bad, but it was easier for me to work with Chet’s idea.

Daniel may have a chance to make the Redskins as the third-string QB.  His greatest attribute is his brain, which may come in handy as a backup.  He  needs to grasp Zorn’s offense more quickly than the competition – that he can do.  He’s also tough as hell.  His inexperience in taking the ball under center and his lack of arm strength may be his downfall.  Those things are kind of important in the League.  But, let’s say his inaccuracy down the stretch was due to an injury.  And let’s remember how ridiculously accurate he was in ‘07 and the beginning of ‘08.  If he regains that then I would not count him out.

Jason Campbell is the starter for the Redskins.  That’s probably not going to change, and if it does, it will have nothing to do with Daniel.  Sorry Chase.  Todd Collins is on the roster as the backup.  Collins’ experience makes it unlikely he’ll lose the second string job.  So, who wants third?

• Colt Brennan, second year out of Hawaii, is the main competition.  He already has a year under his belt as Zorn’s third-hand man.  At 6-3, 212, he is closer to the size of an NFL QB.  In college he showed himself as an accurate passer – extremely accurate.  Daniel’s best skill may be that impressive after all.   
• Joe Ganz, rook out of Nebraska.  I wonder if Daniel and Ganz have discussed the spitting incident or the “dirtiest team I’ve ever played” allegations.  Anyway, does Ganz have a better shot than Daniel?  Ganz is in camp trying out, but hasn’t inked a deal.  That’s a good sign.  Ganz is listed at 6-1 by Nebraska, which means he’s probably about 6-0.  The NFL doesn’t have him listed as a prospect, so there are no official height/weight numbers available.  Ganz wasn’t a great college QB, but he was a gamer and pretty tough. 

The ’skins have 4 QBs under contract right now.  Chase Daniel is one of them.  He has to beat out Colt Brennan.  It won’t be easy.  I don’t know much about what the Redskins think of Colt, but I did see him play pretty well in a preseason game last year.   If Colt gets hurt or shakes his weiner at a co-ed, Chase Daniel will have his chance.  It’s not impossible.  There’s also the chance the Redskins will decide to keep a QB on the five man practice squad which would give Daniel a chance to hang around for awhile.

A good thing about Daniel being a Redskin for now is that the ’skins have a rabid following, so lots of good information and photos from the minicamp.  This guy can’t believe Chase is stocky.  He is?  I never knew.

Ganz has the shame of not even getting a name on his jersey. 

In another report that is full of Dave Matter-esque information, the writer notes that Coach Zorn was working with Daniel on footwork.  Good – take an interest, Jim.  Remember, you were once an undersized QB to whom no one gave a chance.  You rose above it all to post a career 67 passer rating and throw thirty more picks than sixes…. 

All in all, I don’t love either Chases chances.  Chase Patton isn’t facing the stiffest competition as the Bears have no experience after Cutler, but Patton has no experience at all.  He didn’t impress in the all-star games.  He showed well in pro-days, but that’s just slow-motion practice.  Chase Daniel really only has to beat out one guy, but that guy was brought in by the current regime too.  I guess, if the Redskins are confident that Colt Brennan can serve as second-string, they could 86 Todd Collins, who is damn old (he’s my age!), and bring in Daniel as third-string QB. 

Opportunity is there.  Chases have chances to put off real world responsibilities for a little longer.  Good luck to them.