Return of one who got away

Return of one who got away
Never in Bears' plans, QB O'Sullivan finds 49ers niche

BY BRAD BIGGS bbiggs@suntimes.com

Three days after the Bears picked their man in the quarterback derby, they face the one that got away -- or, more accurately, the one that was told to go away.

J.T. O'Sullivan, twice an ex-Bear, is on the verge of winning the starting job with the San Francisco 49ers. The question worth asking is, what would be worse tonight in the preseason meeting at Soldier Field: a poor showing by Kyle Orton in the big tuneup for the regular season or a triumphant return by O'Sullivan, whom the Bears never seriously considered in two stints here?

The former wouldn't bode well for an offense trying to get settled 2½ weeks before the opener. The latter would be an indictment of the quarterback-evaluation skills of the team's decision-makers.

''We're not worried about perception,'' coach Lovie Smith said. ''We need to play good here. It's not based on who's coming in here. We couldn't care less who is coming in here. We need to play good, period. That will help us get ready for the Colts. That's our mind-set. It doesn't matter who it is. We need to improve as a ballclub just for that reason.''

The Niners (1-1) are following the direction of first-year offensive coordinator Mike Martz, who brought O'Sullivan with him from the Detroit Lions. He already has accomplished the most difficult task, getting a leg up on former No. 1 pick Alex Smith -- the first draft choice in coach Mike Nolan's tenure -- and a solid outing would lock down the job for him.

The Bears picked up O'Sullivan three days after Super Bowl XLI and allocated him to NFL Europa, where he earned co-MVP honors with the Frankfurt Galaxy. Upon returning stateside, he promptly was released because the Bears had an agreement with his agent that they'd let him go if he wasn't going to get a shot at making the roster. The Bears took undrafted Chris Leak to training camp with Orton, Rex Grossman and Brian Griese.

''He just wasn't a good fit at the time,'' Smith said. ''It's as simple as that. J.T. is a good player, as he is showing right now. We're happy where we are, and we're happy for him.''

O'Sullivan had his first go-round with the Bears in 2005, when he spent the first nine weeks of the regular season on the practice squad behind Orton, Grossman and Jeff Blake. Then he was snatched away by the Minnesota Vikings, who signed him to the active roster.

''J.T. can play,'' Orton said. ''He's a great guy. We got along well.''

By the time O'Sullivan arrived here the first time, he was used to packing his bags. He has completed the NFC North circuit with a stop in Green Bay and also has been in New Orleans, New England and Carolina. But he has appeared in only five regular-season games, four of them last season with the Lions, and never has started. Strictly from an appearance standpoint, it won't look good if O'Sullivan comes in and performs like a seasoned veteran.

''I'm not satisfied to be the starter coming into the third preseason game,'' he said. ''It's not a goal of mine. Everybody wants to play [and] be the guy. So we'll go from there, but this is another opportunity to play well.''

The Seattle Seahawks brought the kitchen sink and all of the appliances in blitzing Grossman on Saturday. The Bears (0-2) didn't handle the pressure, and any chance the former first-round pick had of staying alive in the quarterback competition was crushed at the bottom of a pile of unblocked linebackers. Some thought it was a little much to see in a preseason game, but the Niners also have been bringing the heat. Of their six sacks last week against the Packers, four brought down starter Aaron Rodgers.

''That was [the Seahawks'] plan in general,'' Smith said. ''They got pressure on us; we got pressure on their guys. We assume San Fran's going to do the same thing. They blitz as a defense. That's what they do.''

Asked if he would blitz to get after O'Sullivan, Smith hedged.

''Show up and see,'' he said. ''In the third preseason game, normally you put a little bit more in and do a few more things. We're just going to do what helps us get ready for the Colts.''

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