Bears Demote Mirer To No. 3 Quarterback
Nine days ago, Chicago Bears coach Dave Wannstedt said his plan was for Rick Mirer to be the starting quarterback the rest of the season.
On Sunday, he yanked him at halftime during a loss to New Orleans. On Monday, Mirer lost his starting job to Erik Kramer. And on Wednesday, Mirer was demoted to No. 3 behind Steve Stenstrom, who’s thrown four passes in his NFL career.
“Yeah, I’m upset,” Mirer said. “I want to throw chairs through windows, but that’s not going to solve anything. I need to play better. Hopefully things that are told to me happen. That’s all I ask for.”
Mirer, acquired from Seattle in a trade that cost the Bears a first-round draft pick, has a three-year, $10 million contract. But he’s been struggling and hasn’t generated a touchdown in his three starts this season.
Mirer was not pleased when he was benched in the second half of the 20-17 loss to the Saints because he thought Wannstedt was going to stick with him.
“He said that and I think he meant that, but it didn’t happen,” Mirer said. “It’s a game where we could win this thing, get over a hump and make some strides. You’d like to last that long and get that far. In and out is no fun either.
“That’s what happened again. I was upset, I’m mad and frustrated, but I’m not going to let that affect anybody else because that doesn’t help us win.”
Before finding out he was now No. 3, Mirer said he was unhappy with a lack of information from the coaching staff on how he would be used.
“I wish the communication was a little better. I’d like to know exactly where I stand instead of hearing it through the grapevine,” he said.
Kanell gets big chance
Danny Kanell is getting more than just a chance to fill in for the injured Dave Brown as the New York Giants’ starting quarterback against the Arizona Cardinals on Sunday.
If Kanell either plays well or wins a couple of games while Brown sits with a torn chest muscle, the starting job may be his on a permanent basis.
“There’s kind of an unwritten law that if you are injured and you lose your job you get it automatically back,” coach Jim Fassel said. “There is no unwritten law like that for me.”
Around the league
The Miami Dolphins signed wide receiver Brett Perriman on Wednesday, one day after the former University of Miami standout was released by the Kansas City Chiefs. Perriman, a Miami native, said he asked to be released from the Chiefs, where he had complained about not getting enough catches. Perriman, 32, signed a one-year deal. Terms were not disclosed… . San Diego Chargers kicker John Carney, out with a sprained right knee, is expected to miss his third straight game when San Diego plays at Kansas City a week from Thursday night. The Chargers (3-3) are off on Sunday… . The Indianapolis Colts re-signed defensive back David Tate, who was released in June, and waived rookie receiver Kaipo McGwire…. Jacksonville cornerback Aaron Beasley has a fractured hip socket and will be out indefinitely.