The Bears watched their 2011 season go in the tank after Jay Cutler went down with a thumb injury against the Chargers and didn't have a capable backup to carry the load. So outside of the Brandon Marshall deal, the next big move was signing veteran Jason Campbell as their backup quarterback.
Now, the Campbell signing could play a big role for the Bears. If he has to play Monday night or beyond, he needs to play like a guy that has been a starter in the league.
Campbell has started 70 games in his eight year NFL career and has thrown for 14,511 yards. He was the 25th overall pick in the 2005 NFL Draft by the Redskins. The point is Campbell isn't an ordinary backup and isn't a guy who has little experience and hasn't dealt with pressure situations. The former first-rounder has tossed 74 touchdowns and 50 interceptions with a 60.8 percent completion percentage.
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If Campbell gets the start Monday night, he has to play with the confidence of a starter. He'll have an advantage of getting reps with the first team offense and runninf the game plan in practice, something he didn't get to do prior to his entry in Sunday's loss to the Texans.
There is no telling how he'll perform, but Campbell won't be a guy that will get caught up in the moment of Monday Night Football. He's a calm, cool customer who is most likely anxious to get a big start under the bright lights.