Stewart Injury Convenient

Kordell Stewart has been replaced as the Chicago Bears starting quarterback, but it is unclear whether the move was fueled by the much-maligned QB's poor performance this season or by a leg injury that was suffered in the final stages of the Bears loss to the New Orleans Saints on Sunday.

''It's a question that doesn't need to be answered, really,'' Jauron told reporters Wednesday. ''The fact is that Kordell is hurt and Chris is playing this week.''

There's no doubt Stewart has been battered behind a makeshift offensive line this season, but it's questionable whether the leg problem is what put Kordell on the sidelines or if it is just a conveniently timed injury that keeps the coaching staff from having to officially pull the plug on a guy that was supposed to be the quarterback they have lacked for many years.

The real question now becomes, how long can the concussion-prone Chis Chandler survive with poor pass protection and the team's best running back on the sidelines? My guess is the immobile Chandler will be looking out of his ear hole while staggering toward the wrong sideline by the third quarter Sunday and Stewart will be back until the order comes down from the front office to start getting rookie Rex Grossman ready for next season.

I expect Stewart to make it back on the field within the next couple weeks, but make no mistake. The Kordell experiment was a complete failure in Chicago and he will be considered nothing more than a backup when training camp rolls around in '04.