Jeff

Blake

This is pretty surprising considering GM Jerry Angelo insisted they wouldn’t pick up a veteran two days ago. The team says Blake will be the third quarterback and we believe he’ll stay there.

Blake was signed earlier this week after Rex Grossman suffered a possible season-ending injury. Chad Hutchinson will be the Week 1 starter, but Blake and rookie Kyle Orton will compete for the backup duties.

Blake replaced Koy Detmer in the second half and got the TD.

''We’re going back to training camp,’' coach Lovie Smith said. ''We’re going to make our football team better this week.’'

If rookie Kyle Orton falters badly during the season, Blake will get a chance to take over as Chicago’s starter.

“There is nothing I can do about that,’' Blake said. “In situations like this, I just keep my mouth shut and play. I don’t talk about things I can’t control. I wasn’t even supposed to be here in the first place. I could be at home right now, so I am just happy they gave me a chance to be here.’'

Blake said most teams, “Have a starter and then they have a young guy behind him, and as soon as the starter goes down, they call one of us. They get someone they know can play. Why don’t they just have us in the first place?’'

Blake won’t likely be back in Chi-town next season, but could find himself as an emergency quarterback in a different uniform. He still does throw one of the prettiest deep balls in the game.

The Cardinals terminated the final two years on the three-year, $7.5 million contract Blake signed last March. “Josh McCown is our starting quarterback, so we felt it is in Jeff’s best interests to release him now to give him the opportunity to catch on with another team,” new Cardinals coach Dennis Green said. After a disappointing season in Arizona, Blake doesn’t figure to be considered for anything more than a backup job in 2004.

The Eagles have been looking for a veteran presence at the No. 3 spot for awhile and settled on Blake. The Eagles hope he’ll remain behind Donovan McNabb and Koy Detmer on the depth chart for the entire season.