can you embed this?LAKE FOREST, Ill. -- Kyle Orton was selected to be the Chicago Bears starting quarterback by coach Lovie Smith on Monday.

Orton won the competition with Rex Grossman for the starting job.

Orton, the fourth-year player from Purdue, will start Thursday's third preseason game against the San Francisco 49ers and the Sept. 7 regular-season opener against the Indianapolis Colts.
"I think I've just continued to get better in the preseason -- in the games and in practice -- so this will be another step to take," Orton said.

Orton and Grossman began battling for the starting spot in May minicamp and the workouts in June. Then the competition intensified in training camp.

"To come to a decision like that we've taken a lot of things into consideration: Last year, how [Orton] finished the season ... training camp, preseason games," Smith said. "In the end, it comes down to a gut feeling that you have.

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