Orton, Bears Acknowledge Drooling Jack Daniels Photos

For all you poor souls who doubted the authenticity of our Kyle Orton getting bombed pictures, stand up and recognize: The Bears and Orton addressed the pictures yesterday.

"It was an open week," [Bears coach Lovie] Smith said. He s just straight out of college. He didn t get picked up for DWI. He didn t break any laws. A lot of guys go out and drink. I don t think any damage was done."

In a conference call with media covering the Browns, Orton said he spent time back home in Iowa. "It s a tough situation," he said. "I regret the pictures came out. But it was the bye week. I was trying to get away and see friends I hadn t seen back home. I m a 22-year-old kid. I was having some fun."

That he was. The Bears play the Browns this Sunday, and Bears fans hope Orton will see 11 defenders, not 22.

Orton, Whiskey Caught On Film [The Canton Repository] (via BenMaller.com) Bear Down, Chicago Bear [Deadspin]