Jay Mariotti has dismissed the Rex Grossman era as a terrible mistake. That's hard for me to do, considering the Bears have only to been to two Super Bowls and Grossman quarterbacked them to one. In my mind the question must be considered. (1) Do the Bears bring back Rex Grossman? (2) If so, at what cost?
First there is a question of options - both Chicago's and Grossman's. Barring some unforeseen circumstances, I can see three attainable "starting" quarterbacks who might interest the Bears: Donovan McNabb, Chad Pennington, Derek Anderson. Looking around the league, I can see almost no teams who'll show an interest in bringing Rex in to start. (You can make a longshot argument for Baltimore). So unless Jerry "Shouldn't Draft Offense" Angelo and Lovie "Can't Coach Defense" Smith are enamored with one of the aforementioned three, it would seem in the best interest of both parties for Rex to return. He knows the system, can make every throw and is clearly beloved by his teammates. At worst he's a terrific backup.
And I think it can make sense economically. The Bears need to structure an incentive-laden deal that pays Rex a low base salary (somewhere in the 2 - 2.5 million range) and rewards him based on his number of starts. This kind of contract will allow the Bears to show faith in the player without mortgaging the future of the franchise OR the position. Be honest. If you had the choice of bringing in Donovan McNabb or Alan Faneca, who would you rather have?
The real answer might be an open camp battle between big arm like Grossman and a conservative short passer like Pennington, who won't win or more importantly lose games with his arm. Brian Griese's 2007 will be remembered much like Shane Matthews' 2001. He made some plays that you look back at with awe but will never forget his bed-shitting in the Eagle playoff loss. His time in navy and burnt is over now. I hope the same will not be said for Rex.
Addendum: If the Bears are going to draft quarterback, I want Joe Flacco from Delaware. He's 6'6" and has a canon arm. Watching him play Souther Illinois right now and I'm very impressed.
#2 PolygonHell said . . .FIRST!!!
Sign Rex to a one year contract and then SIGN DEREK ANDERSON!!!! I dont care what the Browns want for him. . . give up our first and third round picks. . . at least we know the guy can play in the NFL and he doesnt need any seasoning.
December 8, 2007
#3 Max said . . .Prior to Rex's injury Iwould have put money on that on a contract with incentives based on startsor snapw, qnd it might still happen.
The reason it might not is if RT goes and they are going to put in place a new offensive system they might just take the hit and let Grossman go aswell.
I don't think the bears will part with a 1 and 3 pick for Anderson and I don't think they should. I think realistically McNabb is going to be too expensive, so it's draft and start Griese/Orton or resign Grossman.
Unless Orton lights it up in how ever many games he gets the chance in, I think it comes down to what other offers Grossman hason the table. I think the Bears will wankt to negotiate but it isn't going to take much for Rex tobe out of here.
December 8, 2007
#4 Tyrone Briggs said . . .I disagree with the draft route. With the exception of G-Reg and Tommie, Angelo has been useless at selecting first round picks. And drafting a QB is too much like playing Russian Roulette.e At least in Anderson you know what you are getting. Pennington is to weak armed and McNabb just doesnt have it anymore. Sign Rex, keep Orton, dump Griese and sign or trade for Anderson. (If we do draft a QB, the only guy i really want is Andre Dawson. I am not sold on Colt Brennen as a NFL starter or Matt Ryn as being able to carry a team personally)
On a franchise where QB misery is the norm, I would rather trade for a proven guy than draft a project with potential.
December 8, 2007
#5 Al in WI said . . .No doubt that Mariotti has gleefully replayed Grossman's injury enough times to burn out the TiVo.
http://www.jaythejoke.com/index.php/site/comments/395/
December 8, 2007
#6 Phil from SATX said . . .Prior to Rex's return, even I favored going out and making a deal for Derek Anderson. But the truth is that this team has 4-5 major holes right now that need to be adressed and quarterback is not among them. O-line, safety, running back, wide reciever, and D-tackle are all more urgent concerns at this point. If you go out and make a deal for anderson you're going to have to accept going back into the season with at least three of those holes in the same shape they are in today. He'd demand a major contract and eat cap space, and of course there is the matter of two top picks for him.
Rex Grossman has played well in his term here in Chicago. He actually won games for the bears. Not Jim Miller, or Kyle Orton style wins, (13-10) but actually multi-td passing game led wins. He's also been inconsistant. Not unexpected since he still hasn't played that many games yet. But in his return he made major strides in his game management, pocket presence, attitude late in games, and mobility. The arrow in pointing up, and with all of our other needs, we have to bring him back. If you want to have a competition with Rex and Orton, or another cheap FA that's fine.
I think a 3 yr deal is in line for him.December 8, 2007
#7 Duff Diggler said . . .You're totally on it Al. The thing that Rex has shown in his return is that he can be productive even in today's horrible circumstances. Save money, draft for the future at QB using a lower pick and spend the money on Al's list. Buying a Derek Anderson and having that preclude addressing other needs will ensure nothing.
The draft mantra has to be sign guys you think can play right now. The red shirt bullshit was fine when we were perceived to have lots of depth. We don't anymore, and actually never did on O. Sever the cord between Rex and RT, get him a line, a running back and resign BB (I'm there finally) plus adding another possession receiver (is Hass that guy?) and Rex will blossom in this system.
We have not seen Bad Rex since his return. We've seen regular Rex make some bad throws, some bad decisions. Bad Rex couldn't dig himself out of any holes once he went bad. This Rex of today has changed, we've seen him do good things after bad. That's a huge difference. Like Jeff said, he can make any throw on the field.
We need that 1st and 3rd round pick. Too many holes that one good quarterback won't fix. There will be other FA's out there as we are rebuilding this team - Derek Anderson is no once-in-a-lifetime deal (like Bill Cowher appears to be, unfortunately).
I want Faneca! Plus a first round lineman! We can change this line, and our prospects, in the blink of an eye! Give any decent running back a better than average line and that running back will look better than average. If Ced is gone, there's plenty of others out there. Don't need to spend that much on the position unless there's an AP to go after. I like our chances on offense with Rex at the reins, guided by a smart coordinator who knows how to use Hester, Greg Olsen, Des Clark and Bernard Berrian. Used properly, those are fabulous weapons.
Get it done BT!
December 8, 2007
#8 Viva said . . .Ok....first, we're not as bad off as we think....aside from brady, manning (the older one), romo, favre, and debatebly palmer, garrard, and hasselbeck, (even though anderson is having a good year, i need to see more) look at the starting QB situation league-wide....think about it for a minute.....
done? ...ok....
it's just as you tought.... there is not much talent out there! Here is a short list of STARTING QBs this year, that i'm sure you wouldn't want in a bears uni....
Alex Smith
Kyle Boller
Anybody in Miami
Tervarus Jackson
Kurt Warner
Matt Lienart
Trent Green
Charlie Frye
Dante Culpepper
David Carr
Jake Delhomme
VINNY TESTEVERTE.......LMFAO....
J.P. Losman
Kellen Collins
Joey Harrington
Byron Leftwich
.....to name a few....
even Brian Griese..........
AND MANY, MANY OTHERS!!!!!How many of these guys would you trust more than Rex with the reigns of our multi-million dollar organization? How 'bout a rookie? I've never been a fan of throwin rooks to the fire....you? Roethlisberger got lucky....and Kyle Orton had the Dr. Jeckle side of the Bears D.....
So is the best answer sign him and draft? Maybe....
McNabb might be a good idea....i touched on that yesterday....i just don't want a Cordell Stewart repeat....plus is he any less fragile than Rex anyway?
I don't want to hear the name Chad Pennington ever again Jeff! Shame on you! What would happen if one miraculous day, the front office ever woke and said to themselves "Hey, maybe we should listen to what the fans have to say....," and happen to stumble across this blog? Would you be willing to accept personal responsibility for the inevitable calamity that would follow, following a Chad pennington signing? Ssssssssssssssh!!! They might be listening......
As far as Derek Anderson is conserned....I DO need to see more....but i certainly wouldn't mind that interview with GSH on his sleeve, rather than AL.... but do you really think they'll give him up? Maybe.... I dunno.... i guess eventually he or Quinn must go....
In an attempt to be somewhat original.... i propose this conception.... I think the bears would be well complimented with a mobile QB....esp with Ricky Williams *COUGH* ..i mean Cedric Benson as our HB.... and dog killers aside....what about Seneca Wallace???????????????? Imagine the O speed: Wallace, Olsen, Berrian, Hester.....
....just a thought.....
December 8, 2007
#9 Rancid said . . .What makes you guys think that Cleveland will deal DA? I'm positive they would rather deal Quinn. There is no way in the world they would give up on a YOUNG proven commodity at the risk of an unknown one. Sure they gave a lot to get Quinn, but they can recoup most of it. They will not make the same mistake that the Chargers made with the Brees /Rivers fiasco.
As far as other teams interested in Rex - here is a short list of teams that would be better off with him as their starter: Baltimore, Kansas City, Atlanta, Carolina, NYJets, Buffalo, Miami, Detroit, Tampa Bay, NYGiants, and the 49 ers.
I will not be surprised at all if Rex is looking forward to putting Chicago behind him. With that said, the Bears would be wise to go after him hard and fast. Because if he ends up tossing bombs in Detroit under Martz's system we are fucked.
If we do end up with him, he will be offered an incentive laced deal that will be in the 5 to 7 million dollar range.
December 8, 2007
#10 AfroCelt said . . .I've started about 5 posts over the past few days and quit halfway through all of them. I got nothing. We are in a crap situation. Like we're not familiar with that. Seemingly a lot of holes and only so many picks/money to fill them with. I see OL and then safety as our first concerns in that order, followed by a QB. I'm ok if Rex returns as long as he's cheap. I'm hoping that KO plays well enough to at least let us get rid of the Grease. Then we can grab a FA to compete with Gross or draft in the mid rounds for a potential "next future QB". I probably differ from many in that I am done dreaming of a star QB. I just a competent guy, who can make the right throws and not single-handedly lose the game for us.
December 8, 2007
#11 jdawg said . . .I still say and will always say stay away from McNabb. He seems to be a fine person and a very good player on occasion, but all I need to do is think about that Superbowl he was in. Did you see just how badly he threw there? I remember watching him loft pass after pass 2 yards over the head of the reciever...it was ugly.
Grossman ain't good, but I think that if we can re-sign him for cheap it will be better than most free agents and that our draft picks can be better used on the O-Line. I do place one caveat though: I don't know much about Derek Anderson/others not bandied here.
I firmly believe that if you have a solid offensive line your skill players become about 3x better....including Grossman. Hell, if you give Benson a "hole you could drive a semi though" (ty Madden) the guy would gain at least 2-4 yards :P
December 8, 2007
#12 jdawg said . . .time to go glass half full
We need stud RT and stud guard. If those holes are filled this will be a different offense. You saw what Benson can do when he had holes. We are now going to see strong doses of Wolfe.
We need a safety. Now, in a perfect world that would be Mike Brown, the most important player on the D. But we'll need to draft one anyway, because Mike Brown must have pissed off a practitioner of VooDoo at some point in the past.
There have been other teams that have lost more starts than our D, but not more pro bowl starts.
December 8, 2007
#13 craig said . . .oh, by the way, Mariotti's an asshole
December 8, 2007
#14 Saluki Freshman said . . .Agreed. Bring back the Sex Cannon.
December 8, 2007
#15 Al in WI said . . .BRING BACK SEXY REXY...BUT if jerry wants to draft a QB the answer is JOE FLACCO, (i just got back from the siu delaware game) this guy is a stud plus we can get him later than ryan,brohm and woodson. I say sign rexy and draft flacco(1-aa romo worked, didnt he?)...k time to drink
December 9, 2007
#16 Justin said . . .To me drafting any quarterback has to be someone who really falls to us or someone in the late rounds.
Again I feel all the focus should be on the other need areas if we hope to make another run with most of this core together next season.
Some FA's I'd like the Bears to look at:
G Alan Faneca
WR Bryant Johnson
RB Micheal Turner
RB Julious Jones
S Gibril Wilson
S Ken Hamlin
WR D.J Hackett
T Max StarksDecember 9, 2007
#17 Shady McBears Fan said . . .I'm all for drafting Flacco in the 2nd or 3rd or 4th round (if he makes it that far). I go to Southern Illinois University and just saw our 12-1 team get beat at home to this guy. He made some very strong and solid throws in the cold rainy weather. He's 6'6 and seems intelligent and level-headed. Put him in there behind a cheaply re-signed Grossman with Orton 3rd.
December 9, 2007
#18 DTB said . . .That's right. Joe Flacco. You heard it here 1st.
This guy is moving up everybody's draft board. He'll be gone by the 2nd round.
December 9, 2007
#19 jeff said . . .Cant believe no-one else casught this
RE: #3 MAX
Andre Dawson would look great in a Bears uni next year. I mean, shit! He had a cannon from right field and what was he 6'4. The guy would look great as a Bear. Not to mention, seeing that sweet gheri curl juicing out the back of his helmet.
December 9, 2007
#20 DisplacedBadger said . . .i say we make friday night's game against app state a surrogate bears game wherein we evaluate flacco.
December 9, 2007
#21 Max said . . .Bears need to focus on their defense. Defensive wins games - with their current defensive, they won't win too many more (if any at all).
December 9, 2007
#22 Heywood Jublomey said . . .Faneca should be our first priority. But seriously, I hate having to draft another damn QB. It just doesnt seem to ever work and it makes me scared to have to suffer through another project.
I will admit, i know nothing about Joe Flacco but I am still in the Andre Dawson corner. Im i right?? who the hell knows. . .
My logic in regards to Derek Andersonis that we might as well spend a first round and third round pick on a QB we know can play well in the NFL as opposed to a first round pick on a QB who has potential to be good in the NFL. We have just botched so many first round picks and so many QB's its not even funny.
(This is all assuming that the Browns give a tender offer which means we would be required to give up our first and third round picks. . . if they franchise him, then we have to give up 2 first round picks)
If we can get Faneca and that means not getting Anderson, then I will take it. I just want to see some improvement. If we get Faneca, then i want Dawson. . . maybe ill try YouTubeing Joe Flacco.
December 9, 2007
#23 Heywood Jublomey said . . .If res-signing Rex is the only move management makes to address the quarterback position, then we can expect another painful season. Maybe Rex should be re-signed, but only as a backup. At this point, I would give up any player, including Urlacher, to get a reliable quarterback. I am willing to sell the farm, because I have never seen a good quarterback wear a Bears uni.
December 9, 2007
#24 Saluki Freshman said . . .If res-signing Rex is the only move management makes to address the quarterback position, then we can expect another painful season. Maybe Rex should be re-signed, but only as a backup. At this point, I would give up any player, including Urlacher, to get a reliable quarterback. I am willing to sell the farm, because I have never seen a good quarterback wear a Bears uni.
December 9, 2007
#25 Saluki said . . .I HAVE A FEELING ABOUT THIS GUY,I LIKE EVERYTHING ABOUT HIM...FLACCO TIME
December 9, 2007
#26 Shady McBears Fan said . . .somehow lets get mcfadden in the first, flacco in the second......
by the way the patriots have san frans 1st rounder. they piss me off
December 9, 2007
#27 Midway Monster said . . .Derek Anderson benefits from an incredible O-Line and receivers like Braylon Edwards and Kellen Winslow. Grossman might do just as well if HE were playing for Cleveland. Maybe not. But I don't believe it's worth giving up a 1st and a 3rd plus $$ for a relatively unproven commodity, especially with a number of other positions requiring attention for the organization. In fact, I would expect the Bears to trade down for a couple of OTs or a WR and S.
Seriously, how does New England cheat and still have a shot at McFadden? I'm trying to figure out where the Bears might end up in the draft...1 Miami
2 St Louis
3 New England (from San Fran)
4 Oakland
5 ATL
6 KC
7 NY Jets
8 Carolina
9 Philly
10 Baltimore/Cinci/Chicago?December 9, 2007
#28 Pissed Off said . . .::Gulp:: I feel like puking.... Green Bay clinches the Division. Someone just shoot me and put me out of this misery...
...please...
...pretty please?
-- Midway --
December 10, 2007
#29 Al in WI said . . .Rex would be brought in as the probable starter for several teams so I would disagree with your assessment there Jeff. I also like about 4 other QBs before Flacco in the draft, I think your going with the 6'6" guy cuz you think Rexs problems have been a lot with his height, again I disagree Its been protection and o-line.
December 10, 2007
#30 where's Olsen? said . . .I read an interesting article this weekend about how Michigan wants a coach with an NFL backround. Lovie, Lovie!!!!!!!!
December 10, 2007
#31 said . . .Max, if you are really that high on Andre Dawson, why don't you call him by his real name.. Andre Woodson.
Viva that was smart shit you just said... Grossman in Detroit=scary.
Jdawg is right on: draft Oline, sign Oline, plus a good safety. Shady has it right as well- good Olines make QBs and RBs good, like Anderson in Clv. right now.
Check out Todd McShay's first mock draft on ESPN.com, which has us taking a safety.Remember this- if ever there was a time for a wasted season, giving motivation and new blood for the next season, it was now. I watched New England again today. Superbowl prediction: NE 76, Dallas 3
December 10, 2007
#32 wheresolsen said . . .Didn't Jim Miller QB the Bears in '01?
December 10, 2007
#33 Cheddar said . . .you stole my name
December 10, 2007
#34 Shady McBears Fan said . . .Cleveland, I am sure, will willingly give up Anderson. Keep up the delusions…they continue to be very enjoyable to read.
December 10, 2007
#35 Max said . . .Rex Grossman
Lance Briggs
Bernard Berrian
If you could only pick 2 to keep next year, who would it be?
I'll keep Berrian and Briggs.
While the QB position is clearly the most important ingrediant to a championship ball club (see NE, IND, DAL......GB), Rex Grossman isn't the answer. He just isn't. The Bears will continue to seach for another QB of the future, because they have to. Do I think Rex is the best QB the Bears have? Yes. But that's a terrible reality.
Everybody knows Chicago is due a great QB and a Cubs World Series, it'll come sooner or later. Sooner would be nice. You have to figure the more shots you take the better your odds are, right? But it's a risky gamble and I'm not sure I trust Jerry Angelo rolling the dice again. How many more chances does this guy have to get it right?
December 10, 2007
#36 Megan said . . .Yup, i have always suspected it but my past couple posts have proved it. Andre Dawson???? what the hell im i thinkin?? yes Andre Woodson. . . i think maybe im goin to give myself a time out. Ill be back on the next thread. . .
wow
December 10, 2007
#37 Chicago Joe said . . .Max,
I was wondering where you were going with that. Cubs fan, Bears fan? It's okay.December 10, 2007
#38 AfroCelt said . . .While I am very dissapointed this is the end of our season, it's not as if I felt any different since week 5...
I just hope that baseball will rise my spirit in April, seeing as the Sox are losing their entire team.
December 10, 2007
#39 Bill said . . .You all forget that we still have one game that matters on the list...the Pack nextdoor to Christmas. If we could sweep them this year, that would be a (small) feather for the team's cap.
December 10, 2007
#40 Phil from SATX said . . .Yes - this is a great year to tank - since the Patriots look unbeatable. We've already lost one SB - not real excited about getting to another and losing.
December 10, 2007
#41 B.A. Baracus said . . .That's a great point Bill. What good would it be to get to the SB this year? We'd be two-time losers. This IS a good year to tank, if there is such a thing. Now we have no choice but to hope the BT has their neurons working in overdrive.
What I am hoping for with these last 3 games is to learn things, and hopefully learn them decisively. As in, Kyle Orton - show us enough in 3 games so we have a decided opinion about whether you're worth something or nothing. Mark Bradley, show us that the coaches had some kind of bias against you for non-football reasons. Mike Hass, get some playing time and show us that we may have a hidden gem on our roster. Garret Wolfe, show us enough to give us hope that we haven't wasted a 3rd round pick on you, that you only needed a good OC to put you on the field and use you to your strengths. Josh Beekman, get on the field, show us that you were meant to be more than a perennial multi-millionaire backup like Terry Metcalf or John St. Clair. (Can you believe that you can make millions in the NFL by being a bad offensive lineman second-stringer, where the team knows you're bad enough that you just might get the quarterback killed, and you're STILL worth millions to them? - Terry Metcalf was extended last year to like 2011).
Show us, Bears. And beat the Packers while you're at it, who will still be playing for home field advantage in that game.
December 10, 2007
#42 Duff Diggler said . . .I agree with the people on here that are saying that Cleveland is not going to let DA go. The Bears best option now is to re-sign Grossman on a 2 year incentive deal (a 1 year deal is not going to be taken by Grossman). I know that signing Rex may not truly solve their QB problems, but there are too many other needs that take precedence.
Most important, and what has been said 6000 times on this board is the re-tooling of the O Line. Ange-blo needs to come up with at least 2 new younger O lineman. From there, almost anything will help whether it be a running back, WR or Safety.
Oh, and someone please wipe that smile off Lovie's face...
December 10, 2007
#43 Bill said . . .yeah...i know winning 3 in a row might be stretchin it since we havent won 2 in a row yet....but if we can finish 8-8....i certainly won't feel as bad as i do now... sweeping the pack would be poetic justice in opposition to the vomit I had to stifle the other day as they won the division.... Plus in a division where it looks like everyone but us might be getting better, i don't think papa bear will roll in his grave as much if we can pull a couple wins out of our forth points of contact.... esp with our backups....
i don't know about this flacco guy.....but in the mean time, i'll try to keep as many sharp objects away from my wrists...lol
December 10, 2007
#44 Bill said . . .Phil - your post really got me thinking. We have backup linemen not good enough to step in when the line is not getting it done - and yet Angelo felt it was wise to lock them up for relatvely big bucks. Incredible!
December 10, 2007
#45 Willie from Chicago said . . .Peter King today had a few Bears' items. He beleives Rex shoudl leave and try it again soemwhere else. (But he doesn't really say why - so I can't judge any credibilty of that opnion. IS he saying he might be better somewhere else? If so, he's ignoring the fact that since he came back, he's been better HERE.
Second, he seems ot think we can get McNabb for our number 2 in the draft. Anyone think that's worth it? I think I'd rather keep it and Rex.
Last, he says it was annoying that the NFL Network showed an expressionless Lovie so often and for so long. That one, I agree with. Lovie looked so lost and incapable of understanding how this playoff contending team (his words) team that gets off the bus running (his words) was sucking up the place.
Here's a clue Lovie - you took a Super Bowl team and made it much worse. No more "Trust me" statements - PLEASE.
December 10, 2007
#46 b said . . .Hey guys dont forget that theres not a QB in the league that will survive in our O line.
Grossman is a good Quarterback now and imagine how he'll be with a good O-line.
So grossman stays, O- line goes.
BEAR DOWN!
December 10, 2007
#47 Willie from Chicago said . . .Hahaha the bears suck a big load. The packers are way bettter than those stupeid is fuck bears. Grossbomb is a fag,
But hey u guys can still make the playoffs so ittl be sweet for the pack to end there chances
Go packers!
December 10, 2007
#48 Willie from Chica said . . .You know what, if we beat Minnisota then i bet we will make the playoffs while sweeping the packers. Then in the playoffs we beat the packers in the NFC Championship game.
(I know its not gonna happen but you nevver know lol)December 10, 2007
#49 Willie from Chicago said . . .spelled never wrong lol
December 10, 2007
#50 Bear Fan In Minnesota said . . .I say we have to keep Rex, he is going to be very cheep so we can sign him o a 3 year deal and put insentives in his contract on preformance.
The worst is that he'll be a good backup if they decide to bring in Derick Anderson or Donovan Mcnabb.
December 10, 2007
#51 johnny said . . .I believe the Bears should re-sign Rex Grossman and do it soon so it's settled. Rex took this team to the Superbowl last year for the first time in 21 years. Regardless of what you or I may think of Rex it's obvious the players really like him. The problems the Bears have are not at the QB position anyway. If you look at what the Minnesota Vikings are doing you will see what the Bears need to get back to. They are the very things that got them to the big dance last year. Run the ball, stop the run, and create turnovers. Even if they had Derek Anderson or Mcnabb this year the outcome would have been the same because of not having a running back or a dominate defense. This team has been and should always be a grind it out team. Running the ball and a dominating defense needs to be the focus for 2008.
December 10, 2007
Willie from Chicago, you made a great point on your post. rg made the best out of not having an offensive line. Resign him for less money and build a line around him and a running game. I would hate to see him succeed somewhere else and become an all pro qb and we keep being a rebuilding team..good point
December 11, 2007
Here at DaBearsBlog, you are free to kill us or the Bears as you so wish. You are not free, however, to be an asshole. So if you spew racism or ill-meaning foul language (cursing about football is just fine) or anything of that ilk, your comments ain't gonna last long, jerk.