Rex Grossman. Rex Grossman could be the one thing that runs the train off the tracks this year. How do I know this? Because that's exactly what he did last year. Think of it this way. The Bears lost the Super Bowl by twelve points. Seven came directly from the arm of Rex, in the form of a pass thrown directly into the air to no one at all, that got returned for a touchdown. So right there, the Bears lose by five. They were within five with absolutely no offense, outside of the running game. So if they had a competent QB in there instead of the Sex Cannon, they probably would have scored another TD or two and won the game. You can point at as many things as you want to, but there's no denying that with a real NFL quarterback in there, the Bears chances of winning at least double. And the most sickening part of all of this is just how much he regressed over the course of the season. He went from potential NFL MVP in September to the subject of Matt Millen-esque "he must have some crazy blackmail photos to have not been benched by now" rumors by December. And while I guess technically, it was his first full year as a starter, and Rex apologists love pointing that out, but the dude was not a rookie. He's started games before. Playoff games even. And he's played football presumably since junior high. He is like a ten year veteran of dudes telling him and showing him how to play football. He should know by now that the answer to the blitz is not to close your eyes and throw the ball into the air at a 90-degree angle. They can say all they want about how much time he's spent watching film and working on his fundamentals or whatever, but I'm starting to worry that the guy just can't be fixed. The Bears haven't had a real franchise QB since Sid Freaking Luckman over 50 years ago, and I don't see that changing any time soon. (Yeah, I love Jim McMahon like everyone should, but the dude stayed hurt and never was really that good. Sorry.)Behind him, there could be a shakeup here, as Brian Griese has looked horrible in training camp, and Kyle Orton has looked really, really good. Don't be surprised if Orton movies up to number two, and with the money they're paying Griese, he could be gone by the start of the season if he falls to third on the depth chart. If that happens, they'll probably go sign someone else to be the third-string guy, as the only other quarterback in camp is undrafted free agent pickup Chris Leak, a "but he was good in college" Florida guy in the vein of Shane Matthews and... Rex Grossman... who has looked pretty awful so far. He doesn't stand a Chinaman's chance in hell of making the team, unless hella-dudes get injured.
In a just world, Orton would be the starter, since a game-manager type QB who won't do anything flashy, but is guaranteed to not absolutely shit the bed and roll in it, would be a huge improvement over the Grossman roller coaster. Well, 2007 is Rex's contract year, and if he's actually good this season, they probably won't be willing to pay him more money anyway, so that might be the plan for 2008.
Next: RUNNING BACKS
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