In better days...
As David Haugh explains in Thursday’s Tribune, the Rex Grossman era ends tomorrow as he enters free agency.
Plenty of Bears fans will cheer Grossman’s exit from the Bears. I am not one of them. Grossman did not turn into the next Sid Luckman, but he was cursed by bad luck, a lack of stability and no patience from the fans. Put aside three forgettable games in 2006: a stinker in Arizona, an awful game against Miami, and the meaningless Monday Night game with the Packers, Grossman’s run in 2005 and 2006 was quite good.
Pop quiz: In the playoffs following the 2006 season, who had the better QB efficiency rating - Grossman or Peyton Manning? If you said Peyton Manning, you were wrong.
As Haugh puts it:
Nothing about Grossman’s tortured six-year tenure with the Bears ever was fair, from the rash of injuries that wrecked his progress to his treatment outside Halas Hall.
Just a couple weeks later...
1999 - Mo Moriarty, Bloomington South High School.
2000 - Steve Spurrier, Florida
2001 - Steve Spurrier, Florida
2002 - Ed Zauenbrecher (Ron Zook’s Offensive Coordinator), Florida
2003 - John Shoop (Dick Jauron’s Offensive Coordinator), Bears
2004 - Terry Shea (Lovie Smith’s Offensive Coordinator), Bears
2005 - Ron Turner (Lovie Smith’s Offensive Coordinator), Bears
By my count, Grossman had to go through five coaching changes (all of them representing a radical change in scheme) in seven years, extending back into high school. During that time, he managed one HS championship, a couple bowl game wins, two long rehabs from major injuries, and an NFL playoff game start. After he went into 2006 with the same offensive coach as the previous year, Grossman played a big role in the team going 13-3. He won two playoff games (only Luckman and McMahon won more for the Bears), and he struggled in a Super Bowl. Interestingly enough, the great Peyton Manning also struggled with the rain during that Super Bowl.
I’m not comparing Grossman to Manning, but I’m suggesting that Grossman can hold his own as a starting quarterback in the NFL. At least he was able to until 2007 when his confidence was shot.
Good luck to Rex, and no hard feelings from this guy. Well, I take it back. I do have one: would it have KILLED you to go to IU?
on Mar 1st, 2009 at 3:53 pm
TJ,
If Grossman went to IU, he would have never made it to the NFL. He would have sat on the bench behind Antwaan Randle El for most of his career. I guess that would not have been a bad thing.
on Mar 6th, 2009 at 5:03 pm
[...] At least one Bears fan is going to miss bringing Rexy back. [...]