Super Bowl Notebook
Bears Get To Work Before Colts Get to Town
Tuesday, January 30, 2007; Page E05
MIAMI, Jan. 29 -- The Chicago Bears got in their first practice of Super Bowl week before the Indianapolis Colts even arrived in town.
The Bears, after getting here Sunday, had an approximately one-hour practice Monday.
  The Indianapolis Colts overcome the rain and a sloppy start to beat the Chicago Bears, 29-17. The Colts' victory ignites a wild celebration among the white-and-blue attired fans in the sea of colorful vinyl rainwear that populated the soggy stands. Peyton Manning fills the final hole in his legend as the greatest quarterback never to win the biggest game. Leonard Shapiro: Tony Dungy and Manning seal their place in history by winning the Super Bowl. Manning adds a Super Bowl MVP award to his long list of achievements. Joseph Addai and Dominic Rhodes plow forward for the Colts go-ahead touchdown and never look back. There was a collective failure by the Bears' offense, but Rex Grossman provides the most vivid images. Notebook: Two assistant coaches who participated in the Super Bowl likely will interview for Dallas' head coaching job. On Our Site Wilbon and Kornheiser share their thoughts live during Sunday's big game. Photos: Relive all of the action from the NFL playoffs. Audio: Manning on the Win. Audio: Grossman on the Loss. Audio: Dungy Praises Smith. Quarterly Report (PDF) A Slew of Errors (PDF) Graphic: Play of the Game. MARK MASKE'S NFL INSIDER • Jaguars Tackle in Critical Condition • Lions Bolster Backfield With R. Johnson |
"The guys are excited," Coach Lovie Smith said. "If you practiced for the Super Bowl each day, you would have a good practice every day."
Quarterback Rex Grossman said he was happy the Bears arrived early.
"I'm glad we came when we came," Grossman said. "It allowed us to get settled in our hotel rooms and see the city and have a practice this morning."
He Can Handle It
Smith said he doesn't think Grossman will have a problem dealing with the unfavorable comparisons that will be made this week between him and Colts quarterback Peyton Manning.
"We've had a chance to prepare ourselves for this," Smith said. "He has had to deal with this just about every week. I haven't talked to Rex a lot about it. He's a professional. He knows that most of you have certain questions that you want to ask him, that most of you would like to let him know exactly just how bad he is and things like that. But he's not going to buy into it. We don't buy into it. Rex Grossman is here at the Super Bowl. The reason for that is he is a good player. As far as comparing him to Peyton Manning, you can compare very few players with Peyton Manning. But Rex and Peyton are not the only two guys playing. We liked him leading our team, which he has done very well all year. Again, we like having him on our side."
Grossman said he doesn't plan to approach the game as a personal duel with Manning. "I feel I have to do what the coaches ask me to do, make the reads and when a guy is open, hit him," Grossman said. . . .
Wide receiver Mark Bradley participated in the Bears' practice. He missed the NFC title game because of a sprained ankle.
No Vacancy
It appears that Bears defensive coordinator Ron Rivera will be passed over for an NFL head coaching job during this hiring cycle. Only one team, the Dallas Cowboys, has a coaching vacancy and owner Jerry Jones appears close to making a choice from among just-hired offensive coordinator Jason Garrett, San Francisco 49ers offensive coordinator Norv Turner and San Diego Chargers defensive coordinator Wade Phillips. Also, 49ers linebackers coach Mike Singletary is scheduled to interview with the Cowboys on Tuesday.
"He's done a great job with us," Smith said of Rivera. "I just have to think in time, he will get a job." . . .
Smith was asked during his news conference if he would take time at any point this week to enjoy the city and enjoy the Super Bowl experience.
"Each day since we won the NFC championship, I've enjoyed it," he said. "I don't drink. I don't smoke. I don't dance. What is there to do? When my family gets here, we'll go out to dinner."
Looking Ahead
New Orleans Saints quarterback Drew Brees was in town to do a promotional appearance Monday and said he's optimistic the club will build on its success this season in reaching the NFC championship game before losing to the Bears.
"I definitely think that's what we're going to do," Brees said. "For us, it's very exciting to know we really built a solid foundation. We had a ton of emotion and all those things. I'm sure the question everyone will ask is, 'Without all that, can they be the same team?' But we were more than that. The emotion wasn't the only thing we had going for us."
