Bears' Grossman Brings Good With the Bad
Quarterback Has Shown Ability, but Not Consistently

By Amy Shipley
Washington Post Staff Writer
Friday, February 2, 2007

MIAMI, Feb. 1 -- Every day this week, Chicago Bears quarterback Rex Grossman has been reminded of his failings. He's been reminded of the scathing criticism in the newspapers, the mean-spirited taunting over the radio waves. He's been reminded that there is one widely respected quarterback getting ready for Sunday's Super Bowl XLI, and it is Indianapolis Colts star Peyton Manning.

Anyone wondering how Grossman will come back from such waves of negativity might consider placing a call to University of Maryland Coach Ralph Friedgen.

At the 2002 Orange Bowl, Friedgen stood on the sideline in the very stadium in which the Super Bowl will be played. His Terrapins were making their first bowl appearance in 12 years. Grossman was Florida's star quarterback. He had finished runner-up in the Heisman Trophy balloting.

And he began the night on the bench.

He had missed curfew by about 30 minutes five nights before the game.

When Grossman finally entered with six minutes left in the second quarter and his team leading by four points, he led Florida on six straight scoring drives. He threw four touchdowns. He completed 20 of 28 passes. He was largely responsible for a 56-23 rout that Friedgen said made him "embarrassed for the state of Maryland."

"Look what he did in the second, third and fourth quarters," said Ron Zook, who coached Grossman the following season at Florida. "It was showtime. When his back is against the wall, he's the best."

Former Florida coach Steve Spurrier shocked Grossman the day after he showed up late by telling him he would not start. Grossman had expected his punishment to be a few laps around the field. For the next four days, Grossman stewed, mad at Spurrier and at himself.

But mostly, he said, he couldn't wait for the chance to redeem himself.

"I was extremely upset about it, but once I did get in, I had a little chip on my shoulder," Grossman said. "I played a little angry. We scored five straight touchdowns on offense, four through the air. That's my last memory of being in Dolphins Stadium. Hopefully, I'll play the same way" Sunday.

Of course, this is the Super Bowl, not a major college bowl game. And if Grossman is angry again, he's not letting on. He has kept his emotions in check all week, betraying not a glimmer of annoyance publicly, no matter how often he's been asked about his perceived ineptitude. Which has been often.

Earlier this week, Grossman seemed to take a view sympathetic to those criticizing him.

"I would love to play more consistent so that they know what to expect -- everyone knows what to expect," Grossman said. "I know that I can do that. In my first full season, I had about 12 games, including the playoffs, that I'm real proud of, and about five or six that I'm really not proud of at all. They were bad. I need to work on those six games, but I'm happy about where I am at."

Chicago fans, well versed in the team's sketchy quarterback history, seemed skeptical from the beginning of Grossman, a first-round draft pick in 2003 who suffered major injuries that shortened two of his first three seasons. In those years, he started just seven regular season games.

This season, Grossman found a new way to hurt.

A glimpse at his roller-coaster season:

Grossman led the Bears to a 5-0 start while posting an average passer rating of 102.6. He threw 10 touchdowns and three interceptions.

In Week 6, he completed 37.8 percent of his passes and threw four interceptions. His rating was 10.2.

In Week 7, he notched a 137.4 rating. In Week 8, it was 36.8. Then 105.7 and 81.4, followed by 23.7 and 1.3. Then 114.4, 104.3, and 80.4.

Finally, in the season's last regular season game, he completed two passes and threw three interceptions. He passed for 33 yards and managed a rating of zero.

The locals called it the Good Rex, Bad Rex syndrome. In eight games, Grossman threw at least one touchdown and had no interceptions. In four games, he threw no touchdowns and three or more interceptions. Backup quarterback Brian Griese acknowledged that fans told him throughout the season they wished he would get the starting nod.

"On every single pass, I was judged completely as a quarterback," Grossman said. "If I threw a great pass, I was a great quarterback. If I threw an interception, I was a bad quarterback. . . . Just give me some more time."

Through it all, Chicago Coach Lovie Smith stood by Grossman, unwavering, even defiant. His teammates say Grossman has handled the hardship professionally.

"A lot of people would have started pointing the finger, putting the blame somewhere else," wide receiver Bernard Berrian said. "He took a lot of that blame, and a lot of it was unwarranted. A lot of it wasn't his fault."

Ashley Fox, one of Grossman's sisters who lives in Chicago, said Grossman never talks about football problems. He has neither complained nor pouted, she said.

"It doesn't affect him the way it might affect most people," said Fox, who has Bears season tickets. "I think he does better under pressure. I think he thrives off pressure. It's just a pattern of his history."

Pulled in and out of games routinely under the antsy Spurrier, Grossman said he's learned to remain emotionally even, regardless of circumstances. He said he realizes the moment he loses his confidence, he loses his chance to succeed. He also said Thursday he has tried to relay a mix of contrition and confidence to his teammates, letting them know he regrets his mistakes and doesn't intend to repeat them.

"I didn't address the team, but I've talked to certain players to address my disappointment in myself for them," Grossman said. "Especially the receivers; I want them to make plays and have fun out there. . . . I just wanted to show them, tell them, 'I'm going to get this turned around.' "