Q. Hasn’t Rex Grossman proved he should have been the Bears’ starter several weeks ago?
A. Grossman said he could not have learned and improved simply by holding the clipboard on the sideline the rest of the season. Offensive coordinator John Shoop defended the decision to keep Grossman off the field until the Bears were eliminated from playoff contention.
“He would have been embarrassed to play earlier in the season,” Shoop said. “He wasn’t ready to play, and he would be the first one, I think, to say that. I think he has benefited from watching the other guys [Kordell Stewart and Chris Chandler]. He has a chance to be a good player. He has talent, but a lot of guys have talent. It’s going to be up to him.”
Q. Why didn’t the Bears give the ball to Anthony Thomas when they had a first-and-goal on the Redskins’ 1-yard line in the first half?
A. Shoop said he had confidence in the plays he called–a run by fullback Stanley Pritchett and two incomplete passes by Grossman–before settling for a 19-yard Paul Edinger field goal.
“We scripted the plays, and it was what we planned on doing,” Shoop said. “We really thought that all three of the plays should have worked. On the run, they were keying pretty much on Anthony.”
The Bears were able to double-team the Redskins’ defensive tackles much of the second half as Thomas rushed for 107 of his 141 yards.
Q. Who are the leading candidates to replace Dick Jauron if he is fired at the end of the season?
A. Some of the same candidates mentioned to replace former Bears coach Dave Wannstedt, who is on the hot seat in Miami despite Sunday’s win at Buffalo. Those candidates include Tom Coughlin, Dennis Green, LSU coach Nick Saban and coordinators Brad Childress (Eagles) and Romeo Crennel (Patriots).
Q. Why do the Bears play so well at home and so poorly on the road?
A. The Bears have six home victories for just the fourth time in the last 13 seasons. They won seven in 2001 and six in 1996 and ’91. But they are 1-6 on the road.
“We’re a pretty good home team,” Brian Urlacher said. “Our fans get behind us and we do a pretty good job. I don’t know what it is. We just like playing here, I guess.”
Q. Is it always the kicker’s fault when a field goal is missed? Or are the holder and snapper sometimes to blame?
A. It’s a team effort by the center, holder and kicker. On Edinger’s first missed field goal from 30 yards out, holder Brad Maynard placed the ball down with the laces facing to the kicker’s right, and the kick sailed wide right. Kickers prefer having the laces facing the goal post. The kickers on both teams missed short field goals. The wind seemed to be swirling much of the game at 22 m.p.h.
Q. Why did David Terrell jump into the stands to celebrate when Marty Booker was the one who caught the touchdown pass in the first quarter?
A. Because Terrell refuses to be ignored. Booker said he hurt himself when he slipped in front of the north stands after scoring the touchdown. Terrell helped Booker up and then jumped into the arms of fans to soak up the adulation.
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Have a question or an idea for Fred Mitchell? E-mail: AskFred@tribune.com
