Will it be the Grossman era or the Grossman error? RedEye’s Jimmy Greenfield asked some of Chicago’s Bears experts to give their assessment as Rex Grossman begins his first season as the Bears’ starting QB.
Tom Waddle
former Bear, co-host of Sports Central on WGN-AM
My advice to all Bear fans would be to just be patient. There are going to be some issues he’s going to have to learn to deal with. It’s going to take him a full year before he feels really good about what he’s going to be doing out there.
He certainly looks poised in the pocket, he’s got a great arm, he makes good decisions, and I think that all can be a product of coming from a big system like Florida. But he doesn’t take sacks frequently, he doesn’t throw interceptions, he gets rid of the football, he has good pocket awareness. Those are the things that seem to come to quarterbacks at a later time. Now it’s just a matter of him becoming comfortable with his receivers and getting a feel for an NFL game. That’s something that’s just going to take a little bit of time. I think they’re a 7-win team, and I think he’s got a very bright future, but I think it’s going to be a long process.
Mike North
former co-host of “Wise Guys” on WSCR-AM
If he isn’t the guy, it’s going to set ’em back five years. But I’ll tell you this: I haven’t seen a guy in a long time grasp the position the way he has. It really looks to me like he really loves being the quarterback of the Chicago Bears. He loves everything that goes with it. He loves the leadership, he loves the command. It just seems like he knows what he’s doing.
The only thing I’m worried about is his height. Most of your quarterbacks are from the 6-3 to 6-5 range and he’s 6-1. Everything else I think he’s got. If you’re a small quarterback usually you have escapability, and he doesn’t have escapability. But we won’t really know until he takes the field.
If their plans are to have this guy be their leader, then you don’t waver, even if they lose every game.
Dan Jiggetts
former Bear, host of Comcast SportsNet talk show
The one thing I’ve noticed in conversations about the game is Rex is a guy who takes his job seriously, which for a lot of quarterbacks you can’t really say that about them. He’s a guy who’s dedicated to making himself a better quarterback, studying the film and doing the things that are necessary to really grasp the game.
A lot of times in huddles the guys will be relying on that quarterback to have a complete understanding of the offense and how to best use the personnel that he’s got. I expect a lot of growth out of him. I’m not going to judge him on the first quarter of the season. What I’m going to judge him on is the final quarter of the season because that’s when he’ll really start to smooth out all the curves.
Doug Buffone
former Bear, co-host of “Wise Guys” on WSCR-AM
The one thing you do look at during the course of the exhibition season is the kid doesn’t throw that many interceptions. That’s a big deal. I believe he’s the guy, and I believe [that] because he wants it. I think he’s a hell of a competitor.
What he has is the ability to lead. That’s the big thing about a quarterback. And when that guy spits out that play, you have to have confidence that he’s spitting out the right play. Sell it to the rest of the guys that this thing is for real. And I think that’s what he’s done. He’s sold those players. This season, to be honest with you, if that kid comes out and can produce an offense that helps the Bears go 8-8, that would be a hell of a year for him. It may depend on defense and special teams, other stuff.
Florida coach Steve Spurrier benched Rex for the start of the 2002 Orange Bowl because he missed curfew.
At age 8, Rex ran for a 60-yard touchdown on his first play of organized football.
