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The possible end of an error
Rex's dreadful performance against Cowboys might force Bears to make move to Griese
September 24, 2007
BY BRAD BIGGS bbiggs@suntimes.com
The NFC offensive player of the month last September might not make it out of the month this year.
Facing the most critical start of his career, Rex Grossman failed miserably, and the ''Griese!'' chants at Soldier Field on Sunday night surely will reverberate through Halas Hall all week.
Bears quarterback Rex Grossman completed only 15 of 32 passes for 195 yards. He threw three interceptions and had no touchdown passes against the Cowboys.
NUMBERS GAME 27.5: Rex Grossman’s passer rating: 15-for-32 for 195 yards, 3 INTs and 0 TDs. Even worse, the Cowboys’ Tony Romo (100.8) did everything Grossman is supposed to be doing — against a better defense.
4: Turnovers by the Bears, including Cedric Benson’s fumble that led to a key Cowboys field goal and a the second of Grossman’s three interceptions that Anthony Henry returned for a back-breaking touchdown.
0 Total tackles for loss and forced fumbles by the Bears’ defense. The Bears had one interception, three sacks, a blocked field goal and several huge breaks from the officials — and still lost by 24 points.
Who will lead them on a journey through three consecutive games against North Division opponents remains to be seen. A quarterback change could be announced today after Grossman's weak effort.
Grossman gift-wrapped a 28-yard touchdown return for cornerback Anthony Henry in the fourth quarter that sealed the Cowboys' 34-10 victory and finished 15-for-32 for 195 yards with no scores and three interceptions. His passer rating was a miniscule 27.5.
''I'm going about my business and not worrying about things I don't control,'' Grossman said when asked if he thinks he'll be benched.
The fans who stayed until the end called for a change, but coordinator Ron Turner actually said they didn't turn to Brian Griese because Grossman did good things through three quarters. Facing a defense that allowed 606 passing yards in two weeks, Grossman was supposed to break out of his funk. Instead, he continued to telegraph his passes. If he has reached rock bottom, only coach Lovie Smith can judge.
''Rex is our quarterback,'' Smith said pre-emptively. ''I don't give you my thoughts until I've watched the video. I know he's going to take a lot of the blame. We all will take a lot of the blame. We didn't get a lot done.''
The likely bottom line in Smith's evaluation will be the 33 turnovers Grossman has committed in his last 17 starts, including last season's playoffs.
The defense couldn't even keep the bad-news offense in this one, not with linebacker Lance Briggs (groin), cornerback Nathan Vasher (groin) and tackle Tommie Harris (knee) being knocked out. Harris had a brace on his left knee after the game.
Slippery Cowboys quarterback Tony Romo was a magician in the pocket, buying time for favorite target Terrell Owens to get loose in the secondary. Romo threw for 329 yards with touchdown passes to Jason Witten and Marion Barber, and Owens had eight catches for 145 yards. Barber ran for 102.
''They had so much riding on their defense,'' Owens said. ''And everybody was talking about how good they were.''
The Cowboys knifed through the Bears with drives of 89 and 91 yards in the third quarter.
Smith now must ask himself if he's finally through with Grossman. It's the same offense as last season, save for Cedric Benson, who fumbled late in the third quarter to set up Nick Folk's 44-yard field goal that put Dallas ahead 20-10. Benson did score on a one-yard run, but his second lost fumble in three games was more glaring.
The Bears' next play from scrimmage was picked off by Henry and returned for the score.
If Smith makes the move to Griese, he's effectively ending the Grossman era. The former first-round pick is a free agent after the season, and demoting him would signal that he's no longer the future of the franchise. Something's going to have to be done because at 1-2, the Bears already trail unbeaten Green Bay by two games.
Don't let the ominous beginning completely surprise you. The history of Super Bowl losers the following season is pretty grim.
Maybe Griese will turn it around.
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