The Verdict is in: Rex Grossman Has Been Benched
Uncategorized September 26th. 2007, 10:14am
You knew it was coming.
Chicago Tribune: Source – It’s Griese’s Turn
Chicago Sun-Times: Griese’s in for Grossman
NFL Network: Griese to replace Grossman at QB for Bears
Our favorite post here about Rex Grossman was this one, back in January. A reader who partied with the Bears QB passed along this photo of Rex hitting the the cheap vodka at a party while driving the ladies wild with his unruly, unkempt hair. As bad as Rex has been – the second he threw that pick-6 Sunday night against Dallas we said to the wife, ‘he’s done’ – why not play him against Detroit? The Lions just gave up nearly 400 yards and four scores to Donovan McNabb. Why not give Rex one last chance against an inferior team? If you can’t gain some confidence against Detroit, well …
Does it seem to anyone else like teams are having less and less patience with QBs these days? Wonder if this has anything to do with the voice of the internet and the incessant criticism. Ten years ago, message boards and blogs didn’t drive opinion like they do today. Cleveland has demoted and traded a QB and Arizona looks to be going the way of the two-QB system. Minnesota’s using the ‘injury’ excuse to replace Tarvaris Jackson with Kelly Holcomb. We’re calling this now – if San Fran’s Alex Smith (1 TD, 1 INT) continues to complete just 50 percent of his passes, he’ll be out of a job by the middle of the season.
42 Responses to “The Verdict is in: Rex Grossman Has Been Benched”
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September 26th, 2007 at 10:24 am
i actually heard some idiot by the name of jeff dickerson from wmvp in chicago say on espn radio last night that brian griese “doesn’t make turnovers.”
WHA… ???!!! my only guess is that the last time dickerson saw brian griese play was when he was at michigan. eric dickerson makes more sense than jeff dickerson! griese is virtually guarenteed to have a pass returned for six each game.
brian griese is beyond miserable. this is a guy who lost his starting job to, in order, jake plummer, jay fiedler — JAY FIEDLER!!! — and chris simms.
mike shanahan didn’t want you, jon gruden didn’t want you and you couldn’t beat out jay fielder for godsakes!
i know grossman sucks but trust me, brian griese is no improvement. well, i take that back. at least he can take a snap from center.
i’d rather have his old man at 62!
September 26th, 2007 at 10:32 am
Starting Grossman against the Lions would have given him a 300 yard game and a couple touchdowns making everyone in Beardom puff out their chests and all the analysts would talk about how Grossman finally came around. Then he’d be back to playing like shit the next game. Basically, it would be just like last season. Of course it doesn’t matter because Brian Griese isn’t much to write home about either.
September 26th, 2007 at 10:33 am
It has 100% everything to do with the internet and bloggers. Too much exposure for criticism these days. He does suck though.
September 26th, 2007 at 10:35 am
Yea, we need to have more patience in general. Teams are not going to be turned around in 3 years (give the coaches time) and QB’s aren’t going to necessarily develop in 3 years (see: bradshaw, simms, gannon, trent green, hasselbeck, etc.). Granted, if the players and coaches are showing no signs of improvement (i know this well seeing as my favorite team gainfully employs art shell 2.0 and gleefully replaced charlie frye with derek anderson) then you push a little.
but look at eli, hes showing signs of improvement, yet all you hear from NY media types is “is it 2007 or bust for eli?” come on, you expect a relative kid to master the hardest position in the game in only 3 years? what happens if leinart doesnt start throwing for 400 a game? or vince young starts losing? these are “franchise” qb’s yet people will just give up on them?
then again, it depends on the team. the bears D and speacial teams are playoff contender-worthy. if you have one player who is just killing you, its time for a change. but if you’re like SF, you have time to see how things turn out.
September 26th, 2007 at 10:41 am
Did Alex Smith do something to you because you really seem to want him to lose his job.
September 26th, 2007 at 10:44 am
Apparently Bears fans have forgotten that Brian Griese is so bad, he’s been Rex Grossman’s backup for the past two seasons. Griese isn’t a solution, he’s just been out of the spotlight long enough for people to forget how bad he is.
September 26th, 2007 at 10:48 am
As a Bears fan I pretty much feel like this is a lost season. The offense is in shambles and the defense is missing 5 opening day starters (Vasher out for a month, Tillman for a couple games and Harris week-to-week after the Cowboys debacle). Maybe if Hester can return 3 kicks every game they will have a shot….
September 26th, 2007 at 10:49 am
Has the NFL ever had a worse group of QB’s starting in a division than Brian Griese, Kelly Holcomb and John Kitna?
September 26th, 2007 at 10:50 am
Vince Evans wasn’t available?
September 26th, 2007 at 10:51 am
I give it 5 days before the Start Orton contigent becomes vocal.
Chicago Fans – You asked for it. You got it. Enjoy Brian Griese and his absolutley horrendous quarterbacking abilities.
September 26th, 2007 at 10:59 am
Thank you Rex for helping the colts become world champions..
world champions, world champions..gosh i can’t say that enough..
seriously though..Bears should have looked to trent green or culpepper as a backup in the off-season..yet they stood pat..did they even draft a qb?
September 26th, 2007 at 11:01 am
With Rex getting benched and Bill Wirtz dying, it’s a glorious day for Chicago sports fans.
September 26th, 2007 at 11:05 am
Orton should play, not Griese.
September 26th, 2007 at 11:06 am
While there’s a definite problem with the NFL having little patience with their QB’s (especially if they’re drafted in the first round), that’s not the case with Grossman. The Bears have given him more than enough chances. Granted, he was hurt the beginning part of his career, but he had a full season in the NFL and instead of getting better as the year went along, he got worse. He didn’t make any improvements to his game this offseason, and he’s in a contract year! If knowing your performance is going to dictate your paycheck, wouldn’t you try a little harder to do better at your job?
Bears fans don’t think Griese is anywhere close to as good as the majority of starters in the league. But he will at least give the offense a chance at scoring some points instead of turning the GD ball over every time we get close to the endzone! If Jeff Garcia can manage not to kill a team, why can’t Griese?
September 26th, 2007 at 11:11 am
Because Jeff Garcia has shown hes a consistent starter with good performances wherever he has gone and has shown he can read a defense and galvanize a team. Garcia is a good leader and decent NFL qb. Griese has been replaced and outside that fluke pro-bowl year, has been benched for the same reasons (though not nearly in as flashy a manner) as rexy.
and, on a serious note, how can you expect rex to improve his game when he’s knee deep in poon?
September 26th, 2007 at 11:14 am
Griese was a pro bowler in 2003. When was Grossman?
Look at career numbers. Griese has a higher completion percent, more TD’s, fewer INTs. Granted, he’s played longer but still have better numbers.
Look at Rex’s numbers from 2006 to now. He has the worst QB rating, highest INTs, lowest completion percentage.
It makes sense. Rex may not be the ONLY reason they are losing, but he is ONE reason. Griese can’t do much worse.
September 26th, 2007 at 11:15 am
But he will at least give the offense a chance at scoring some points instead of turning the GD ball over every time we get close to the endzone!
um. i wouldn’t hold my breath.
i can’t count how many times i saw a brian griese pass to the sideline get picked and returned for six. with griese as a starting qb, the bears will begin each game effectively behind 6-0. detroit’s defensive backs have to be drooling this morning.
September 26th, 2007 at 11:20 am
I do wonder if Orton is in the plans…If BG squats down and takes a dump under center in the first half, they should just put Orton in. We saw him play and he actually DIDN’T make mistakes. He just couldn’t move the ball, but he was also grossly under prepared, as a starting QB after a late round draft back would be.
September 26th, 2007 at 11:26 am
i think its hard to use grossman’s net numbers. of course when you’re fluctuation between 100 and 0 the average is going to be 50. rather, look at his games with a rating over 100 and compare that to griese’s games over 100. the kid can obviously chuck it, why not let him rip through detroit, let him get his confidence back? if he cant do it against those scrubs, then make a change, but if you think griese gives you a better chance to win than the Cannon, you’re sadly mistaken.
September 26th, 2007 at 11:32 am
Ok, so what other options to the Bears have? You’re saying keep Grossman in the game? Griese is awful, but what the fuck else is Lovie supposed to do? Jerry Angelo gave Lovie Orton, Griese and Grossman to work with. Until we get a competent GM in place that can draft or sign offensive talent, these three guys are the choices for running the offense. All you geniuses say Griese’s not the guy, what do YOU suggest the Bears do in this situation? Douche bags.
September 26th, 2007 at 11:33 am
bill “worst” wirtz died?
that may be the most underplayed sports story of the day. that’s a helluva lot bigger story than grossman/griese.
September 26th, 2007 at 11:36 am
Ok, so what other options to the Bears have? You’re saying keep Grossman in the game? Griese is awful, but what the fuck else is Lovie supposed to do? Jerry Angelo gave Lovie Orton, Griese and Grossman to work with. Until we get a competent GM in place that can draft or sign offensive talent, these three guys are the choices for running the offense. All you geniuses say Griese’s not the guy, what do YOU suggest the Bears do in this situation? Douche bags.
well, when your option is going from bad to worse, you stick with bad.
the blood is on angelo’s hands.
September 26th, 2007 at 11:40 am
This is why it’s been utterly insane and incredibly stupid and stubborn the way the Bears have refused to even attempt to offer open competition at the QB spot for the past 3 years. That’s why we don’t have Culpepper/Leftwich/etc. here now instead of Brian Griese.
But hey, they didn’t want competition for Benson at RB from Thomas Jones and look how well that’s worked out too…
September 26th, 2007 at 11:51 am
if the option is a QB who gives me a chance to win (grossman) or a QB who gives me a chance not to lose (griese) id take orton every day of the week.
September 26th, 2007 at 12:00 pm
I miss seeing Orton’s neck beard on TV every Sunday.
September 26th, 2007 at 12:05 pm
Rex Grossman was the worst starting QB in the NFL. What part of that statement don’t people understand? There is literally no way that Brian Griese can play any worse than Grossman has this year.
Other than his cool nicknames and legendary poon hounding, I have no idea why Grossman has such a rabid following.
September 26th, 2007 at 12:29 pm
i don’t think alex smith wil be sat down. he’s very young (still 23 now) and makes a boatload of money and should be improving. he also lacks good receivers. plus, there isn’t a great guy, or guy with great potential, who would take the reins. trent dilfer is the back up which should explain why people aren’t trying to get smith out.
September 26th, 2007 at 12:30 pm
I love the Bears fans being in total and utter disarray.
sportsgal dropping a “Douchebag”? Wow.
Hey, being a Lions fan, I find this amusing. Kitna throws 1 pick in the endzone every week, and Bears fans are complaining about losing to some of the NFL’s elite!
Nice!
September 26th, 2007 at 12:31 pm
There is literally no way that Brian Griese can play any worse than Grossman has this year.
hope you remember that when stanley wilson crosses the goal line in the third quarter.
September 26th, 2007 at 12:39 pm
When do we get to start the Bench Benson brigade?
A competent QB can hide an inept running back, and vice-versa, but we really need to address both positions.
I am not giving up on the season by any means, but I am starting to peek at the free-agent and draft lists…
Long live TBL!
Dave
September 26th, 2007 at 12:47 pm
Grossman and Griese. Is there a worst 1-2 combo at QB in the league. (Vikings not Included)? Brian Griese is horrible…the Defense is breaking down. The Bears are heading faster to the cellar then the Raiders did.
September 26th, 2007 at 12:48 pm
JEEZE TBL, I thought you knew better than to post unconfirmed stories. This may have been leaked, but there is no word from Lovie or the Bears organization regarding this matter. SO, congrats, pat yourself on the back, YOU OFFICIALLY BECAME ESPN today. The sources you posted are innacurate because the stories are written on assumption. So until Lovie comes out of practice today and announces that Griese is starting, you posted an unsubstatiated story fueld only by speculation and rumor, JUST LIKE ESPN. Nice credibility. I know it is true anyways, but it was obvious after the result of Sunday’s game that a change needed to be made.. You should have devoted a little effort into describing why the change should be, or would be made, but this story is just some crap you got from a guy who knows a guy who knows a guy at ESPN who claimed a fake source for this ‘news’. The Bears are pretty tightlip, and there is no way this “Source” came from anywhere other than chris mortenson or jon clayton. Good job. Way to raise the bar.
September 26th, 2007 at 12:53 pm
Bears fans wanted Griese but here is the biggest problem with this thinking….THE F’N BEARS HAVE NO RUNNING GAME. Why was Griese good in 2003….DENVER HAD A RUNNING GAME, A DAMN GOOD O-LINE, and A quality receiver in ROD SMITH. Do the Bears have that….HECK NO! But at least Grossman was trying to do something about it. As a QB your job is to make plays. He cant turn water into wine!
September 26th, 2007 at 1:05 pm
Wine? We would have settled for slightly-flavored water.
September 26th, 2007 at 1:05 pm
Gator, your way off.
September 26th, 2007 at 1:25 pm
JEEZE TBL, I thought you knew better than to post unconfirmed stories. This may have been leaked, but there is no word from Lovie or the Bears organization regarding this matter. SO, congrats, pat yourself on the back, YOU OFFICIALLY BECAME ESPN today. The sources you posted are innacurate because the stories are written on assumption. So until Lovie comes out of practice today and announces that Griese is starting, you posted an unsubstatiated story fueld only by speculation and rumor, JUST LIKE ESPN. Nice credibility. I know it is true anyways, but it was obvious after the result of Sunday’s game that a change needed to be made.. You should have devoted a little effort into describing why the change should be, or would be made, but this story is just some crap you got from a guy who knows a guy who knows a guy at ESPN who claimed a fake source for this ‘news’. The Bears are pretty tightlip, and there is no way this “Source†came from anywhere other than chris mortenson or jon clayton. Good job. Way to raise the bar.
whoops!
i guess profootballtalk.com was wrong about michael vick too!
September 26th, 2007 at 2:23 pm
Swandong, tell me where I am way off. Those are facts about the Bears right now and the o-line said it themselves. Are you tell me that Griese will be the savior of the bears this year. With what running game. If anything Benson needs to be benched too!
Its simple on how to play defense against the bears. Rush 4 and drop back 6 and let one be a rover. It didnt help that Grossman didnt have his new TE for the first 2 games and most of the pre-season to work with either.
Has Grossman been awful. No one is questioning that. He has. But to say that its all his fault and that Griese is better is nuts!
September 26th, 2007 at 2:52 pm
True, Gatorman, it’s not all his fault. It’s not his fault the offensive line is old and slow, and it’s definitely not his fault his running back is less than stellar (at both running and blocking). But even with all those issues, he continues to fuck up even when everything’s working right w/ the running game and the O Line. It IS his fault he’s continuously nervous in the pocket. It IS his fault he has trouble receiving a snap from his Pro Bowl center. It IS his fault he throws off his back foot when he gets pressure from a defense. And last but not least, it’s 100% his fault for throwing a fucking ball into triple coverage!
How do you, or anyone else for that matter, know beyond a shadow of a doubt Griese is just as bad if not worse than Grossman?
September 26th, 2007 at 3:07 pm
How do you, or anyone else for that matter, know beyond a shadow of a doubt Griese is just as bad if not worse than Grossman?
i watched him throw far too many touchdowns — to the other team — far too often for my tastes or any sane fan’s taste when he played for tampa bay.
it’s one thing to throw picks. it’s another thing to watch virtually every sideline pass get run back for six. griese has zero arm strength left. those balls just hang out there begging cornerbacks to come get them.
i also saw him lose his starting job in miami to jay fielder. jay fiedler!!! that’s like saying you lost your job to sage rosenfels. as if losing your job to jake plummer or chris simms is anything to brag about.
if mike shanahan and jon gruden washed their hands of him, what makes anyone think the vaunted offensive mind of our time, ron turner, can turn him around?
bears fans, when this guy decides to throw out patterns, close your eyes, hold your breath and say a quiet prayer.
September 26th, 2007 at 3:23 pm
Being in Kansas City since 2001 and watching him play for Denver with my own two eyes against the Chiefs who within the last two years just started playing defense is the reason why I am saying this.
I want to make it clear. I hated Grossman when he played for my GATORS!!!!!!!! But when you watch games and see things that you know is not right and you know the back-up sucks worse than the starter then you give the man a break.
September 26th, 2007 at 3:31 pm
Thank you JIMMY! Finally someone who know this guy blows!!!!!!!!
September 27th, 2007 at 7:02 am
The Sex Cannon has been silenced. (sniff)