Rex Grossman News: Pro Sports Daily

All eyes on Grossman as Bears clash with Titans

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November 9

Chicago Sun-Times

"Somewhere along the way, Rex Grossman figured he would be called on to lead the Bears. He wasn’t daydreaming, nor was he knocking Kyle Orton or questioning his durability. Rather, he was pointing out the obvious. No matter what is happening on the field, the franchise never seems far off from its next quarterback switch. For five seasons the QB carousel rotated around Grossman, and today marks the 34th change in 148 regular-season games. Now, Grossman’s future intersects with the Bears’ playoff hopes as the 8-0 Tennessee Titans come to Soldier Field for the first time since they were the Houston Oilers in 1995. With a one-game lead in the NFC North at 5-3, the Bears have an opportunity to ..."

Grossman in line to start vs. Titans

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November 8

Chicago Sun-Times

"The Bears will return to the familiar refrain ''Rex is our quarterback'' on Sunday when the Tennessee Titans visit Soldier Field, but Kyle Orton took the first step in returning from his right ankle injury. Orton joined practice Friday and was limited, with a team source saying he did only ''light work.'' Orton, who earlier in the week said not to rule him out, is listed as doubtful on the injury report. Undrafted rookie free agent Caleb Hanie is expected to be the No. 2 quarterback for the game. After sitting out two practices completely, Orton can continue to rehabilitate his injury this weekend. He can target a return for next week's game at Lambeau Field, the first meeting of the ..."

Bears expected to start Rex Grossman at QB

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November 8

Chicago Tribune

"Hours after most of his teammates had disappeared from Halas Hall this week, Rex Grossman remained in the quarterbacks meeting room dissecting film of the Tennessee Titans. "This week, it's a big week for me," Grossman said Friday. "I was making sure that I've solidified everything." You can bet Grossman didn't put in the extra time to sit on the bench. With Kyle Orton nursing a high right ankle sprain, Grossman is expected to start for the Bears on Sunday for the first time since Dec. 6 of last season. Coach Lovie Smith refused to name Grossman the starter even with Orton listed as doubtful on the final injury report. Orton's most extensive action of the week was walking onto the practice ..."

Bears have a different quarterback in Rex

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November 4

Chicago Sun-Times

"Before Kyle Orton's injury makes you want to pack it in for the season as a Bears fan, stop and take a look at what Rex Grossman did well Sunday. For starters, he brought the Bears back from a loss that could have been devastating, a season-ender. Granted, running back Matt Forte helped him out with a nice second half and a 100-yard day, but you could say the same thing if Orton wasn't in the locker room icing down his ankle. Grossman did what every backup quarterback in the NFL is supposed to do: come in and win the ballgame. Sure, Grossman's numbers weren't anything special (9-of-19 for 58 yards, one touchdown and one interception), but what I liked seeing as an analyst and former player ..."

Urlacher angered by fans' booing of Grossman

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November 4

Chicago Tribune

"Bears linebacker Brian Urlacher saw no problem with waving his hands to the fans after they booed the defense's second-quarter struggles Sunday against the Lions. Urlacher wiggled his fingers in the air as he departed the field at halftime, a gesture interpreted as mocking toward the jeering fans. His actions fueled criticism on talk-radio shows Monday morning, particularly from those displeased with the way the six-time Pro Bowler has played this season. "I was just putting my hands in the air," Urlacher said Monday. "On third down, when the fans are cheering and we throw our arms up for them to scream louder, what's the difference? If I choose to do it when they're booing, there's ..."

Rex plays No. 2 role like a pro

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November 3

Chicago Sun-Times

"Kyle Orton became the first Bears quarterback to rush for a touchdown since Rex Grossman did it four seasons ago on a play that blew out his knee. That didn't do Orton in Sunday against the Detroit Lions, but a tangled mess of defensive linemen Cory Redding and Dewayne White did as Orton was lost for the game and perhaps longer with a right ankle injury. He was carted off the field late in the second quarter and wore a walking boot after the game. It's not believed Orton suffered a fracture, but a sprain could sideline him for several weeks. Rex Grossman, the loser of the four-month quarterback derby, was treated coolly by the Soldier Field crowd but threw a six-yard touchdown pass to ..."

Rusty Rex bounces off mat to help rescue Bears

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November 3

Chicago Tribune

columnist David Haugh

"Without even factoring in the thick, black stubble on Rex Grossman's face Sunday that failed the beard test, he barely resembled Bears starting quarterback Kyle Orton. But then Grossman didn't have to. All he really had to do was hand off to Matt Forte, keep the ball out of the hands of Lions defensive players and let the Bears' offensive line dominate an opponent as it should have. For his part, Grossman rushed several throws, sailed a couple of passes over open receivers and understandably looked as rusty as a quarterback who hadn't taken a snap that mattered in 11 months. He completed only 9 of 19 passes for 58 yards, one touchdown and one familiar interception of a tipped pass. ..."

Orton carted off field with ankle injury

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November 2

Chicago Sun-Times

"Looks like the Bears will be turning to Rex Grossman. Kyle Orton was carted off the field with less than a minute to play in the first half when his right ankle was twisted badly at the end of a scramble. Orton was running toward the Detroit sideline on third-and-two at the Lions' 35-yard line and was brought down from behind by tackle Cory Redding. As he was being brought down, defensive end Dewayne White joined the pile and he twised Orton's foot."

Sister of Bears quarterback Grossman robbed at gunpoint

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September 23

Chicago Tribune

"The sister of Bears quarterback Rex Grossman was robbed at gunpoint Friday in her Lincoln Park garage, a source said Monday. The woman was backing her sport-utility vehicle into her garage in the 2000 block of North Racine Avenue about 11:30 a.m. when the robber followed her inside and brandished a gun, a Chicago police spokesman said. The spokesman declined to identify the victim, but a source said it was Grossman's sister, Ashley Fox. Reached at home, Fox confirmed she was robbed but declined further comment."

Rex keeps head in game

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September 10

Chicago Sun-Times

"It has been said the backup quarterback is always the most popular guy in town. Well, maybe nobody is uttering such heresy in Chicago these days, but in a league where a master of the position like Tom Brady can be gone for the year in a blink of an eye, it's interesting to learn that Rex Grossman doesn't want to simply drop back and fade away. Grossman said, ''I'll never fully get over it,'' when he lost the starting quarterback job to Kyle Orton, but instead of slipping into a funk, he has dedicated himself to being fully prepared should his number be called. To that end Grossman took the lion's share of snaps as the scout team quarterback last week, prepping the defense by playing ..."

Undrafted rookie QB Hanie at the ready for Bears

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September 2

Daily Herald

"If history is any indication, it won't be long before Bears fans are clamoring for Caleb Hanie. As the third-string quarterback, Hanie will become a fan favorite at Soldier Field as soon as starter Kyle Orton and backup Rex Grossman stumble, even a little. History also says there's a good chance that three quarterbacks will start games for the Bears. It has happened in four of the previous six seasons, including 2004, when the Bears used four (Chad Hutchinson, Craig Krenzel, Jonathan Quinn and Grossman). "Yeah, I've heard that," Hanie said with a smile. "That's just extra motivation for me. It gives me a little push to say, 'You better be ready, because whether it's injuries or stuff like ..."

Rex waits for what's next

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August 26

Chicago Sun-Times

"Even when he found himself on the long, arduous road back from a torn ACL and later a fractured ankle, Rex Grossman always could point to the fact he was the quarterback of the future. Now, he's the quarterback with the clipboard -- or whatever he chooses to occupy his time with on the sidelines, where he will be a play away from being called upon but seemingly forever away from the starting job. A week after coach Lovie Smith announced Kyle Orton was the winner of the quarterback derby that commenced back in April, Grossman shared his feelings publicly for the first time Monday as he came off the practice field at Halas Hall. ''That's not for me really to say,'' Grossman said when asked ..."

Boo him, but don't dismiss this QB

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August 26

Chicago Tribune

columnist David Haugh

"Please stop referring to Rex Grossman as the most popular quarterback in Chicago now that he is the backup. That NFL adage doesn't apply with Grossman, oddly the most polarizing athlete in town since Sammy Sosa. The boos after incompletions Thursday night during the San Francisco game confirmed that Grossman's loathe-hate relationship with fans survived his demotion. Bears fans only want to hail Grossman again when they see him hailing a cab out of town. "I haven't worried about that because I can't control that," Grossman said Monday in his first comments since Kyle Orton was named the starter. "I feel like I've done a lot for this team over the last five years. I've had some unfortunate ..."

Conditioning has Rex Grossman optimistic about 2008

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August 15

Chicago Tribune

"Taking a vacation would have been the easy way out, but Rex Grossman decided to compromise. The Bears' quarterback escaped Chicago, escaped the heckling of talk radio, escaped the criticism he so often heard from so many quarters. But if you think his three-week getaway to Tampa in July was all about rest and relaxation, you might not understand how serious Grossman has approached this competition with Kyle Orton. "I just wanted to do everything I could to put my best foot forward, and then let the chips fall where they may," Grossman said. So Grossman took a step back and identified his most deficient areas. He checked into the athletes' compound at Saddlebrook Resort, a place where his ..."

Rex Grossman needs good showing vs. Seattle

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August 15

Chicago Tribune

columnist David Haugh

"Having concluded that Thursday was the day to be an Illinois state trooper along northbound Interstate Highway 57 in Kankakee County trying to meet a quota for traffic tickets, here are 10 other things I know as the Bears break training camp. 1. I know Rex Grossman probably has more to gain from Saturday night's exhibition game in Seattle than Kyle Orton. Grossman will start, and if he gets hot against a team he has excelled against the last two years, he could get a nudge. On the other hand, if Grossman and Orton both turn in fairly nondescript performances as they did in the exhibition opener, then it's advantage, Orton. From here, it seems Grossman clearly has to be better in game ..."

Rex, Kyle in stalemate

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August 14

Chicago Sun-Times

"When the Bears rolled into town brimming with optimism 23 days ago, they came in search of answers. The one thing they wanted most is the thing they can't seem to get: one quarterback to step up and grab the starting job. They've talked ad nauseam about the need for consistency and efficiency, which is code for wanting someone to make the decision as clear to the team as it is to the viewing public. A few questions have been answered as the Bears enter the final day of training camp. Devin Hester found riches and happiness, Brian Urlacher looks to be in fine shape and the defense appears formidable. The offensive line went from being a question to a great concern, and the wide receiver ..."

Grossman playing it cool in QB battle

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August 12

Daily Herald

"Rex Grossman might need a solid performance Saturday night when he starts against the Seahawks to catch up to Kyle Orton in their fight for the starting quarterback job, but he's not putting too much pressure on himself. "I'm just going out there to try to play my game," Grossman said. "I'm going to try to make the plays when they're there, run the offense and move the chains. They (the coaches) will make that determination I'm just going out there and try to play my best." Grossman has done a better job of stepping up in the pocket during training camp and he seems to be moving better in general. "I'm in better shape," Grossman said. "I train my body to do those movements more to where it ..."

Booing won't bother Rex Grossman

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August 7

Chicago Tribune

columnist David Haugh

"Go ahead and boo Rex Grossman all you want Thursday night at Soldier Field, Bears fans. Get it out of your system. Get your money's worth. You paid top dollar for those tickets to the season's first exhibition against the Kansas City Chiefs, so that buys you at least three hours of booing to your heart's content, right? Nobody disputes that or denies a game ticket is a contract permitting fans' free expression. But when it comes to the anticipated fan treatment of Grossman that has received much attention in town this week, one matter needs to be cleared up before Chicago clears its throat again: the matter of it mattering. It doesn't. What makes you feel better doesn't necessarily make ..."

QBs need boost, not boos

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August 4

Chicago Sun-Times

columnist Mike Mulligan

"The quarterback battle goes into overdrive Thursday with the first preseason game against the Kansas City Chiefs at Soldier Field, but if the Bears know who's going to start between Rex Grossman and Kyle Orton, they're not revealing it just yet. The only certainty is the starter won't be determined by a coin flip -- the method used in minicamp and the start of training camp to determine who opened the first practice with the first team. ''I took too much heat for that, so we might do rock, paper, scissors,'' offensive coordinator Ron Turner said. One thing the Bears have promised not to measure or consider is public opinion, which might be good news for Grossman after Family Night at ..."

Hail Mary caps glorious day for Grossman

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August 4

Chicago Tribune

"After Rex Grossman ended Sunday's practice by launching a Hail Mary pass that was caught by Devin Hester, one figured it had to be Grossman's day. It was. The Bears quarterback shook off a lackluster performance Friday night at Soldier Field by connecting on just about everything Sunday. He ran the Bears' first-team offense and completed his first six passes in seven-on-seven drills, including a dart across the middle that tight end Greg Olsen palmed with one hand. When the Bears went to full-squad work, Grossman completed 15 of 18 passes. "Today was good," Grossman said. "I thought this was one of our best offensive days. We were sharp mentally. … As long as we don't screw ourselves up, ..."

Pleased with `quarterbacks,' Bears foolishly ignore Favre

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August 3

Chicago Sun-Times

columnist Jay Mariotti

"When an ordeal stretches beyond the absurd, when the mere mention of a name causes more cringing in America than a Mini-Me sex tape, the impossible suddenly becomes possible. The minute Brett Favre suggested he'd like to play for the Vikings or Bears, Halas Hall should have been on the case faster than flies on you-know-what. The minute the Packers acknowledged such a trade as a ``last resort'' resolution, Jerry Angelo should have been plotting. A drama this unhinged deserves a Twilight Zone ending. Assuredly, nothing would be spookier than Favre, the all-time Bears killer, ending his career in a Chicago uniform after the traditional rivals senselessly dumped a still-effective icon to ..."

Williams agrees in principle, Grossman wins coin toss to start

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July 23

Chicago Tribune

"Rookie first round pick Chris Williams has agreed to a five-year deal hours before the start of training camp. Williams is likely to arrive today, with practice scheduled to start at 3 p.m. The Tribune has learned that the $16 million deal includes $10 million guaranteed, according to NFL sources. He agreed hours before the Bears first training camp practice at 3 p.m. Wednesday. Also, Rex Grossman has won the starting quarterback job -- for the first day of practice. There was a coin toss at a Wednesday morning quarterback meeting. Kyle Orton called it, but Grossman won it and will run with the first-team offense Wednesday."

Because his name isn't Rex, Orton should be starter

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July 21

Chicago Sun-Times

columnist Jay Mariotti

"If Favre wants to win, he'd be an idiot to join the Bears, who have no defined running back, wide receivers or offensive line but do have a fine kicker to try field goals while opponents are scoring touchdowns. So, settle back and swallow the reality that Kyle Orton should be -- and will be, I predict -- the latest glorified mannequin to fill the traditional black hole at Halas Hall. I say that not because I have any particular confidence in Orton, who would be a second- or third-stringer on other NFL depth charts, but because I have slightly more faith he'll make fewer mistakes than Rex Grossman."