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As Rexperiment flops, McNabb becomes future option
September 18, 2007
BY JAY MARIOTTI Sun-Times Columnist
Through all the crashes, budget cuts and rotten service, I still have more faith in the CTA than I do in Rex Grossman. And, at long last, I’m starting to think Lovie Smith is reaching the same conclusion. The question no longer is whether this painful, four-year Rexperiment can work, but, rather, when the Bears will summon Brian Griese for the rest of the season and how they’ll address their never-ending quarterback quandary in the future.
It isn’t a stretch to describe this Sunday night as Grossman’s last stand, with all the variables in place — prime-time national TV, an attacking Dallas defense, a restless crowd ready to pounce and boo — for another unwatchable display of Bad Rex. An outstanding defense is a terrible thing to waste, and despite Halas Hall’s laughable offseason attempts to brainwash us into believing he’s a big-time player, it’s obvious again that Wrecks personally can double-bolt a championship window and sabotage the best Bears run in 20 years.
Ever hear Coach Lovie Dovey, protector of the locker room, speak so urgently about his pet project? ‘‘The turnovers on the offensive side are something that we have to eliminate. It’s as simple as that,’’ he said, knowing Grossman already has three interceptions and the league’s 32nd-ranked passer rating while taking six sacks. ‘‘Passing-game-wise, we didn’t get a lot done [Sunday].’’ Another stinker will prompt loud calls for Griese. This time, with so much at stake, Smith and Jerry Angelo won’t plug their ears.
As for trying to locate the first franchise quarterback in the history of the NFL’s charter franchise, options aren’t plentiful. But one emerging possibility is Donovan McNabb, pride of south suburban Dolton, who could benefit from fresh scenery in his hometown as his honeymoon ends in Philadelphia. Once they start booing in Silly Philly, it’s time for a new address, especially with McNabb looking slow and tentative after offseason knee surgery. When the Eagles drafted Kevin Kolb, the message to McNabb was clear: Win now or we’re phasing you out. He has responded with two losses and is 9-12 as a starter since the Eagles lost Super Bowl XXXIX. The club can void his farcical 12-year, $115 million deal, signed in 2002, at any time. Or trade him.
This no doubt would please Bears defensive star Tommie Harris, who famously said at McNabb’s summer golf tournament, ‘‘I’d love to have him as my quarterback in Chicago. I know if he comes to the Chicago Bears, we can win the Super Bowl.’’ And it probably would please McNabb, who has felt so much heat in the East Coast media spotlight, between fans and dolts like Rush Limbaugh, that he made an unfortunate comment this week on HBO’s ‘‘Real Sports With Bryant Gumbel.’’
We’re generally beyond the point in society where quarterbacks are viewed as black or white. In the most pressurized position in team sports, results are the issue, not race. Quarterbacks aren’t criticized because they’re black; they’re criticized when they play poorly. Just ask Grossman. Or Eli Manning. Or even Peyton Manning, who was broiled nationally until he won a Super Bowl. But McNabb played the race card, saying, ‘‘There’s not that many African-American quarterbacks, so we have to do a little bit extra. ... I pass for 300 yards, our team wins by seven, and [mimicking], ‘Ah, he could’ve made this throw, they would have scored if he did this.’’’
When interviewer James Brown said all QBs face scrutiny, dropping the names of Peyton Manning and Carson Palmer as points of comparison, McNabb said, ‘‘Let me start by saying I love those guys. But they don’t get criticized as much as we do.’’
A white quarterback wearing No. 8 in Chicago might disagree.
http://www.suntimes.com/sports/mariottiweb/563132,mariottiweb19.article
September 18, 2007
BY JAY MARIOTTI Sun-Times Columnist
Through all the crashes, budget cuts and rotten service, I still have more faith in the CTA than I do in Rex Grossman. And, at long last, I’m starting to think Lovie Smith is reaching the same conclusion. The question no longer is whether this painful, four-year Rexperiment can work, but, rather, when the Bears will summon Brian Griese for the rest of the season and how they’ll address their never-ending quarterback quandary in the future.
It isn’t a stretch to describe this Sunday night as Grossman’s last stand, with all the variables in place — prime-time national TV, an attacking Dallas defense, a restless crowd ready to pounce and boo — for another unwatchable display of Bad Rex. An outstanding defense is a terrible thing to waste, and despite Halas Hall’s laughable offseason attempts to brainwash us into believing he’s a big-time player, it’s obvious again that Wrecks personally can double-bolt a championship window and sabotage the best Bears run in 20 years.
Ever hear Coach Lovie Dovey, protector of the locker room, speak so urgently about his pet project? ‘‘The turnovers on the offensive side are something that we have to eliminate. It’s as simple as that,’’ he said, knowing Grossman already has three interceptions and the league’s 32nd-ranked passer rating while taking six sacks. ‘‘Passing-game-wise, we didn’t get a lot done [Sunday].’’ Another stinker will prompt loud calls for Griese. This time, with so much at stake, Smith and Jerry Angelo won’t plug their ears.
As for trying to locate the first franchise quarterback in the history of the NFL’s charter franchise, options aren’t plentiful. But one emerging possibility is Donovan McNabb, pride of south suburban Dolton, who could benefit from fresh scenery in his hometown as his honeymoon ends in Philadelphia. Once they start booing in Silly Philly, it’s time for a new address, especially with McNabb looking slow and tentative after offseason knee surgery. When the Eagles drafted Kevin Kolb, the message to McNabb was clear: Win now or we’re phasing you out. He has responded with two losses and is 9-12 as a starter since the Eagles lost Super Bowl XXXIX. The club can void his farcical 12-year, $115 million deal, signed in 2002, at any time. Or trade him.
This no doubt would please Bears defensive star Tommie Harris, who famously said at McNabb’s summer golf tournament, ‘‘I’d love to have him as my quarterback in Chicago. I know if he comes to the Chicago Bears, we can win the Super Bowl.’’ And it probably would please McNabb, who has felt so much heat in the East Coast media spotlight, between fans and dolts like Rush Limbaugh, that he made an unfortunate comment this week on HBO’s ‘‘Real Sports With Bryant Gumbel.’’
We’re generally beyond the point in society where quarterbacks are viewed as black or white. In the most pressurized position in team sports, results are the issue, not race. Quarterbacks aren’t criticized because they’re black; they’re criticized when they play poorly. Just ask Grossman. Or Eli Manning. Or even Peyton Manning, who was broiled nationally until he won a Super Bowl. But McNabb played the race card, saying, ‘‘There’s not that many African-American quarterbacks, so we have to do a little bit extra. ... I pass for 300 yards, our team wins by seven, and [mimicking], ‘Ah, he could’ve made this throw, they would have scored if he did this.’’’
When interviewer James Brown said all QBs face scrutiny, dropping the names of Peyton Manning and Carson Palmer as points of comparison, McNabb said, ‘‘Let me start by saying I love those guys. But they don’t get criticized as much as we do.’’
A white quarterback wearing No. 8 in Chicago might disagree.
http://www.suntimes.com/sports/mariottiweb/563132,mariottiweb19.article
