Super Bowl XLI

Grossman doubters starting to irk coach

Lovie Smith is losing his patience. Not with Rex Grossman, but with questions about Grossman.

By RICK STROUD
Published February 1, 2007

MIAMI - Lovie Smith is losing his patience. Not with Rex Grossman, but with questions about Grossman.

On Wednesday, Smith was asked whether he would consider pulling Grossman in favor of backup Brian Griese if his starting quarterback struggles.

Smith did not raise his voice but was clearly annoyed.

"I'm just wondering if Peyton Manning will be asked that same question. Probably not," he said sternly. "Rex Grossman should not be asked that question. I shouldn't be asked that question. Rex is our quarterback. I should not have to continue to go over that. I am not planning on pulling Brian Urlacher or Olin Kreutz, either."

Meanwhile, Griese is back in his hometown with a chance to win a Super Bowl ring, but the former Buc doesn't expect to play.

"We'll see what happens after this year," Griese, 31, said. "I still feel like I can play in this league, and I don't feel like I can ever be a career backup if that's what you're asking. After playing for eight years, I'd like to get back in the field."

Griese, however, is happy to be part of a Super Bowl team. "Anytime you're on a team that has a chance to win a championship, it's a lot of fun."

NEW BILLS: Colts general manager Bill Polian was the architect of a Buffalo team that lost four Super Bowls, and he helped construct a Carolina team that lost in the NFC title game.

Polian said it's unfair to compare the Colts with his Bills teams.

"I can't. The other teams were in the nonsalary-cap era," Polian said. "So it isn't really a fair comparison. You can't make one. Under a salary cap, I don't know how many of those guys would've been on the Bills.

"Offensively, it's pretty similar. Maybe a little more depth offensively. Defensively, it's very dissimilar and it's because of the cap."

DUNGY WONDERED: Tony Dungy said there was a time he doubted he ever would become a coach in the NFL. The year was 1993 when he was defensive coordinator of the Vikings.

"There were seven openings and we had the No. 1 defense in the NFL and I didn't get a phone call or an interview," Dungy said. "I thought to myself at that point, with the No. 1 defense and to not even get a call, it was probably going to be a long road. I think that was a time that the Lord was testing my patience and perseverance, and it happened a couple of years later.

"We weren't in the playoffs. There were only two openings that year, Miami and Tampa, and I didn't know anybody at either place. I didn't feel like I had a chance at either job and Tampa is the one I ended up getting. So a lot of times you have to stay patient and persevere, that is one thing I've learned."

Rick Stroud can be reached at stroud@sptimes.com

[Last modified February 1, 2007, 06:14:02]