QB's day typifies season

By STEPHEN F. HOLDER
Published February 5, 2007

ADVERTISEMENT [AP photo] Tony Dungy is dunked after his Indianapolis Colts defeated the Chicago Bears in a rainy Super Bowl XLI on Sunday night in Miami. Related coverage Gary Shelton: Top of the World John Romano: A legacy completed, Manning gets his title View photos Complete coverage

MIAMI - Rex Grossman had heard enough. He lashed out last week at the media for their seasonlong criticism of his disparate performances during an otherwise sparkling 13-3 regular season for the Chicago Bears.

He called reporters "ignorant," said they were merely "trying to sell papers" and accused them of taking cues from dissatisfied, vocal fans.

All that was before Grossman went out and finished Super Bowl XLI with two interceptions and a pair of fumbles one lost in an unimpressive performance in the Bears' 29-17 loss to Indianapolis at a dripping-wet Dolphin Stadium. One can only imagine what Grossman's feelings will be when he reads today's headlines after his seventh multi-interception game of the year, including the postseason.

Sunday, it was a game that featured the best and the worst of Grossman, another way of saying it was a rather typical performance from the former Florida Gator. Grossman was 20-of-28 for 165 yards, which on the surface doesn't sound like anything to sneeze at. But factor in the interceptions and the fumble and the limited opportunities Grossman had (he attempted just eight passes in the first half), and it was a recipe for defeat.

Through it all, Grossman remained confident he could find a way - but not on this night.

"My confidence didn't waver," he said. "It was just a matter of getting into a rhythm as an offense, everyone hitting on all cylinders, getting first downs so you can get to your game plan."

None of that ever happened. It seemed each promising play Grossman made was offset by one that put his team in a deeper hole. Such was the case in the fourth quarter when he drilled a pass to Muhsin Muhammad for a 22-yard gain to the Chicago 38 to get the Bears out of the shadow of their end zone. The next play, Grossman was intercepted by Colts cornerback Kelvin Hayden, who then scampered 56 yards for a back-breaking touchdown.

It was Grossman trying to make the spectacular plays he clearly is capable of, but things didn't work as planned.

"I was giving (Muhammad) a chance to go up and battle for it on kind of a hitch-and-go," Grossman said. "The corner got his eyes around and saw the ball and made a good play on it.

"In hindsight, I wish I would have thrown it away. But I was giving (Muhammad) a chance."

There were more miscues, like the bobbled snaps on consecutive plays in the third quarter. The first led to an 11-yard loss when Grossman recovered but was sacked by Colts defensive tackle Anthony McFarland. And the second went for minus-11 yards when Grossman recovered his own fumble.

"The first one, I was trying to run away from pressure up the middle and slipped," he said. "Then, (I) had the bobbled snap, which killed that drive. Those were opportunities that we left out on the field."

Quarterbacks are asked to find ways to win, so when one does things that result in defeat, questions arise.

Not unlike many game days during the regular season, Grossman was asked Sunday what he thought of his future, whether he would be the Bears' starting quarterback on opening day 2007.

"All I can talk about is this game right now," Grossman said. "It's a frustrating loss, and I'm excited about next year."

Maybe then Grossman will produce more of the good and less of the bad.

Stephen F. Holder can be reached at sholder@sptimes.com or (813) 226-3377.

[Last modified February 5, 2007, 01:58:05]