Tough times for Rex, but does Jay Cutler change his legacy?
Rex Grossman…His name alone brings about a staggering variety and range of emotions that just might match the peaks and valleys in his play. He is the most polarizing Chicago sports figure of the new millennium, and maybe any millennium for that matter.
Not an easy task when you consider that Sammy Sosa went from helping the Cubs get to within five outs of a World Series to more or less run out of town after the following season.
His fall from grace might have been one of the roughest and most brutal ever for an athlete who didn’t break a rule, law, or get involved in some sort of crime/sex scandal.
As one of the last off the Rex bandwagon I can personally attest it was a bumpy ride.
How did he go from NFL Offensive Player of the Month for September 2006 and starting Super Bowl XLI to:
* Having his agent twitter about him just to make sure everyone knows he’s still around and didn’t secretly retire or give up football.
* Watching Kyle Boller, Ryan Fitzpatrick, Dan Orlovsky, Patrick Ramsey and Joey Harrington all find jobs before him.
* And have his name surface as a possible try-out candidate for a new four-team football league that might last slightly longer than the XFL.
Where exactly is the rock that stops this bottoming out?
This is the end result of all the injuries, fumbled snaps, interceptions, constant media and fan scrutiny. A player with obvious talent, that once exuded unshakable and infectious confidence, being so broken that he can’t find a job in a league that employs the likes of Brock Berlin, Ken Dorsey and Marques Tuiasosopo.
But it’s easier to look back on Rex’s tenure in Chicago now, now that we’ve got Jay Cutler.
What was once a painful nightmare, an open wound, is instead just scar. Something fans can look back on with the confidence of someone who’s climbed the mountain and has a begrudging respect for all the trials and stumbles along the way.
The way Red Sox fans can embrace Bill Buckner.
The way Cubs fans will apologize to Steve Bartman—and they will once the Cubbies win it all.
Fans can look at Rex Grossman now and with wistful sympathy say, ‘He was simply over-matched.’ Injuries that derailed his development left him unprepared for the pressure of filling the most important position for the most important team in Chicago, especially during a title run.
Kyle Orton couldn’t do that. Jay Cutler can.
Jay Cutler makes it possible for a fan to suggest bringing Grossman back to be the veteran back-up this team needs and having people in the room pause just long enough to escape without bodily harm.
The Bears may never bring him back for an opening coin toss or to make an appearance at the fan expo, but at least people won’t go out of their way not to mention his name. Jay Cutler has done that.
And whether he plays in the NFL this season—as Rosenhaus insists he will—or not Rex will be remembered differently this year than anyone expected. Maybe he should send Jay a thank you card.
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Tags: jay cutler, Rex
4 Responses
Darren June 3rd at 10:06 am
I think Jay Cutler does wash the taste of Rex Grossman out of the mouths of Bears fans.
Injuries hurt Grossman’s chances at establishing himself, without a doubt. However, it appeared that Grossman hit a wall in mid-2006 when defenses adjusted to his strengths. Defenses applied extra pressure straight up the middle, and Grossman was not tall enough to throw over the pressure or nimble enough to sidestep it on a consistent basis. I think it’s that simple.
Furthermore, Grossman hurt himself with a terrible second half of Super Bowl 41. I blame this partly on Ron Turner, who gave up on an effective running game and put Rex in a position to fail in the rain.
Rex was unable to take advantage of his opportunities last year (even though he faced a tough TEN team) and is facing the consequences now. He needs to adjust his expectations to be a backup in the NFL.
Irish Bears Fan June 5th at 4:45 am
“Jay Cutler makes it possible for a fan to suggest bringing Grossman back to be the veteran back-up”
Exactly ! I was never a Rex fan, but we need somebody to go in if Cutler goes down (Orton would be nice!). Nobody is knocking Grossman’s door down, he would be very cheap. Do we need Brett Basanez that much ?
Ramon June 10th at 12:41 pm
I always thought Rex was unfairly blamed for the Super Bowl loss. The defense was giving up about 7 yards per rush and somehow forgot to cover Reggie Wayne for a TD. Not that Rex was great all the time, but I don’t had a bad taste in my mouth from the Rex era. He was good, not great. We shouldn’t hate a player for playing to the best of their ability. Hate them for not trying, not giving it their best. Grossman did give his best effort, it just wasn’t HOF caliber. I had a bad taste from all of the other Gator QB’s the Bears had, but I got over it.
I say bring back Rex as back-up. The current two backups have no experience. While Cassel didn’t have any experience for the Pats last year, I don’t see Randy Moss & Wes Welker lining up for the Bears to help a zero experience QB out.
All this said, Jay Cutler could wash away my 30+years of waiting for a truly great QB to ply for the Bears.
baffed June 27th at 5:58 pm
last two comments obviously drug induced or made by fully paid up morons. can’t belive anybody who lived through that flakey son of a swines time for the bears would even consider this. he’s off to learn to herd cattle in texas. rex isn’t our quaterback, thank all and everything for this.