Bear Down: Mariotti "Exposes" Rex Gate
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But the way the change came down Wednesday -- mysterious, shady, sneaky, Belichickian, choose the description -- was even more revealing about the lack of leadership and stability on high. When Smith and his staff make a call as sensitive as replacing Brian Griese with Grossman, especially when Griese says an injury to his non-throwing shoulder isn't serious, how about being up front with everyone from the start? - Jay Mariotti
Once upon time in Miami, Dr. Daniel Grossman had a rather nice and elaborate bouquet of flowers sent to the hotel room belonging to Jay Mariotti.
Fortunately the flowers seemed to have given the back page pundit a bad case of hives. Unfortunately the Bears were clobbered by the Colts in the Super Bowl. Dr. Grossman's son played less than spectacularly, much to the delight of a certain columnist. The rest, as Chicagoans well know, is history.
Today's rubbish only exemplifies Mariotti's hatred towards the Sex Cannon. In a hyperbole-laced, long winded tirade, Jay implies that replacing a somewhat wounded winged Brian Griese is akin to benching Joe Montana. Heck, one might suggest that Mariotti equates Brian Griese's rather inauspicious football season to the production of John Elway. But then again, Jay once wrote that Elway was a "greedy and scared punk". That earned him a one way ticket out of Denver.
Memo to Jerry Angelo: Please draft a quarterback of Elway's caliber. Chicago would love nothing more than history repeating itself of Jay riding out of another town tied backwards to a donkey with a spit bucket placed over his head.
The reality is what significant difference other than medical concerns, is really at stake selecting Grossman over Griese to take next weekend's snaps against the Seattle Seahawks? Despite, the unsolicited orthopedic medical "expert" advice of Mariotti, Griese is indeed banged up. Lovie Smith's job is to start the players that best give his team a chance to win on Sunday, not appease the vengeful "I hate Grossman" wrath of the dwarf. The Bears are 4-5 for an already disappointing season with Grossman's contract expiring at the end of the year. For a myriad of football and business related reasons, it only seems to make sense that Rex starts.
Mike Downey, unlike his alleged colleague at the Sun-Times, was rather fair and balanced over the Bears decision to start Grossman against the Seahawks. Downey, as have most serious Bears fans, has noted that Griese was not going to singlehandedly deliver Chicago into the post season. For that matter, most likely neither was Rex. However, Downey declared rationally :
A quarterback who took the Bears to their second Super Bowl is a quarterback who at least is worth a second look.
As always, Jay sacrifices common sense over seeking revenge for perceived slights. And in addition, he does a poor job masking his contempt for Smith. It is already understands that Mariotti deep down is pining for Grossman to be picked off in record fashion against the Seahawks just for the opportunity to once again lambaste the coach. It is interesting to note that if Jay was truly convinced that Grossman was not the current best option presented to Lovie Smith, then why not a proclamation of support for Kyle Orton rather than a nicked up Griese who did not even practice yesterday?
Perhaps all of the Bears should follow Brian Urlacher's lead and blog with Jay Glazer. Rather than wait for the second coming of John Elway to the City of Broad Shoulders, a total boycott of the Chicago media might be the easiest and most expeditious measure to end Mariotti's reign of terror.
