Rexcruciating

Ya know I thought things seemed pretty quiet around here. You see I am one of the last people on the Rex Grossman bandwagon. It’s gotten so bad I think his agent just bailed out. The ride’s been bumpy since around Arizona and started to get out of control in Miami. The last straw seemed to be when to horses got spooked by some rowdy Cowboys the other night and now Lovie can’t get things under control. I offered to take over for him, but he said it was alright Lance Briggs taught him how to drive. I think I will be taking my leave before we go over the cliff…

To say that Rex’s performance on Sunday night was abysmal and unacceptable would be to be putting in kindly. Since winning Offensive Player of the Month last year in September Rex’s play has continually declined. The amusing Good Rex/Bad Rex balance from a year ago has given way to a Bad Rex only as he appears to have lost any confidence and swagger he played with before. It’s not a surprising result given the scrutiny and criticism Rex has come under over the last year. Being trashed b every national and local media outlet on a daily basis has finally broken his will and stunted whatever growth Rex might have made. Add in the injuries, the lack of mobility, and the struggles of the players around him and we all knew this day was coming.

It’s a sad day in Chicago where we are desperate for even average QB play. This city has been so devoid of quality quarterback play that we are willing to hinge our season on a painfully average QB in Brian Griese. But such is the psyche of a Bears fan who has never seen anything that comes close to consistent play from the games most crucial position and now sees the famed “Super Bowl window” closing on their team. Down two games already to the hated Packers this team now faces the possibility that they not only won’t return to the Super Bowl, but that that may not even win their own division.

Griese will not make the Bears an explosive offense, but with an outstanding defense and game-breaking special teams he doesn’t have to. Simple sound decision making will hopefully keep the Bears out of the big holes Rex is famous for making worse. Just like in Arizona a little less than a year ago, and in Miami a mere nine months ago, when the Bears fell behind and had their backs against the wall Sunday night Rex collapsed. So obsessed with proving the world wrong, making the big play, and bringing the Bears back, Rex forced horrible throws which led to defensive touchdowns that sealed the game. The INT that Anthony Henry returned for a touchdown to seal Sunday night’s victory for the Cowboys bore uncomfortable eerie similarity to the Pick-6 that ended all hope during the Super Bowl. And it is that simple life lesson, one we all must learn, about not repeating mistakes that will define Rex’s legacy as a Chicago Bears.

Sunday night was very likely Rex’s last as the starting QB for the Bears and now we will cash in on the five year insurance policy Jerry Angelo picked up a year ago. And for me the last 4 years are epitomized by what could have been. Had Rex not lost two seasons to injury, had he not come out of the gate so hot and sent expectations soaring, had he been able to make just minor improvements and advances in his game, we might have found our franchise QB. But now the Rexperiment has come to a close and let us all pray that it’s not too late. And leaning over the edge of the cliff I can tell you, the Rexage is not a pretty sight.