Byline: Gary D'amato
LAKE FOREST, Ill. _ When it comes to number of touchdown passes and completions, size of trophy case and paycheck, amount of respect and admiration _ heck, when it comes to any and every way to measure a quarterback _ Rex Grossman and Brett Favre are on opposite ends of the spectrum.
In Grossman, the Chicago Bears have an unanswered question, a former first-round draft pick who hasn't been able to stay on the field long enough to offer anything more than a teasing glimpse of his potential.
In Favre, the Green Bay Packers have an icon, one of the few players in the National Football League instantly identifiable by his jersey number alone.
``I'm out for respect, trying to get established, and he's about the most established guy in the league,'' Grossman said. ``Everyone knows what he can do. I think we're pretty different in that aspect.''
But going into the season opener for both teams at 3:15 p.m. on Sunday at Lambeau Field, the quarterbacks have one thing in common: They are under intense scrutiny and likely will be held accountable to a large degree for the success or failure of their teams this season.
The Bears, led by a ball-hawking defense that ranked No. 2 in the NFL and a running game that ranked eighth, won the NFC North last year and are favored to win the division again.
But Chicago finished 31st in passing, averaged just 16.25 points per game and lost in the divisional round of the playoffs. It's no secret the Bears must get more production from the passing game to get to the next level.
``We need to play great defense like we've played in the past and we need to make improvements on the offensive side of the ball,'' coach Lovie Smith said. ``In order for us to reach our goals this year, we have to have both.''
Enter Grossman, 26, the 22nd pick in the 2003 draft out of the University of Florida. After going 2-1 as a starter late in his rookie season and throwing just one interception in 72 attempts, he was embraced by Bears fans who had suffered through too many years watching the likes of Kordell Stewart, Cade McNown and Shane Matthews.
But in Week 3 of what was to be his breakout year in 2004, Grossman suffered a season-ending knee injury while diving for the end zone on his first (and only) career touchdown run.
Then, last year, he suffered a broken ankle in an exhibition game and didn't return until the 15th game of the regular season. He led the Bears to victories over Atlanta and the Packers, but completed just 17 of 41 passes in the 29-21 playoff loss to Carolina at Soldier Field.
The bottom line is that after three years in the league, Grossman has played in just eight games, started seven (4-3 record) and has a 68.8 rating.
In Internet chat rooms, some Bears fans have taken to calling him ``Rex Glassman'' or ``Wrecks Grossman'' because of his injury history.
``No, not at all,'' Grossman said when asked if he was upset by his critics. ``I've played eight games, so there's not a lot to go on. Sometimes I feel like I'm judged on every pass I make, whether it's a good one or a bad one. I make a good pass, I'm a good quarterback. I make a bad pass, I'm a bad quarterback. That's just how it is when you're not really established.''
Adding to the intrigue is that Brian Griese, who joined the Bears as a free agent in March, is a proven veteran with a 39-33 record as a starter in Denver and Tampa Bay.
In the exhibition season, the 31-year-old Griese completed 19 of 28 passes (67.2 percent) with four touchdowns, no interceptions and a 141.7 rating. He clearly outplayed Grossman, who went 28 for 54 (51.9 percent) with one touchdown, two interceptions and a 60.7 rating.
``Rex is having a hard time getting the timing down with the offense,'' wide receiver Mark Bradley admitted last week in the locker room.
Offensive coordinator Ron Turner said he thought Grossman still would become a good player in the league.
``Is Rex there? Yeah, I think so,'' Turner said. ``But I think he'll continue to get better. I don't think he's where he wants to be or where he's going to be but I think he has a good enough understanding right now for us to go out and hopefully execute and be productive.''
Turner said competition with Griese and with second-year quarterback Kyle Orton, who went 10-5 as a rookie starter last year, had pushed Grossman.
``Rex knows what Brian and Kyle can do,'' Turner said. ``He knows we won 10 games with Kyle so he knows we've got someone there that we can win games with and that we have confidence in. He knows Brian is a good player. Brian has shown that in practice and in games. He's sharp and he's accurate and he can move this team and direct this offense.
``So I think Rex sees that and says, `Hey, I'd better be on top of my game. I'd better study and prepare and bring my ``A'' game every day.' ''
Though Grossman hasn't played much, he has twice won games at Lambeau Field. In fact, the Bears swept the Packers last year for the first time since 1991 and have won three of the last four meetings after winning just two of the previous 20.
``It's just an unbelievable time in my life, to have this opportunity to be the starting quarterback for the Chicago Bears and to go up to Lambeau Field and play the Packers,'' Grossman said. ``It's a special thing and it's a beautiful thing, you know what I mean?''
Meanwhile, 180 miles to the north, Favre is going into his 16th NFL season and his 15th as the Packers' starter. He is coming off a forgettable year in which he threw a career-high 29 interceptions and had a career-low 70.9 rating as the Packers went 4-12.
Though general manager Ted Thompson avoids using the word ``rebuilding,'' the Packers' roster skews young and the team will start three rookies on offense Sunday, including guards Jason Spitz and Tony Moll.
Favre turns 37 on Oct. 10 and some wonder whether he's the right quarterback for this team. Waiting in the wings is second-year pro Aaron Rodgers, who had a 101.1 rating in the exhibition season (Favre's was 93.4).
The Bears, who intercepted Favre six times in the two games last year, were careful not to give the Packers bulletin-board material.
When asked how to rattle Favre, Bears defensive end Alex Brown said, ``I have no idea. You find that tape, let us have it. Please. Brett Favre is a Hall of Fame quarterback. He's obviously done something right for a long time. He can easily go out and throw 400 yards on you if you don't watch out.''
The Bears will try to take away deep throws with their umbrella Cover 2 defense and force Favre to dump short passes, which plays into the hands of their speedy linebackers.
``Our whole deal is, we want the quarterback to not be comfortable in the pocket,'' linebacker Brendon Ayanbadejo said. ``We want three-step passes. We want to have him throw the underneath game. We play everything long to short so the faster he gets the ball out, the better it is for us.''
Some would say Favre, who has started 221 consecutive games and has won three MVP trophies and a Super Bowl, has nothing left to prove. But any time a player steps onto the field, there's something to prove.
At opposite ends of their careers, Grossman and Favre are trying to prove their critics wrong.
``I think people are doubting me and that's a motivating factor for me,'' Grossman said. ``And I'm sure it's the same for him right now.''
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