Rattling Rex all part of plan
Welcome, then, to Rex Grossman's latest career challenge. Called out daily in the national and local media as a potential saboteur to the Bears' Super Bowl run, he now has to answer the head games of the Minnesota Vikings, who gleefully revealed Wednesday that Grossman peppered their defensive players with nasty jibber-jabber after he threw a touchdown pass to beat them in September. And here we thought Rex was a nice young man who likes junk food, hangs out with his parents in their downtown condo, lives with his bride in a peaceful suburban neighborhood and watches ESPN when he isn't playing video games.
The kid is a cocky S.O.B.
If only he still played like one.
''I never had a quarterback say the things he said -- and I've been playing 10 years, and I've gone against some wild, brash, young quarterbacks. A quarterback should never talk trash, but that's because I'm a defensive back. I don't want any quarterback talking trash to me, but he made the play so he felt like he could run his mouth. Anytime ... a quarterback opens his mouth to me, he's stepping over the line.''
I'd like to report that Sharper is embellishing reality. I'd like to say Grossman kept his cool and walked off the field like Tom Brady. I can't.
''I was angry. I was really in the moment,'' said Grossman, showing his youth. ''I probably should have held back, but against a rival, with their fans screaming at me the whole game ... I probably said something I regret. The whole thing -- their [defensive backs] talking to me, really getting under my skin probably more than I should have allowed -- I probably went overboard with my emotions. I regret it. But if something happens like that the whole game, and you make a play to win a game, I couldn't help it but say something.''
Of course, considering the Vikings are ultra-notorious for lewd conduct on a Love Boat and indiscretions in back alleys and nightclubs, they leave themselves vulnerable to on-the-field yappers. But don't think Sharper, Dwight Smith and others actually are pained by any of Grossman's insults.
This is their attempt to make him break mentally. The word is out on Rex, sad to say, and the rest of the NFL evidently believes he can be intimidated and baited, which is another way of calling him soft, jittery, mistake-mad and all those things that shrink championship dreams into second-round playoff losses. Considering Sharper made the remarks twice, this obviously was a preconceived plan. Operation: Rattle Rex.
''We'll see how confident he is Sunday,'' Sharper said. ''He's a cocky guy, and he's going to say those things. But make sure he's not the guy who kills their season for them.''
Let that last shot sink into your consciousness, Rex: MAKE SURE HE'S NOT THE GUY WHO KILLS THEIR SEASON FOR THEM. That's exactly what everyone in Chicago fears and folks around the country are thinking after watching Grossman put up 4½ bad games in his last six. Sharper is trying to poison Rex's psyche, so the question becomes: How will he respond to this new twist of pressure, which is piled atop lingering doubts about whether he's capable of the job and if Brian Griese should be playing? After his debacle in Arizona, Grossman responded with a quality game against San Francisco's weak defense. Since then, he has reeked, with the exception of a good second half against the injury-depleted and turmoil-wrecked Giants. The good news is, Grossman doesn't have it quite as awful as Manning in New York and middle-finger-flipping Michael Vick in Atlanta.
He'll hear boos from the home crowd, then calls for Griese.
It's only natural to wonder if he is up to the scrutiny. As his play declines, so does the perception of the Bears as a Super Bowl team. On Tuesday, Grossman seemed wounded by the criticism. ''Its frustrating. It kind of makes you mad,'' he said. ''I have all the confidence in the world about myself, and it's great to know my team has confidence in me. People saying this or that -- I just want everything settled on the field.''
A day later, he was less defiant and more realistic. ''The type of team we have now, we don't need to be throwing the ball all over the place,'' he said, in his most accurate delivery yet. ''At the same time, we still have to make the plays. I haven't played the way I'm capable of playing. I'm not as good as I was the first five games.
''If I played the way I'm capable in our two losses, I'm not sure those are losses.''
The scene might be wild at Soldier Field. Olin Kreutz is ready for his annual scrap, and the Bears seem jazzed to rally around their beleaguered brother. It could be a great bonding session. Or, it could be the day the Rexperiment officially ends.
It's your ball, kid. Throw it to the right team this time
Jay Mariotti is a regular on ''Around the Horn'' at 4 p.m. on ESPN. Send e-mail to inbox@suntimes.com with name, hometown and daytime phone number (letters run Sunday).
