Like all QBs, no pass on pressure for Rex
But in the big games -- hell, virtually every game in the NFL, small, huge or in between -- it is the quarterback who matters most.
You could ask league MVP LaDainian Tomlinson of the San Diego Chargers why his 123 rushing yards, 64 receiving yards and two touchdowns Sunday weren't enough to overcome the ineptitude of quarterback Philip Rivers (one interception, three fumbles) or the situational brilliance of victorious New England Patriots quarterback Tom Brady, who led the Pats to 11 late points after three interceptions.
On Monday at Halas Hall, Bears quarterback Rex Grossman took some time to talk with me about his role in the Bears' thrilling 27-24 overtime win over the Seattle Seahawks.
Grossman, you'll recall, had been grilled like a bratwurst by the media the last two weeks as everyone with a pencil or microphone wondered if Rex could recover from his dreadful 0.0 passer rating in the regular-season-ending debacle against the Green Bay Packers.
On Sunday, Grossman performed nicely -- not brilliantly, but nicely.
In the high-octane air of the playoffs, performing without stench is a darn good thing.
Offensive coordinator Ron Turner said it was Grossman's pass down the middle to wide receiver Rashied Davis for 37 yards during the opening drive that let Turner breathe a sigh of relief.
''That was a good read of a tough coverage, and Rex trusted what he saw and put the ball there,'' Turner said. ''That was a defining play for him, I thought.''
So did Rex.
''It was a ballsy throw, if I may say so,'' Grossman said. ''It was third-and-eight [actually third-and-10], and it was a cover-2 with a trail technique, one safety trailing so they can read exactly where the receiver's going. I had to put it out front, and Rashied was able to get a hand on it and did a great job of concentrating on the ball.
''For me, that was huge for getting into the flow of the game. To start off with an 80-yard touchdown drive was nice. You don't want those three-and-outs. You get a bunch of plays like that [12 on that drive], and it's huge.''
Everything gets bigger in the playoffs, you see.
''I have always felt good about myself,'' he said when I asked him about confidence. He explained that it is a surety built of self-knowledge and preparation, not arrogance.
''I get a lot of my confidence during the week, going through the game plan with coach Turner, then practicing it and watching tape and understanding how that relates. By ... Friday, I'm extremely confident.''
He had just emerged from the basement, and he basically will live at Halas Hall this week, moving in and out of rooms, up and down, like a surgeon making his rounds.
His teammates marvel at Rex's composure in the maelstrom.
''I don't think there are many people who could take the amount of criticism he just had, how public it was, and not go in the tank,'' left tackle John Tait said.
Clutch receiver Davis pointed out how proven star quarterbacks get cut a lot more slack than Grossman, who at 26 is still essentially a rookie.
''Peyton Manning and Tom Brady both threw a bunch of interceptions,'' Davis said, meaning the five picks the two future Hall of Famers threw last weekend. ''Brady had a play that could have ended the game for New England, but the [interceptor] fumbled. They're both great quarterbacks, I won't deny that. But no one says after they have bad games, 'They can't do this! They can't do that!'''
Then Davis pointed out what makes Grossman different from Super Bowl quarterbacks such as Trent Dilfer and Brad Johnson, who just hung on for the ride.
''Those guys weren't going out to win games. They were playing those little, guarded offenses, just not losing the games. Just not making mistakes. Well, damn, that's not who Rex is! He's a gunslinger. He wants to win games.''
But he has to reload his weapons.
''Right now? I don't know much about the Saints,'' he admitted. ''I don't know our game plan. Until you get that fully in your head, you're unsure of what might happen.''
But that will come. And the confidence will surge.
He said one play he definitely would like to have back from Sunday is the one in which Seahawks linebacker Julian Peterson stripped the ball from his hand, a costly error.
''I usually get going to my right, spin back to my left and throw it away. ... But I should have realized he's pretty good, and it was third down and we were going to punt the ball anyway.''
He smiled a little smile that wasn't really one of amusement.
''They're paid, too. They're in the same game we are. We ended up making about one more play than they did.''
For a quarterback, that's all it takes.
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