NFL Draft 2011: Sexy Rexy Grossman and the Chicago Bears’ History of Failure
Published by Brian Marchetti on April 19, 2011
Article Source: Bleacher Report - Chicago Bears
As I peruse the Internet in search of information regarding the Chicago Bears and the 2011 NFL draft, I’ve read numerous recaps of the team’s past drafts.
Obviously, the Bears have not fared well, especially in the first round.
Fans and experts alike list a consistent group of so-called busts. However, I believe that one of those names does not belong.
Ladies and gentlemen, I present to you Rex Grossman.
Lists all over the information superhighway peg Rex as another Bears blunder. While he never lived up to the expectations of a first-rounder, was he really that bad?
Looking at some early first-round draft picks in the team’s history, we encounter stellar performers such as Cade McNown and Cedric Benson. Along with Grossman, they all came to the team with high expectations, but all fell short.
Benson and McNown left nothing but failure in their wake.
In the case of Mr. Grossman, he helped bring the team to the Super Bowl.
Many place the loss of the championship squarely on Grossman’s shoulders. His late-game interception more than sealed victory for Peyton Manning and the Colts.
Oftentimes, the quarterback earns too much credit for a victory and too much blame for a loss, and I believe this is the case here.
The Bears’ highly regarded defense gave up seven yards per carry during the Super Bowl. Early successes resulting from pressuring Manning dissipated as the Bears fell back into the prevent-like Cover 2 defense.
This isn’t a defense of Grossman’s performance that day. He played poorly, but he doesn’t deserve all the blame.
The following season he struggled, and the defending NFC champs failed to make the playoffs.
Grossman failed to take advantage of a number of opportunities and eventually lost his spot on the team.
In a very real sense, Rex Grossman was a first-round draft bust. But was he one of the worst?
He missed most of his first three seasons due to injury. When he finally started a full season, the team went to the Super Bowl.
Granted, the team had a solid defense and Devin Hester scared the hell out of everyone, but there were times when the defense struggled and Rex played a significant role in securing victory.
Even Bears linebacker Brian Urlacher admitted getting up to watch the offense.
Grossman did fall short of expectations. There is no debate there. But was he one of the worst draft picks in Chicago Bears history?
I don’t think Grossman deserves to be ranked among the team’s worst picks.
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