[CBFF] Bears fashion a convincing statement (Mariotti)

[Victor Waldron]

Bears fashion a convincing statement

September 25, 2006

BY JAY MARIOTTI SUN-TIMES COLUMNIST

MINNEAPOLIS -- ''Do you want me to put on a tie?'' asked Tommie
Harris, wielding a mean deodorant can by his locker while suggesting a
unique fashion complement to his black tank-top T-shirt.

Actually, just tell us how you rescued Rex Grossman from a heap of new
criticism -- and further empowered the quivering mass of Bearphoria
sweeping Chicago and parts beyond -- by noticing that All-Pro Steve
Hutchinson, the $49 million left guard of the Minnesota Vikings, was
''sitting kind of light'' in his stance with 3-1/2 minutes left in
what seemed the season's first loss and indigestion dose.

''I read the stance and took advantage of the situation,'' Harris
said. ''I just had to step up and make a play. I saw that the guard
was sitting kind of light. I got behind him, and I got to the ball and
knocked it out.''

Light in his cleats, huh?

When Harris made one of those plays that define seasons, stripping
Chester Taylor of the rock as the Vikings were trying to run out the
clock in an imperfect yet fabulous football game, the defense was
delivering a mandate to Grossman: Get it done, don't screw up this
time. Harris and Adewale Ogunleye, who fell on the loose ball and
ignored an instinct to pick it up and run, had done their part.
Whither Rex?

Watershed game for Grossman?

In what may be remembered as the throw that elevated Grossman from an
erratic work-in-progress to the leader of a championship contender, he
rose above the pressure, shook off a wretched mistake early in the
fourth quarter and did what Bears quarterbacks never do. He whipped a
game-winning touchdown pass in the final two minutes, finding Rashied
Davis dashing across the end zone, hitting him from 24 yards like a
buddy in the backyard and quieting the headache-inducing din that had
filled the Metrodome all day. Rex The Wonder Bear turned to the
sideline, screaming and grinning and waving his arms, as relieved as
he was exhilarated.

''I felt real bad. I put my team in a real bad situation,'' he said.
''But our defense stuck with it and made a great play when we needed
it.''

His reaction wasn't half as giddy as that of his teammates and
coaches. This was not a game the Bears should have won, you see. Nor
was it a game Grossman deserved to win, having thrown two
interceptions and two near-picks and almost handing the game to the
Vikings with a sophomoric, ill-advised heave as he was pressured in
his own end zone. When cornerback Antoine Winfield excused himself
from alleged intended receiver Thomas Jones and took the wild pitch
seven yards for the game's first touchdown, you could hear the
familiar quarterbacking groans from the City of Weak Shoulders. You
wondered if ESPN, CBS and Fox had prematurely gushed in pregame
features declaring him the league's next great star. You also wondered
if Grossman is destined to alternate between playmaking and
heartbreaking.

Not your typical Bears QB

But Sunday after Sunday, as he maintains the health that always has
crossed him, we're realizing he is a totally different animal. If he
made a Jonathan Quinn mistake, he responded with a semi-John Elway
comeback -- the first fourth-quarter TD pass of his career in a 19-16
victory. It's simple why this throw was more important than most: If
Grossman indeed is the real deal, the Bears realistically can
concentrate on reaching the Super Bowl. His teammates left no doubt
what they think of Rex, despite his shaky blunders. Their conclusion:
If he could survive a rough performance -- and another ineffective
running day by Jones, who is averaging three yards a carry -- then
what might Grossman and the offense do when they're clicking?

''You were ready to kill him before,'' Peanut Tillman chirped. ''Now
it's, 'Ooooooh, Rex, we love you.'''

''Rex didn't have his best game,'' Brian Urlacher said, ''but he came
through for us when we needed it. We feel that any time we're in a
close game, the offense is going to come through for us.''

Yes, such games unify teams. Not only did the offense struggle against
a crisper, disciplined Vikings defense, the acclaimed Bears defense
was burned often by old-man technician Brad Johnson and the running
game. How impressive to see the defense make a gigantic play when
necessary, then hand over responsibilities to Rex to make his gigantic
play. Aren't these the sort of interludes set to music in
championship-season retrospectives? In the end, Ogunleye was happy he
didn't pick up the ball and try to score. He was thrilled to see
Grossman and the offense seal the deal.

''It was like a gift sitting there on the ground,'' Ognuleye said.
''It was very tough [not running with it] because that's the kind of
stuff you live for. But I have faith in this team, and not one guy is
going to win it or lose it.''

So here are the Bears, having U-turned a sure loss into a rousing
triumph, basking in their most encouraging state in years. If 2001
always had a flim-flam feel to it, 2006 has the distinct profile of
championship hope. Even if Grossman were injured or fell into a
ineffective rut, the preseason proved that Brian Griese is a
ready-for-hire starter in a ballcap. True, there are issues, none more
pressing that helping the passing game with a more productive running
game. Is Jones the problem? Or does he not have room to run? Whatever,
I'd hold off on cries to start Cedric Benson, if only because he's
still an unproven back who might have fumbled the Vikings game away.

A 3-0 team sticks with what's working, especially with the 3-0 Seattle
Seahawks arriving next Sunday night in a showdown deserving of the
accompanying hype. Watching Eli Manning and the New York Giants carve
up the Seattle defense, in yet another wild comeback attempt, should
hearten Grossman and Muhsin Muhammad, who had another big day and
continues to earn his money. Matt Hasselbeck's five TD passes also
should serve to challenge him. But for all the headlines about
Grossman, of the Rexperiment finally working, do realize Sunday was
about a team melding as one.

At last, the Bears have a quarterback who can complete what the defense starts.

''That is the difference,'' Harris said. ''Now, everyone can go home happy.''

Go ahead and try the tie, Tommie. Even a weird clothing ensemble looks
good right now.