Max Power
Footballguy
Grossman nears new deal
BEARS | 1-2 years, incentives likely in contract for QB
February 23, 2008
BY BRAD BIGGS bbiggs@suntimes.com
INDIANAPOLIS -- The first piece of the Bears' free-agent puzzle should be delivered soon as a contract for Rex Grossman is imminent.
The team is expected to reach an agreement to retain the quarterback, perhaps today, after negotiations on a new deal carried late into the evening Friday.
General manager Jerry Angelo met with agent Eugene Parker in the morning and they huddled again throughout the evening working on details of a contract that would bring the first-round pick from 2003 back for what has been said will be a quarterback competition involving Kyle Orton. A source said it will be a one- or two-year deal and includes incentives based on playing time and performance. Re-signing Grossman was one of the organization's top goals when it arrived at the combine Wednesday.
Grossman, who helped the team to Super Bowl XLI the season before, was erratic in the first three games of 2007 before being benched. He was reinserted at Oakland Nov. 11, replacing Brian Griese, and was more consistent before being lost to a minor knee sprain Dec. 6 at Washington. Returning to the Bears provides Grossman with his best opportunity to play in 2008 despite the turbulent experiences and intense scrutiny he has faced. He's said he wants to return.
''It is a body of work,'' coach Lovie Smith said. ''There have been some highs and some lows, but we think Rex is a good football player and I choose to remember more of those highs. I still don't think he's peaked yet. I still think his future is bright.''
But Grossman, who earned $2.035 million last season, will not be handed the starting job. Orton played well enough in three starts to end the season to prove a viable option, one who is not mistake-prone and might be a good fit for the team, especially if the defense and running game return to form. The Bears have done all they can to avoid quarterback competitions in training camp since 2001 when Jim Miller edged Shane Matthews and Cade McNown was never really in the race. But the franchise has not been able to escape the everlasting turnover that seems to come with the position. In Angelo's seven seasons, the team has changed starting quarterbacks 23 times.
''This is a little bit different,'' Angelo said when asked about competition. ''I don't want to say it's tricky, but you're going to have to have a real plan in place to be fair with everybody and to make sure that you're making the right decision because once we make that decision, we're going to go forward with it and we're going to stay with it.
''[Grossman] understands it. He's talked to Lovie about it. I've talked to his agent about it. He's fine with it. Obviously we want to get the best player under center. Kyle did some good things at the end. I think he deserves the right to compete at the position. I know that this isn't going to be something ... I don't see this dragging out into the season. We will have a pretty good feel as we already do about the guys and what the tiebreaker is, that obviously has to be determined by the coaches."
Griese is expected to be released if Grossman returns. He's due a $300,000 roster bonus early next month. But the competition won't begin until Grossman signs the deal.
BEARS | 1-2 years, incentives likely in contract for QB
February 23, 2008
BY BRAD BIGGS bbiggs@suntimes.com
INDIANAPOLIS -- The first piece of the Bears' free-agent puzzle should be delivered soon as a contract for Rex Grossman is imminent.
The team is expected to reach an agreement to retain the quarterback, perhaps today, after negotiations on a new deal carried late into the evening Friday.
General manager Jerry Angelo met with agent Eugene Parker in the morning and they huddled again throughout the evening working on details of a contract that would bring the first-round pick from 2003 back for what has been said will be a quarterback competition involving Kyle Orton. A source said it will be a one- or two-year deal and includes incentives based on playing time and performance. Re-signing Grossman was one of the organization's top goals when it arrived at the combine Wednesday.
Grossman, who helped the team to Super Bowl XLI the season before, was erratic in the first three games of 2007 before being benched. He was reinserted at Oakland Nov. 11, replacing Brian Griese, and was more consistent before being lost to a minor knee sprain Dec. 6 at Washington. Returning to the Bears provides Grossman with his best opportunity to play in 2008 despite the turbulent experiences and intense scrutiny he has faced. He's said he wants to return.
''It is a body of work,'' coach Lovie Smith said. ''There have been some highs and some lows, but we think Rex is a good football player and I choose to remember more of those highs. I still don't think he's peaked yet. I still think his future is bright.''
But Grossman, who earned $2.035 million last season, will not be handed the starting job. Orton played well enough in three starts to end the season to prove a viable option, one who is not mistake-prone and might be a good fit for the team, especially if the defense and running game return to form. The Bears have done all they can to avoid quarterback competitions in training camp since 2001 when Jim Miller edged Shane Matthews and Cade McNown was never really in the race. But the franchise has not been able to escape the everlasting turnover that seems to come with the position. In Angelo's seven seasons, the team has changed starting quarterbacks 23 times.
''This is a little bit different,'' Angelo said when asked about competition. ''I don't want to say it's tricky, but you're going to have to have a real plan in place to be fair with everybody and to make sure that you're making the right decision because once we make that decision, we're going to go forward with it and we're going to stay with it.
''[Grossman] understands it. He's talked to Lovie about it. I've talked to his agent about it. He's fine with it. Obviously we want to get the best player under center. Kyle did some good things at the end. I think he deserves the right to compete at the position. I know that this isn't going to be something ... I don't see this dragging out into the season. We will have a pretty good feel as we already do about the guys and what the tiebreaker is, that obviously has to be determined by the coaches."
Griese is expected to be released if Grossman returns. He's due a $300,000 roster bonus early next month. But the competition won't begin until Grossman signs the deal.
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I assume you mean cap/salary wise. But it can surely hurt win/loss wise
I assume you mean cap/salary wise. But it can surely hurt win/loss wise
