Former Bears Defensive Coordinator Ron Rivera... (1 Viewer)

[Raider Nation]

Former Bears defensive coordinator Ron Rivera supposedly told his Charger linebackers in preparing for the opener Sunday that QB Rex Grossman could be distracted by trash talking because he is, " a mental midget."

Coaches say a lot of things in meeting rooms, and they say a lot of things in practice they don't want to get out to the media. But Matt Wilhelm threw Rivera under the bus.

"He has never been around me," responded Grossman. "And he's always been up in the booth, and maybe he heard something about Darren Sharper last year. I don't know. I don't know where it comes from."

"I think it shows you why he's not here anymore," said Bears center Olin Kruetz, who didn't seem at all surprised by the comment. "He's kind of a mean guy. He says too much sometimes and (that's) part of why he's not back.

"Here he is a guy who, right after we lost the Super Bowl, said it was my time. Take it for what it is," Kruetz said.

http://abclocal.go.com/wls/story?section=l...&id=5655092

 

[flapgreen]

OOF!!

 

[Phlash]

Notice how no one on the Bears claimed he was wrong.

 

[Jayrod]

Notice how no one on the Bears claimed he was wrong.

including Grossman

 

[Encyclopedia Brown]

http://abclocal.go.com/wls/story?section=l...&id=5655092

Who writes the headlines for the ABC affiliate in Chicago?

 

[LHUCKS]

 

[menobrown]

Earlier today a thread about the Chargers saying Benson quit on the Bears in the SB and you could get in his head was going around this message board today. I think it's safe to say who provided the Chargers that information.

 

[BigSteelThrill]

Rex :11: Grossman

 

[Southside Stosh]

Yeah, well 'Chico' knows all about mental midgetry....especially in the ##### defensive schemes he was responsible for with Da Bears.

 

[Red Apples]

http://abclocal.go.com/wls/story?section=l...&id=5655092

Who writes the headlines for the ABC affiliate in Chicago?

LOL..talk about mental midgets.."Fromer Bear"

 

[jonessed]

Yeah, well 'Chico' knows all about mental midgetry....especially in the ##### defensive schemes he was responsible for with Da Bears.

Yeah, they had an awful defense last year.

 

[Neil Beaufort Zod]

Low-class move by Rivera. Yeah, I think Grossman sucks but he's a young kid who's been criticized his whole (short) career. It's bad enough that the media crushes him all the time. A former coach has to do it, too?

I don't like the Bears at all so I'm glad they lost. But as a football fan, I don't like seeing an old coach piling on a player unless they're a complete jerk. Grossman seems inept (and maybe dumb) but he doesn't strike me as a jerk. He has enough detractors without Rivera piling on. I know it wasn't supposed to get out in public, but come on. I don't think it says much for a coach to trash his former players. What will the Chargers' guys think when he (or they) end up somewhere else?

 

[Flexmaster]

As long as the Bears don't square off against the MENSA society every week they should be OK.

MENSA's bring that old-school Kung Fu, watch out!

 

[TinHat]

I've never seen a QB who thew for 20 TDs in his first full season be the target of such intense criticism.

He may or may not be a good QB, but by the level of criticism, you'd think he was putting up Charlie Frye-like numbers.

 

[RandyDB]

I've never seen a QB who thew for 20 TDs in his first full season be the target of such intense criticism.He may or may not be a good QB, but by the level of criticism, you'd think he was putting up Charlie Frye-like numbers.

If you look at their career stats , he does have very Charlie Frye like numbers: | G | Comp Att PCT YD Y/A TD INT | Att Yards TD FRYETOTAL | 22 | 354 566 62.5 3490 6.2 14 24 | 66 276 4GROSSMANTOTAL | 25 | 379 698 54.3 4641 6.6 27 27 | 38 49 1

 

[ATRAIN56]

I've never seen a QB who thew for 20 TDs in his first full season be the target of such intense criticism.

He may or may not be a good QB, but by the level of criticism, you'd think he was putting up Charlie Frye-like numbers.

Insert foot in mouth!!!!!!1

 

[DoubleG]

Just for the record:

Rivera is good friends with several Chicago on-air personalities. One of them called him yesterday (Wednesday) morning as soon as the article came out. Chico vehemanently denied calling Rex a "mental midget" several times - he then went on to add that he would never say that about another player nor another human being. In fact he went on to say that for Rex to take all the criticism he did last year and still perform was a show of how mentally tough he was. Chico did say that he did instruct his defense to try to get into the QBs head - as he almost always does with any young QB. Rivera also thanked him for giving him the opportunity to clear things up.

I'm guessing Matt Wilhelm has already gotten a talking to about misquoting his coach.

 

[TinHat]

I've never seen a QB who thew for 20 TDs in his first full season be the target of such intense criticism.He may or may not be a good QB, but by the level of criticism, you'd think he was putting up Charlie Frye-like numbers.

If you look at their career stats , he does have very Charlie Frye like numbers: | G | Comp Att PCT YD Y/A TD INT | Att Yards TD FRYETOTAL | 22 | 354 566 62.5 3490 6.2 14 24 | 66 276 4GROSSMANTOTAL | 25 | 379 698 54.3 4641 6.6 27 27 | 38 49 1

Not really, 6.6 YPA >> than 6.2 and the td to int ratios for Frye are ridiculous

 

[Mungo Burrows]

Just for the record:

Rivera is good friends with several Chicago on-air personalities. One of them called him yesterday (Wednesday) morning as soon as the article came out. Chico vehemanently denied calling Rex a "mental midget" several times - he then went on to add that he would never say that about another player nor another human being. In fact he went on to say that for Rex to take all the criticism he did last year and still perform was a show of how mentally tough he was. Chico did say that he did instruct his defense to try to get into the QBs head - as he almost always does with any young QB. Rivera also thanked him for giving him the opportunity to clear things up.

I'm guessing Matt Wilhelm has already gotten a talking to about misquoting his coach quoting his coach and forcing said coach to make a public denial.

fixed

 

[PsychoMan]

Just for the record:

Rivera is good friends with several Chicago on-air personalities. One of them called him yesterday (Wednesday) morning as soon as the article came out. Chico vehemanently denied calling Rex a "mental midget" several times - he then went on to add that he would never say that about another player nor another human being. In fact he went on to say that for Rex to take all the criticism he did last year and still perform was a show of how mentally tough he was. Chico did say that he did instruct his defense to try to get into the QBs head - as he almost always does with any young QB. Rivera also thanked him for giving him the opportunity to clear things up.

I'm guessing Matt Wilhelm has already gotten a talking to about misquoting his coach.

 

[Ditka is God]

Just for the record:

Rivera is good friends with several Chicago on-air personalities. One of them called him yesterday (Wednesday) morning as soon as the article came out. Chico vehemanently denied calling Rex a "mental midget" several times - he then went on to add that he would never say that about another player nor another human being. In fact he went on to say that for Rex to take all the criticism he did last year and still perform was a show of how mentally tough he was. Chico did say that he did instruct his defense to try to get into the QBs head - as he almost always does with any young QB. Rivera also thanked him for giving him the opportunity to clear things up.

I'm guessing Matt Wilhelm has already gotten a talking to about misquoting his coach quoting his coach and forcing said coach to make a public denial.

fixed

Better post.

 

[elcohiba]

"Hey Ron give me a call"....Tiki

 

[DoubleG]

Just for the record:

Rivera is good friends with several Chicago on-air personalities. One of them called him yesterday (Wednesday) morning as soon as the article came out. Chico vehemanently denied calling Rex a "mental midget" several times - he then went on to add that he would never say that about another player nor another human being. In fact he went on to say that for Rex to take all the criticism he did last year and still perform was a show of how mentally tough he was. Chico did say that he did instruct his defense to try to get into the QBs head - as he almost always does with any young QB. Rivera also thanked him for giving him the opportunity to clear things up.

I'm guessing Matt Wilhelm has already gotten a talking to about misquoting his coach quoting his coach and forcing said coach to make a public denial.

fixed

Either way, the mental midget here is Wilhelm. Whether or not Chico actually said it, Wilhelm probably shouldnt have gone blabbing it to the media.

 

[Gold Plated Nails]

Just for the record:

Rivera is good friends with several Chicago on-air personalities. One of them called him yesterday (Wednesday) morning as soon as the article came out. Chico vehemanently denied calling Rex a "mental midget" several times - he then went on to add that he would never say that about another player nor another human being. In fact he went on to say that for Rex to take all the criticism he did last year and still perform was a show of how mentally tough he was. Chico did say that he did instruct his defense to try to get into the QBs head - as he almost always does with any young QB. Rivera also thanked him for giving him the opportunity to clear things up.

I'm guessing Matt Wilhelm has already gotten a talking to about misquoting his coach quoting his coach and forcing said coach to make a public denial.

fixed

Either way, the mental midget here is Wilhelm. Whether or not Chico actually said it, Wilhelm probably shouldnt have gone blabbing it to the media.

This I agree with. Wilhelm shoulda kept his trap shut. No need to say it.

 

[sho nuff]

Low-class move by Rivera. Yeah, I think Grossman sucks but he's a young kid who's been criticized his whole (short) career. It's bad enough that the media crushes him all the time. A former coach has to do it, too? I don't like the Bears at all so I'm glad they lost. But as a football fan, I don't like seeing an old coach piling on a player unless they're a complete jerk. Grossman seems inept (and maybe dumb) but he doesn't strike me as a jerk. He has enough detractors without Rivera piling on. I know it wasn't supposed to get out in public, but come on. I don't think it says much for a coach to trash his former players. What will the Chargers' guys think when he (or they) end up somewhere else?

Low class?He was preparing his current team to play against the mental midget. Why should he hold back and not give them things they could use to be successful?Wilhelm is an idiot for every repeating what a coach had told him like that.

 

[redman]

Just for the record:

Rivera is good friends with several Chicago on-air personalities. One of them called him yesterday (Wednesday) morning as soon as the article came out. Chico vehemanently denied calling Rex a "mental midget" several times - he then went on to add that he would never say that about another player nor another human being. In fact he went on to say that for Rex to take all the criticism he did last year and still perform was a show of how mentally tough he was. Chico did say that he did instruct his defense to try to get into the QBs head - as he almost always does with any young QB. Rivera also thanked him for giving him the opportunity to clear things up.

I'm guessing Matt Wilhelm has already gotten a talking to about misquoting his coach quoting his coach and forcing said coach to make a public denial.

fixed

Either way, the mental midget here is Wilhelm. Whether or not Chico actually said it, Wilhelm probably shouldnt have gone blabbing it to the media.

This I agree with. Wilhelm shoulda kept his trap shut. No need to say it.

Agreed. I wonder whether Wilhelm threw this out there as just one more installment in the war of words that started between Merriman and Urlacher. That aside, Grossman is a mental midget. He's got tremendous physical talent and can make phenomenal throws but he also has glaring mental lapses. The 20 TD's is only the rosiest way of looking at him. I seem to recall Aaron Brooks routinely throwing for 20+ TD's. How'd his career turn out?

 

[Shrek]

Notice how no one on the Bears claimed he was wrong.

including Grossman

 

[redman]

Notice how no one on the Bears claimed he was wrong.

including Grossman

Rex: A midget's a fat guy, right? What a tool! Everyone knows I'm not fat!

 

[flapgreen]

I've never seen a QB who thew for 20 TDs in his first full season be the target of such intense criticism.He may or may not be a good QB, but by the level of criticism, you'd think he was putting up Charlie Frye-like numbers.

If you look at their career stats , he does have very Charlie Frye like numbers: | G | Comp Att PCT YD Y/A TD INT | Att Yards TD FRYETOTAL | 22 | 354 566 62.5 3490 6.2 14 24 | 66 276 4GROSSMANTOTAL | 25 | 379 698 54.3 4641 6.6 27 27 | 38 49 1

Umm...No

 

[428143]

Are the Chargers stupid? What the hell is their problem? All the crap that they are slinging may well be the case, but show some class for crying out loud...

 

[mad sweeney]

Low-class move by Rivera. Yeah, I think Grossman sucks but he's a young kid who's been criticized his whole (short) career. It's bad enough that the media crushes him all the time. A former coach has to do it, too? I don't like the Bears at all so I'm glad they lost. But as a football fan, I don't like seeing an old coach piling on a player unless they're a complete jerk. Grossman seems inept (and maybe dumb) but he doesn't strike me as a jerk. He has enough detractors without Rivera piling on. I know it wasn't supposed to get out in public, but come on. I don't think it says much for a coach to trash his former players. What will the Chargers' guys think when he (or they) end up somewhere else?

Do you seriously believe that players and coaches don't talk massive trash about other team's players and coaches in meetings? This is just something that made it out of the room. I highly doubt that mental midget is the worst thing anyone gets called in weekly meetings.

 

[Chaka]

Notice how no one on the Bears claimed he was wrong.

including Grossman

That's because when he hear the words "mental midget" Grossman thought they were going on a field trip to the carnival.

 

[BeaverCleaver]

It makes a lot of sense and good for Rivera for calling him out.

Isn't Grossman the one that admitted he didn't prepare for the Packer game last season?

 

[DarabZarrabi]

haha whoever made the Frye Grossman comparisons should be banned the numbers you posted arent even similar

 

[redman]

I've never seen a QB who thew for 20 TDs in his first full season be the target of such intense criticism.He may or may not be a good QB, but by the level of criticism, you'd think he was putting up Charlie Frye-like numbers.

If you look at their career stats , he does have very Charlie Frye like numbers: | G | Comp Att PCT YD Y/A TD INT | Att Yards TD FRYETOTAL | 22 | 354 566 62.5 3490 6.2 14 24 | 66 276 4GROSSMANTOTAL | 25 | 379 698 54.3 4641 6.6 27 27 | 38 49 1

Umm...No

Boxing is a lot like a ballet, except there's no music, no choreography, and the dancers are hitting each other.[/Jack Handey]

 

[RBM]

Think Chico is a little bitter about his exit from Chicago.

And judging by what Babich did in his first week as DC, Lovie couldnt have made a better decision.

 

[redman]

Think Chico is a little bitter about his exit from Chicago. And judging by what Babich did in his first week as DC, Lovie couldnt have made a better decision.

It's probably a win-win situation. The Bears get a fresh approach to defense (and a scapegoat for the Super Bowl loss, or have we forgotten that Lovie's a defensive coach) and Rivera gets to handle probably the most exciting, volatile defense in football.