Super Week: Day 1

Welcome to Super Week 2007. The Bears and Colts will meet for the Vince Lombardi Trophy in Super Bowl XLI in a week, but don’t misinterpret that as a football break for the next seven days. There will be a lot going on in South Beach from now until kickoff. And even though I won’t be there, that doesn’t mean I can’t monitor what’s going on. That’s why instead of posting two long pieces this week, I’ve decided to writes something small each day. This will include my impressions of media day, what I think the keys to the game, my tips on making Super Bowl bets, and finally, a prediction. I’m going to start off by responding to something I heard on the radio last night.

It seems like every time I read an article, watch a TV show or listen to a radio program regarding the Bears, I want to unleash my inner-Oddjob and throw my hat at somebody and chop off their head. Because all they talk about when discussing the team is Rex Grossman. How can the Bears possibly top Peyton Manning and co. with Rex at QB? Will Rex be able to bring his A+ game to Miami for the big game? Is Grossman the worst Super Bowl quarterback ever? Last night on ESPN Radio they had some expert saying he can’t remember a quarterback making it this far in the playoffs without ever being the key to one of his teams victories.

Here’s a small suggestion….SHUT UP! I realize that Rex is an important member of the team and he plays the most prominent position on the field. But he hasn’t been as bad as some portray him to be. And most of all, he is not the only story on this team. Talk instead about how Thomas Jones went from being labeled a bust after a couple of seasons in Arizona to being one of the best running backs in the NFL. Or how GM Jerry Angelo was criticized for drafting defensive players like Danieal Manning, Devin Hester and Mark Anderson in draft last April only to see them all turn into key members of an NFC Championship team. Maybe focus on center Olin Kruetz, the best player at his position in the entire NFL and longest-tenured Bear.

Will Rex Grossman play a big impact on the outcome of Sunday’s game? Yes. But is he the only important player on the Bears? Of course not. So the media needs to stop portraying him as that. Get off his back and let #8 do his thing.