Everyone in the world says Rex looks great this year in camp...except Mariotti. Rex drops snaps, Rex throws incompletions, Rex is picked every other pass, Rex throws lolli-pops, Rex looks scared out there, Rex can't run straight, Rex can't tie his shoes, the Bears are doomed, Brian Urlacher looks smaller, who is Darwin Walker anyway, what in injustice to Dusty, how can we pay our CB's $60 million, Mike Brown nearly got hurt again tripping over his own feet, the Bears might not win 4 games this year, this is the worst Bears team since I can remember, blah, blah, blah, blah, blah...
Who is this guy?
You can take his whole article, flip it around and you are more likely to have reality. Let's turn the entire thing inside out and see what it really says (like listening to a record backwards for the secret message):
Reverse Translation:
Bears are on the down low about their ability this year, but nothing will prove them more modest than Rex Grossman coming out looking impressive early on. Its concerning how much pub the Bears are getting early on about their team speed on offense, etc. That said, it isn't hype if Rex is firing strikes out of the gate.
Is it concerning that Hester will get 30 touches instead of 4-5 (from an injury perspective), that Olsen is torching the Bears defense early on, or that Ced Benson looks light on his feet and capable of putting up 1,300 yards this year now that Thomas Jones isn't looking over his shoulder?
Again, none of that matters if Rex plays like he's been playing in camp this year. Rex can keep the smiles on everyone's face by playing consistent football in 2007. Rex appears supremely confident in his ability to improve this year. He has seperated himself from Griese and Orton this spring as the best QB on the team, that's for sure. The rumors of a turbulent offseason have evaporated and blossomed into a great one with resignings, Tank released, Briggs in camp, and the addition of Darwin Walker and Anthony Adams.
The Bears look so good that Lovie Smith doesn't even have to sell the team to the media this year. The Bears are trying to beat history as 5 of the last 6 Super Bowl losers have not made the playoffs (as much a part of team dismantling as anything). Grossman is the QB that can lead the Bears through those troubled waters. Rex will have to prove that he won't be "scared to death" on the field this year, as Colts D-line Coach John Teerlinck commented to his players during the Super Bowl. He certainly has to show that consistency that he's shown in practice so far.
The addition of Hester should definitely help Rex, considering his phenomenal accelerated development in camp. With Olsen and Benson, the offense can give Grossman the weapons to succeed this year. Will it all pan out for him this year?
The media picks on Rex too much, which I would have to agree with, considering his phenomenal games vs. his horrible games as a first year NFL starter. Fourth quarter this year is where Rex will determine if he is to be considered elite or not. The NFC is the Bears to lose this year and a huge contract is waiting for Rex with a big performance. He has to overcome his anxiety issues on the football field because he appears to have all of the physical tools to excel.
That was just Mariotti's story flipped 100% inside out. The overwhelming positivity in this piece is a direct reciprical of this idiot's negativity 90% of the time. Ridiculous both ways. Mariotti is far from impartial.
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