By Fred MitchellRex Grossman's father came out firing today when asked to assess the Bears' ongoing quarterback woes with Jay Cutler and draw a comparison to the checkered Chicago career of his son.
Dan Grossman, an ophthalmologist who practices in Bloomington, Ind., berated the Bears for their long history of futility at the quarterback position.
"What's amazing to me is, here we go again with Jay Cutler," Grossman said. "He came in and he was going to be the franchise quarterback and lead the Bears. I heard some people say they were going to the Super Bowl this year. There was a lot of Cutler-mania going on in the preseason and all that. And here we are, back in the situation where ... because the team is not really built around a passing game, he has struggled. I don't really blame it on Jay Cutler."
Cutler has thrown 17 interceptions in the Bears’ first nine games,
including five last Thursday night in San Francisco. Rex Grossman is
now a backup quarterback with the Houston Texans.
“Obviously, the last 20-something quarterbacks that have played in
Chicago have not all been complete failures as quarterbacks,” Dan
Grossman said. “They obviously played somewhere before Chicago in order
to be on that team. And several of them played respectably well after
leaving that team. To me, there’s an inherent organizational problem
with the quarterback position.”
Grossman believes the root of the problem is the Bears’ traditional reliance on the running game.
“I believe
that the NFL is a passing league,” he said. “It has been for the last 20 years.
Chicago continues to use the phrase, at least Lovie Smith continues to
use the phrase, ‘We get off the bus running.’ I think they need to
abandon that concept.
“Running is obviously a very important
part of the offense. But the best teams in this league are prolific
passing teams. And they have been for years. You can’t
name me a really great team in the last 10-20 years that hasn’t had a
passing component that was a very important part of it. And for a team
to be effective at passing, you have to build your
offense around your quarterback. You have to commit to the quarterback:
‘You’re our guy.’ And then you have to build the offense around the
quarterback. Not the other way around. You don’t bring your quarterback
in and say: ‘We’re going to get off the bus running. But on
third-and-10, you’ve got to come through for us now!’
“The successful teams have brought in a quarterback,
have surrounded him with excellent linemen, receivers and running backs.
Once that quarterback becomes quite confident and comfortable with the
system — depending on their skill level — they can flourish.”
For more on this story, read Fred Mitchell’s column.
All Bears news delivered to your mailbox on Friday and Monday mornings. 
When sports news breaks, be the first to know. (To get alerts on a mobile device, text CHISPORTS to 31286.). 
Get our updates on 
The Bears suck at having a good offense...so of course the blame will always lie on the QB. And to whoever made that "overeducated idiot" comment....really? I mean just because you couldn't get past the basic 4 years in college doesn't mean you should take your anger out on just anyone.
who asked you? did you pay to get interviewed? just ask anyone in bloomginton what they think of him and his family. reeks of arrogance. cant realize his kid isnt cut out for the NFL, and barely became a backup QB
His dad is right on target. The organization is terrible.
When are Bears gonna wake up and realize it's not the D that wins games anymore. It seems like they want to play as if it were 50 years ago. Stop putting in defensive coordinators as head coaches. They don't know how to score points! Ditka was the last offensive coach. We actually got a super bowl. I wish the team were sold to someone who wants to win. Let's find that Rocky Wirtz.
Which player, Grossman or Cutler won only 11 games after starting for 4 years in college for an overall W/L record of 11 - 35?
Which player never played in a post season game, college or professional?
Which of these players left college early?
What kind of QB skills do you think that these QB's learned playing in college with these backgrounds?
How are the Bears at developing talent?
That is why there was no hope for Grossman and now for Cutler.
ok lets talk QBs for a second....1) everyone says that its the recievers and the O-Line i am not in disagreeance here however...Cutler played in Denver with a #1 reciever like you all have stated and produced 0 winning seasons...ill say that again 0 winning seasons...2) i for the life of me can not understand why we dont just pay Devin hester an ungodly amount of money to be the Hall of Fame returner he is...3) Back to QB's everyone that left a comment forgot one Key stat Grossman and the punky QB were our QB on super bowl teams...Jimmy Mac won his...what did both of those teams have in common a solid running game and a #1 Defense...no one mentioned how we have Walter Payton and Thomas jones on our 2 super bowl teams...also why are we not pointing fingers at the Defense that could stop Glenbard North High School team. Look i know we lost Urlacher, but he is not the only defensive guy we had...what happened to Charles Tillman, Nate Vasher, and the rest of our secondary....im NOT a fan of Cutler only cause he sucks balls...but he is not the only one to blame. However as far as the article is concerned Grossmans dad is just pissed cause he wont ever get super bowl tickets again like the rest of us...not at least with Jay Cutler as our QB
Don't worry...the Bears will shore up the receiving corps and offensive line with their First Round draft picks the next couple of years. Oh...that's right, THEY DON'T HAVE ANY. Because they WASTED them on an overhyped MEDIOCRE QB who makes HORRIBLE decisions with the ball.
A lot of classless comments in here about Grossman's dad. Who asked him to open his mouth? Gee, I don't know..maybe the person who wrote the article??
For what it's worth, I'm not a huge fan of his son by any means...but I think the points he makes are 100% accurate.
Cutler is still young and developing by QB standards. Let's just look at the fact. The bear WRs, while i think they may be very talented in a couple years, right now are simply a bunch of #3 wideouts. It's hard to have a great passing game without a #1 WR. Hester has been the best WR overall and I'm not even sure if he's #2 material. Combine the inexperience (and/or lack of talent) at the WR position with the fact that the Bears o-line sucks, and the play-calling has also pretty much sucked.
Even Peyton Manning would have a tough time leading this current Bears team to victories. They need help on the o-line, and they need a #1 receiver...even if it means bringing in an over-the-hill veteran (a la Marvin Harrison or Joey Gallowy) for the sole purpose of mentoring Hester, Knox and Bennet.
Who cares what this guy thinks? His son was a pathetic QB and still is. He's just PO'd because his son doesn't even play and only sits on the bench. That's how his career should've started and ended. Interview someone who has some importance to Chicago. I golfed with one of Grossman's family members and they were as arrogant as anyone I had known.
The man makes some good points. Bill Walsh took mediocre quarterbacks and turned them into pro bowlers, the Bears take mediocre quarterbacks and turn them into washouts. Until you get an offensive line (isn't it nice to see so many former Bears starting on O lines around the league?)there is no chance to do anything as a Bears QB.
"
Mike Hunt on November 16, 2009 7:54 PM
Hey Dad,
You should of had a taller kid.
FAIL."
Mike Hunt, you should HAVE paid attention in English class. FAIL.
"they had a great offensive line in the 1980s"
Man.....if only we had that line now. youtube some vids from that decade.
jim mcmahon could'nt hold jay cutlers jockstrap.he had a weak arm and was hurt all the time! and furthermore,what ya think da bears would do with tlikes of jimbo covert and company from the 1980's? yeah you got it;the team would be runnin the ball and cutlers stats would be a lot better! they had a great offensive line in the 1980s.jim mcmahon would not last 1 game with the line they have now!
1st of all, I am sure the Trib asked this guy for an interview. It's not like he begged them to tell his story. So all the stupid and rude insults to the guy are unnecessary.
2nd, Mike Tomzack (sp) played in a Super Bowl.
3rd, Even the NFL network guys said that Cutler on the Super Bowl Bears Team and it's a good chance the Bears win.
4th, I do somewhat agree that the offensive schemes the Bears come up with are horrible.
There is no chance for success.
5th, as the Bears are currently set up, Orton was the better fit, because he doesn't have the arm to hurt you when your receivers can't make plays. Anyone who's been watching Denver has noticed that Marshall has bailed out Orton on numerous occasions. Also, as far as Denver is concerned, the wheels are falling off FAST and San Diego is going to win that division going away.
- Maybe, the Bears can steal Marshall for WR?
1.no offensive line 2.inexperience at wr 3.offensive coordinator who was a bust at illinois 4.dvin hester not returning kickoffs anymore after setting a nfl record and furthermore,is much too short to be a#1.receiver.5 the mccaskey family who are too cheap to go out and get a top notch coach and assistants.6.and finally,like several teams in the leauge,a draft pool each year that is plagued by thugs and idiots!
When #9 started at QB, the Bears won 80% of their games.
McMahon was a franchise quaterback. Why people continue to talk a bout Sid Luckman is a mystery to me.
We probably should have got Ma Benson's opinion. If we had, we would have a decent running game!
Who asked Dr. Grossman for his opinion in the first place? Who cares what this guy thinks? Let's ask Cedric Benson's mom for her opinion too, while we're at it.
"Sorry, Trent, you are not making the Hall, give it up..."
Doug Williams, Jeff Hostetler, Mark Rypien, and Phil Simms (though he was a damn good QB) will be buying tickets as well.
"overeducated idiot"??? that might have been the dumbest thing i've ever read...
Yup it's all on Cutler, just as it was on Grossman. Our GM is the best, out coaches can't be beat, the O and D lines are great, the WR's run great routes, and our running backs are hall of fame. So it must be the QB's. Yea Right! You idiots that keep dumping on Grossman, Cutler and the other BEAR QB's probably should bend over, reach way back and pull your heads out of your arse!
@Jamie Shelton - I don't so much have a problem with many of his comments (though I still fail to see how they're relevant coming from him) - I'm criticizing him for only telling half the story. He completely overlooked the fact that most all of the QBs we've had in this revolving door have been less than mediocre.
If he'd just left it at the Bears need to surround Cutler with more talent on the lines and skill positions and run a more balanced offense, he'd have a bit more credibility. But of course, his son didn't succeed here, so he's hardly impartial. I'm guessing Steve Stenstrom and Craig Krentzel's dads would be saying the same things. If I ask them, can I get it published? ;)
"Every Super Bowl champion since the 1985 Bears team has fielded a current or future Hall of Fame Quarterback."
Sorry, Trent, you are not making the Hall, give it up...
This guy is only speaking the truth. Things are starting to look like Rex was not the issue, and I was calling it even in 06. The line wasn't doing good then and greatly went down in performance throughout the year. If I recal R.Brown couldn't lift his arm half way in the season and he was still playing.
Hey Dad,
You should of had a taller kid.
FAIL.
"But the best teams in this league are prolific passing teams"
___________
I would have to disagree with that a whole bunch. Sure, it helps to have a really good, or at least above average qb, but you need a strong running game to provide balance. Elway didn't win anything until he had a running game. Even the almighty Brady and Manning both need a running game to set everything up. Rex had a strong running game, and yet he continued to make the same mistakes year after year. I don't blame the guy for sticking up for his kid, but go away. He's on a much better team in Houston. And really, does the Trib have nothing better to write about?
It really is very amusing to see all of the people trying to rip Grossman's dad in return for him doing little more than tell the truth about the Bears organization. While the Bears have produced some of the most feared defenses in football history, I challenge anyone- ANYONE- to name a truly feared Bears OFFENSE in the past 50 years- and this from a team that has fielded the likes of Gale Sayers, Walter Payton and Neal Anderson. Every Super Bowl champion since the 1985 Bears team has fielded a current or future Hall of Fame Quarterback. The Bears? I don't even recall them fielding an all pro quarterback in the past 20 years! We can try to rip back at Mr. Grossman all we want, but the simple fact is that the Bears have been one of the least effective offensive machines in recent league history, probably the main reason they have returned to the Super Bowl only once since their 1985 championship year.
No, he's absolutely correct. Anyone who thinks you must establish the run to pass is an idiot. It's probably the opposite. Balance is more important than anything. The Bears are an organization that doesn't understand offensive football, the QB position or the WR position. It can't be done piecemeal. The QB is the key position, then you build around that position. There are NFL organizations that have been seeking a legitimate QB for decades, like Chicago. Then look around at the ones who can find one any old time. Obviously they know something the Bears don't know. The Bears organization is third rate.
Dan Grossman is completly right. we do rely on the rin and right now, even when its not getting us anywhere, we still keep using it. the only time we r succesfull is with the pass esp this year since we have cutler. there have been a few mistakes, but if the bears work more or the passing than the running we might actually have a legit chance at winning the super bowl. Rex's dad is definitely correct
The guy is just bitter because his son is a back up at best. Super Bowl=Pittsburg Stellers= 1)Defense
2)RUNNING GAME 3)Effective Passing= MOST SB wins Pretty simple. If Turner would open the game with Cutler throwing a bomb or two the line defense would losen up...BAM! we have a pro bowl runner. A rocket arm and 10 yard passes? Everyone knows it is just dumb. Or at least have the receiver over the line of scrimmage for 3 step "quick" passes. Oh Well, frustrating watching wasted talent, but if there is a silver lining a certain Super Bowl winning Pittsburg coach is available! So, LOSE! Bears LOSE!
You win in the NFL by running the football. You have to establish the run to be successful. You have to run and play defense.
Cutler and Grossman do have one thing in common. They are both vastly overrated.
You win in the NFL by running the football. You have to establish the run to be successful. You have to run and play defense.
Cutler and Grossman do have one thing in common. They are both vastly overrated.
Tomorrow's headline will read, "Craig Krenzel's third aunt on his mother's side has some interesting opinions about Chicago Bears quaterbacks."
Grossman is nearly 100% correct. Anyone who thinks differently should stop watching football because they really don't understand the game.
Rex was a failure. His dad is an overeducated idiot.
What did Sid Luckman's dad have to say about Cutler?
Does Dan Grossman realize his son doesn't even play at all in Houston?
A bit bizarre, no--asking Rex Grossman's dad to comment on Jay Cutler's problems with the Bears? What did the reporter think he'd say: that Jay was blowing his opportunity with a great team? Heh heh...
@ARI ....you've got a good point. who cares.
I am fine with Cutler but thanks for asking.
@DREW - for one, DOUG FLUTIE went on to do very well with another team.
JT Sullivan (sucks) but still went on to win a few games for SF.
Coaching, game planning, play calling, the way you practice, does make a difference.
Now, organizational mentallity? We're a running team. So, we went an got a QB. But after all these years of P.T. Willis and Rex-alikes, I'm good with the move to get JC.
The next 5 years will tell a lot about this franchise, and where it wants to head.
Fire Jerry Angelo.
Replace him with Dan Grossman.
good one drew...didn't Bobby Douglas win a Super Bowl ring with Green Bay? ...err no wait, that was Jimmy Mac.
Hey! I *liked* Peter Tom Willis. He was way better than Harbaugh on my Sega Genesis Tecmo Super Bowl game. XD
Grossman's dad makes some good points, though why they felt the need to call him up is beyond me.
it's all so true !!! i liked rex!! he had juice and what did he do ?? took the bears to the superbowl !
here we are again!! the bears need fresh ownership and 22st century ideas so we can go back the the big dance !!
Jonathan Quinn's dad also agrees
He's basically right - except for the fact that other Chgo QB's didn't really go on to success elsewhere - Harbaugh may be the only one.
Rex had a decent line but totally crap for receivers. The Bears under Lovie/Angelo/Ron Turner don't develop talent on offense at all and never have. The ruined Orton, Rex, Benson and more.
We have no decent WR at all for Cutler to throw to. This is what Jay was saying when he said that Hester doesn't go up and get the ball - we need an Andre Johnson, R Moss, Ocho Cinco, Brandon Marshall, - someone big and tall that will go up and get the ball!!!!!!
I'm confused. Why do I care what Rex Grossman's dad thinks? Cutler is 6'3'' and has a legitimate NFL body. Grossman is 6'00'' and had problems seeing over the lineman, which is the root of his struggles in the NFL. While I do think Bears fans were tough on Grossman, I'd be very surprised to see him succeed as a starting quarterback in the NFL. Perhaps Dan Grossman should stick to ophthalmology.
Hey Drew, the Bears will never get another franchise quarterback.
doesn't change the fact that Grossman still sucked at QB!
Chicago owes Rex Grossman an apology. This coaching staff ruined him. Dan is on the money with his analysis. He would know, i'm sure Rex would talk to his dad about the things going on in CHI. Good luck Rex.
This theory that Bears as an Org. cannot develop QB's is nothing new to us long time Bear fans.
What's really ironic is lately, we can't run either.
Still, we will beat Philly Sunday Night. Shoot that 5 letter word "night".
Rex had time in the pocket, a running game and some big receivers. Cutler has no time, no big (tall) receivers and a nonexistent running game. Almost every down Cutler throws into a 7-man coverage, and this is with holding two extra guys back to help block. Rex was a boy who always had an excuse. Cutler has been a man and hasn't thrown his team under the bus, and has even taken the blame for the others poor play. Mr. Grossman--you are just a bit jaded.
Dan tha Man Grossman is right.
Not that this guy doesn't make a lot of valid points, but there's a whole lot more hyperbole in there. Somebody feel free to correct me if I'm overlooking somebody, but the only QB I can recall that had any kind of career after leaving Chicago in the last 20 years was Jim Harbaugh.
Bottom line - Your son was part of the problem, not the solution, Mr. Grossman. I'm 33 years old and have followed the Bears all my life. The Bears' next franchise QB will be their first in my lifetime.
I guess Peter Tom Willis's dad was unavailable for comment?