I still vividly remember the bus trip from the media hotel to the stadium for last year's Super Bowl. It was raining and I was sitting next to Fred Mitchell.
I said, "The ball's going to be wet, watch Rex lay down a couple of snaps."
Presto.
As I've watced Eli Manning this year, I've noticed some comparisons to Rex. He's had the "deer in the headlights" look at times, lacking confidence, poise and leadership.
And I don't have a ton of confidence in him finding those attributes prior to Sunday. I think it's somewhat telling that Manning - and the team in general - has played better on the road, away from the pressure of hometown fans.
But even though Sunday's game is far from the Meadowlands, Eli won't be able to escape the pressure.
One benefit for Eli is I think his receivers are better.
Still, it's hard to predict how Eli will react. It was easier last year to predict how the underdog QB would play.
Hey, was this piece cleared by Slezak, Keith Lifetime Southsider, and the rest of the thought police? Afterall, it may offend the proud and peaceful Grossman family.
You....THINK....his receivers are better.
You just....THINK.
You aren't completely sure that Plaxico and Toomer are way better than any receivers on the Bears.
Cool.
That officially cancels out any fumbling-related foresight you had last year.
Welcome back, Roman.
Roman responds: Take it easy. Berrian had a good season last year, but yes, Moose has been a disappointment. And Rex implied Moose ran the wrong route on the pick-for-six.
Max shouldn't you be out somewhere buying tee-shirts? Give it a rest. (how do you like those apples)
ANYWAY...Roman I have to disagree with that comparison because because unlike Rex, Eli actually led a balanced attack to the Superbowl. The Bears Defense willed the Bears to the big game where they were matched by an explosive Colts offense. The Colts Defense had their way with Rex who's performance compares more to Steve Grogan vs the Bears in 85. Ask Bears fans if they would like a swap Eli for Rex? This board would probably shut down from too much activity.
Predicting that Rex would fumble a couple of snaps in that rain, under that kind of pressure, was not really too difficult Roman. You probably were not the only one who said that prior to kick-off. You know, when Hester ran back the opening kick for a score, I turned to my husband and said "we're dead." And - Presto!
I think Eli has a stronger foundation than Rex (meaning his brother and father - and of course, his momma), more confidence and a hell of a lot better O-line. If you look at the games that Eli has played Rex-like, it's the meaningless Minnesota-type games where I think he loses his focus. In the big-time, high-pressure games, he's risen to the occasion. No turnovers in the playoffs - that's huge. Clearly it's a matter of opinion which team has the better WR's, but nobody disputes who's the better quarterback. (Also the better looking quarterback.)
The Giants are going to suffer from the "we're just happy to be here" problem, and the Patriots are the most prepared and focused team in history, with an insanely smart coach. Experience is going to be the difference this year. Also, Plaxico Burress was dumb enough to predict a Giants victory. Not a good idea to give the Patriots any fuel for their fire.
Roman responds: When did you become such a smart ass? Did Ricky do this to you?
I was a smart ass before Ricky was even born. You're still going to pick me to be the first guest blogger, right?
Is Eli this year's Rex?
No Roman he is not. Though Eli played poorly at times, the deer in headlights was simply him looking up and realizing I need to do something constructive, NOT DESTRUCTIVE as Rex was doing.
The Indy Colts of '06-'07 are NOT the Patriots of '07-'08. The Patriots are a much better team. I wouldn't bet money on last year's Indy team beating this year's Pats team, but it would be an interesting game to watch.
The Bears with Rex's ineptness could have still beaten the Colts if Lovie and Ron Turner would have simply made adjustments throughout the game.
I just hope the Giants can make a game out of it and then who knows what the outcome will be? (I know wishful thinking)
You can have guest bloggers as long as...
Julie B doesn't talk about skating or yoga
Bculz doesn't type IN ALL CAPS
Chuck, KLS and others don't discuss their dolls
In case you're in denial about the overwhelming public opinion ...I hope this helps clear things up for ya
The Official 2008 Rex Test....
1. If your Wife or girlfriend...falls down...trips...breaks a nail....say, "Nice Job Rex"...login and tell us the reaction you got
2. Wear your Rex jersey to Wrigleyville...notice how you fit right in....Wear it to Soldier Field....see if you get made fun of (Thank you, DPeculinas)
3. Repeatedly call someone Rex when youre talking to them....count the # of Rex's it takes to really tick em off...log in and tell us the reaction you got
4. Set somebody's desktop background to Rex....count the # of "thank you's" you get...login and tell us the reaction you got
5. Call a Biker "Rex"...count the number of teeth you have left...go home...turn on your webcam...and let us view it (Thank you, Hampton Fan)
6. Put your Rex Jersey on EBay....better yet...stand outside the mall and try to give it away, .........login "still" wearing your jersey ....turn on webcam
7. Walk thru any public place and yell......"Raise your hand if your a Rex Grossman fan!!"....when everyone stops laughing...count the hands that are still up
And Finally....#8....and I'm sorry Maury Buford...
8. When handing something to someone....and they drop it...say, "I'm Kruetz and you're Grossman on that one".....Do they laugh? or does it start the "I'm not Rex you are" argument?
Eli is this year what Rex could be in the future with a team built around him instead of in opposition to him.
Julie B.
"Plaxico Burress was dumb enough to predict a Giants victory."
I predict a Giants victory. Call me dumb. We've under-estimated Eli, Plaxico, Armani and the Giants' offensive line for long enough. Both teams are undefeated in the post-season. I say the Giants win by 7.
Max Power:
"Hey, was this piece cleared by Slezak, Keith Lifetime Southsider, and the rest of the thought police?"
Just yesterday it was Slezak and the Indian guy, and now Slezak conspiring with Keith. Carol Slezak must get around alot, don't you think?
I don't think you're dumb, Keylan. It's just that I didn't see Randy Moss responding to YOUR prediction. We're allowed to predict whatever the hell we want, it won't make much difference. My husband, however, will be wearing the lucky blue underwear and Kiss t-shirt that he's worn for every playoff game on Sunday, hoping that will be the difference for the G-men. Dumb? You be the judge.....
i hve to believe that Eli has been on the phone every day the last 2 weeks with his brother both getting advice and confidence building pep talks from Peyton. Hopefully the pep talks are a bit more serious than his commercials. I wouldn't write the Giants off though. Eli is a quarterback as apposed to Rex who is an impersonator and not a very good one and the Pats just might be a bit overconfident and cocky. They did have a couple close calls down the stretch in the regular season. Giants by 3.
Julie B:
I know Keylan can drive most of us to bouts of intense headscratching over his inane commentary, but he got you to utter "h-e-double toothpicks" in print!!
Keylan's the kind of guy that we wish we could "Christmas Story" -- you know, triple dog dare him to stick his tongue on the basketball pole in the dead of winter. Thing is, if he did it, none of us would ever call the fire department to rescue him.
Hey, Keylan... I'm only slightly kidding.
What will be Eli's excuse when the Patriots' put up fitty on them? He has to come from behind and throws the ball up, and Asante Samuel makes Eli his B****, a lot like he used Peyton. Brandon Jacobs, meet Rodney Harrison. This will be murder, especially if the field is clean. Eli's defense is good, and well, his line is playing a little better.
Rex had no picks (in fact, his qb rating was comparable to Peyton's most of the SB) until our conservative, sit on a small lead coaches took the playbook out of his hands, then decided, OH S***!! We're losing, open the playbook up again!
Eli will probably play decent until the pressure mounts, and given this New England machine, they could be down 7 by the time they touch the ball, 14+ by the end of the first quarter.
Then he will become who he is, a slightly above average QB. Roman, you are probably right about the pressure. I can't wait to see this show. 19-0. Trading in one jerk team for another, c'est la vie.
H-E-double-hockey-sticks? That is actually more lame than Stuck saying "doggone it." Don't worry, though Seedster - I still love ya. By the way, you should've seen what I edited out......
Eli Manning may get as much heat from fans and the media as Rex did, but because of his name alone, he gets more chances to redeem himself. Ever since he was anointed full time starter for the Giants, I don't believe he has ever been benched for poor play. Injuries maybe, but never for poor play. Rex, on the other hand, gets benched after 4 games into the season and despite all the other issues the Bears have had on the team involving injuries, the O-Line, the lack of playmakers on offense, etc., he is still blamed by many as the primary reason for the Bears' losing season (believe me, I've had enough discussions with plenty of other friends and other fans about this). Furthermore, while Eli gets much credit and praise for leading his team to the Super Bowl, Rex was barely given credit at all last year even though he played well in the playoffs.
Obviously anything can happen during the course of a game, but to answer the original question, I don't believe that Eli is this year's Rex and I do believe that Eli will be better prepared mentally heading into the Super Bowl game than Rex was. Of course that doesn't necessarily mean that this won't be another blowout victory for the AFC because the Patriots are the so-called NFL team of the decade, but the comparisons between Eli and Rex are not as close as most people may think. Both are just "good enough" NFL quarterbacks playing in tough media-driven cities and playing for plenty of bandwagon fans who, let's face it, just don't know any better than to criticize the quarterback position every single time.
I compare Kyle with Eli...2005...both rookies...Kyle was ahead of Eli...then JA decided to "commit to the chick"
If your confused..use my Rex test...I triple double dog dare you...
Kyle is our QB
WHAT!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Did you watch any of the giants playoff games????
Toomer Dropped EVERY single pass..HE DROPPED THEM.......except for the one where he dove. That was literally his ONLY CATCH.
Plaxico can't even run. ARE YOU KIDDING ME? ARE YOU KIDDING ME??????
REX did wayyyyyyyyybetter in the playoffs last year then Eli did this year. How come the laws of football cease to exist in Chicago? No quarterback has ever been blamed for dropped snaps. It is always the center's fault. ALWAYS! Why is Rex being blamed?
SHUT-UP and let REX play. He is our best QB since Luckman, and will be our best for years to come. Get over your pessimistic 'we are victims' garbage analysis. Bartman didn't lose the world series, and Grossman didn't lose the superbowl.
You know what real fans say??????
win or lose.GGGGGGGGGGGGOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO BEARS! Rex is our Quarterback. Our receivers are wayyy better.
who the h@ll is Fred Mitchell anyway? you should save these unfound opinionated conclusions for your fantasy-league blog. There I am sure you will find the proper idiots who will buy
into this 'Mariotti-recycled' attempt at evaluating the difference between Eli and Rex.
The world of sports is filled with stories of upsets. If the Giants win Sunday is that truely an upset though? They played the Pats twice this season, once in pre-season play, one game decided by a single touch down the other by a field goal. One might argue that both games had nothing at stake, the first being a pre-season game, the second the regular season closer with both teams play-off senario already decided. One play could easily make all the diffence in Sunday's game. An injury to Brady or Moss would be devastating for the Pats as could any injury to a marquis player for the Giants. This could very well be the tightest SB game ever played. As a life-long Bears fan the Giants are tied for second with the Vikings behind Green Bay as the most hated rival but nothing would make me happier than to see a ticker tape parade in Times Square while the Pats pack their bags and head to florida to play golf and Peyton Manning having one of his pep talks with Brady trying to cheer him up by telling him "hey look on the bright side Tom, you already have 3 rings and there is still time to book a Carnival Cruise and win a shuffle board championship"
What the HE double hockey sticks is a Guest Blogger?
I have my thread topic already picked out. Just give me the go-ahead.......
Don't worry - no skating, no yoga, no shenanigans.
Just give it to Jewels man. She has my endorsement.
I don't recall Trainrex leading the Bears to THREE Playoff road wins last Season. And I do think he Eli is going to suffer the same fate as T-Rex in the Superbowl. Pats 45 Gints 17.
A guest blogger is a guest who takes over the blog, duh! Er, I mean, not "take over" per se, and some would argue I did that in Roman's absence last week anyway. But this time, it's gonna be official. I have to be first!!! "If you're not first, you're last." You guys are gonna love it - ready? C'mon Roman! I need to write! Plus, I've got Keith's endorsement, which is kin to Oprah supporting Obama, only I'm guessing Keith's endorsement doesn't come with any coin.
Oh, and I saw the error in my ways in trying to say "Fitty" in the S-T today. Apparently it's "Fiddy," and that, phoenetically, I can pronounce.
Well...if throwing topics at Roman is Guest Blogging....then consider me Miles Davis.
Forget Eli being the next Rex
Has Kevin Gilbride been seen in the same room as Ron Turner?
How do you add to some very good assessments? I can't compare those two because Eli did have a rougher road to the S.B.. Giants having better receivers? Somewhat. Toomer did drop quite a few but the guy had a couple catches that were highlights that our WRs can only dream of making. We had better speed. Plax should've caught that ball near the end of the first half of the Packers game. Why did he leave his feet? That pass should've been caught in stride but he was thinking about getting blasted. I'm not a fan of the guy obviously. He's a poor man's Randy Moss of his last year in Minnesota. He caught more balls against Al Harris than I've ever seen anyone catch against Harris in any game. Elevating his game really helped Eli. We didn't have guys making plays during our playoff series like he and Toomer did. Now,their TE is very comparable to Clark. But Clark is deceptively faster than theirs. Eli looks spaced out so much but he seem to not get rattled when guys drop passes like Rex seem to. But,I'd take Rex over Dilfer who should really be considered the worst QB to ever play in the S.B. Dilfer's D was the 2nd best D EVER and that alone got him his ring. His running game was solid as well.
I just saw Fiddy at a party...
its gettin hot in here (scottsdale)
Isn't it "herrre"????
And um, Nelly - not Fiddy (look I did it!)
i know...i was referring to the ladies at the Party...
Jewels is right!!! So take off all yo clothes!!
I am dying laughing! Especially the Oprah endorsement!
Keith endorsing JB is less like Oprah endorsing Obama and more like...
Tokeyo Rose endorsing the Scarlette Pimpernal
Julie B, some day, I still want to marry you some lifetime!!!! Rex is not a bad QB. He had an OL full of holes, a running game set in the 1940's, and a reciever core who thought catching one pass was reason for an invitation to the White House. Wlater Payton in his heyday would have stuggled to rush for 1000 yards in 16 games. Moose, couldn't catch a cold much of the year, and Bernard was a free agent making himself look good as the only decent wide reciever. A Randy Moss or Marvin Harrison or Dwayne Wade he is not. Hester should be a returner, period. Please see the pass hitting his shoulder pad...Eli and the Giants will prevail 23-17. Everyone will wonder what went wrong with the Patriots? Not what went right for the Giants...
I am a Bears fan also but their receiving corps is garbage. Let's start with Moose who is on the downhill side of his career. As bculz atested to, he couldn't catch a cold. The running game is suspect with Cedric Benson as the featured back. Thomas Jones should never have been allowed to leave. At least he ran with a purpose whereas Benson tippy toes when he runs. The defense can't win them all and shouldn't have to win them all. The Bears need receivers period so Rex can become one of the elite QBs in the game.
Allan you can't bring Walter Payton into the equation talking about this O line. He was completely unlike any of these players that play nowadays. He did not have a lineman in his heyday that was a pro bowler when he was racking up yards. Neither did he have a decent receiver/TE or great FB when he was getting started. He had talent and determination to suceed in the league. The guy made himself into the player that he was. And guys today don't put in the work to do well. Walter didn't get any real help until he was ready to decline and that help he got made him better when he could have been declining. When I strted watching the BEARS he was the only game in town. The only guy on the whole team who was playing his whole heart out. Just about every guy who started on this line his been to the pro bowl and they all didn't get bad at the same time. Rex's problem was that he didn't put in the work nececessary to get better. You'd never see the guy on the sidelines between plays going over what just happened. He'd mess up and didn't do anything extra to see what he did wrong. Every QB who is good and on the verge of greatness spend a great deal of time on the sideline between plays going over those photos or talking to the coordinator on the phone. Rex never does that. He's like a lot of these players who rest on their talent and don't put any extra work in to get better. Yeah, he's a good QB but when will he WANT to be great? Benson. Same thing. Resting on his laurels and haven't done a darn thing to get better. Jones worked and that wasn't enough to satisfy these fans who only want perfection. You can't be perfect but no one is going to hate you if you're trying to be. I want to see Rex take this team and show he's the man and not just another one of the guys. Say what you want about his talent and his potential but where can you tell me he's showing any determination?
ha. eli is not as good as rex in any way. his offense is loaded!
rex has 1 decent reciever and that is it. no o-line, and no recievers, and no running backs.
rex after he was unbenched this year is even FAR better than eli.
Cased closed. Eli came through with the plays to win it for the Giants. We can't even compare these guys anymore. One is the Super bowl MVP and the other was a Miami footnote. Even Dilfer didn't get the MVP of the Super bowl. Eli more than managed the game. His receivers came through with some awesome plays and sealed the deal. But his throws nd ability to move around and think on his feet set him apart from Rex. That throw to Mcgee was bigger than any pass Rex threw in the playoffs last year. Eli's INT shouldn't even count against him. Smith has been dropping passes all year long. He came up big once in this game but with out the Giants D stopping them early and often they would have lost. Still, Eli today was good enough.
Guess not. He's still not the man, but he is the best this season.
WRD, are we losing you on the Rex bandwagon? Eli does have Plex, a good line, 2 decent backs, and a killer defensive line that harassed Brady all day. On top of Coordinators that were not afraid to call a risky game. They must blitzed on about 80% of the plays.
Rex had none of those things last year in the SB. Chico called a terrible game as well, the Colts just ran all over our line, whenever they wanted to.
Eli chucked some catchable passes up at the end of the game, and if the cb's do not have 'the dropsies' that last posession does not even happen. 2 very interceptable passes at least.
Not hatin' on him, he made the throws when they let him off the hook, and that pass to Mc Gee was more Mc Gee skying and holding onto it than a great pass. The one to Boss was better, that was beautiful. Eli won, I still have visions of the 85 dolphins ruining our perfect season, just want someone to go perfect to send the 72 Fins home.
So this will be the last time Eli and Rex are mentioned in the same sentence.
Big Willy - I agree. Anyone who things Eli and Rex are in the same category are simply not looking at the results. And the Giants have done it the HARD way. All of those games on the road. One shock after the other. Cold weather, etc. My hat is off to Eli and the Giants. Rex on the other hand...couldn't hold Eli's cheesecake with both hands.
I'm gonna say no.
Roman responds: Good timing.
he was 1 escaped sack away from it though....
Chuck
i agree with you
Eli has things working for him and the Bears try to make everything work against Rex
what kind of team does that?
i mean common we need to support our QB and if we dont we'll never have the kind of QB that we want here in Chicago
Bandwagons are one thing but reality is another. The question is whether or not Eli is Rex this year and the answer is no. Eli won the MVP and came through when it mattered most. Forget 2006. Eli's guys dropped the most passes in the NFL this year. That's a fact. And curiously he seemed to get better after Shockey went down. Shockey : a guy that announcers love to say plays with emotions even when he's belittling his QB. When T.O does it he's an ass. But that's another story. Rex didn't have any players past or present who came out and said in so many words that he was a loser like Tiki did against Eli. We coddled the guy and if he read the paper or watched ESPN then he knew that most of those guys were against him. All we Chicagoans want to talk about was how Rex had it so bad with the media and with fans. I didn't see too many negative signs in Soldier Field in 2006 or 2007. Especially none like the ones that New Yorkers were holding up. And when you booed Rex I think he didn't take it personal because he didn't blame himself. Like I said, he never bothered to carry himself like he wanted to get better. If he was an artist he'd think that a stick man he drew was a work of art. He doesn't live in reality or didn't until they sat him down. And really, I'm tired of people talking about the offense getting so bad only a few months after they were in the Super bowl. Collectively a whole offense never gets bad like that. Mainly it comes down to someone not getting better than they were. Losing Jones didn't help and starting Benson wasn't all the kiss of death. You can not say that everyone on the O line got bad at the same time. Guys were hurt and that happens all the time. The answer is somewhere between all of the above. Then you have to admit that our QB never approached the position like he had to fight for it. It was handed to him too many times for him to approach it in the manner that a professional should. The next time you see him going over photos and consulting with someone other than the ball boy will be his first time. There comes a time when potential gives way to someone being an actual a bust. We all agree that Benson didn't seem to have any fight in him. We agree that he didn't seem to give it his all. Maybe wanting Rex to be something that we've hardly had around here clouds your mind to what he is or may never be. My saying all this doesn't mean that I think that he's the worst QB we've ever had. I just think that he hasn't tried hard enough to win the job that he keeps getting. I wish that Rex was MVP of our Super bowl even when we lost because then we would've had a foundation to start with. Do you really see him as a foundation?
And Chuck I didn't see the Giants blitz a great deal. Their front 4 was kicking butt all alone because they wanted it more. It wasn't all about the coordinators, those 4 guys out there were showing a combination of leadership and desire. Strahan and those guys played their hearts out. Chico can't coach that. We just didn't have it like they wanted. Their D coach was astounding because he got into the flow of the game and really deserves to be a head guy just from that game and also from what he got from his players on those many road games to the Super Bowl. Again, that's why I'm not a big proponent of Chico becoming a head coach anytime soon. He had an easier road through the playoffs. It was his calls to make. The D was his to do what he wanted. Babich got more results from half of an Urlacher than Chico did from a, whole, uninjured Urlacher. People won't admit that.
NO, ELI IS NOT THIS YEARS REX: LAST YEAR REX GROSSMAN SHOWED POOR JUDGEMENT AND A LACK OF COMMUNICATION AND CONFIDENCE. ELI WAS IN SYNC WITH HIS TEAM AND SHOWED HE HAD COMPOSURE EVEN, THOUGH THEY WERE IN THE SAME SITUATION THEY WERE IN THE LAST GAME OF THE SEASON. BUT ALL IN ALL, REX GROSSMAN SHOWED HE WASN'T READY: HIS PASSES WERE EITHER A LITTLE TOO HIGH OR DIDNT QUITE MAKE IT; HIS BACK PEDALING AND SCRAMBLING WHEN HE WAS IN PURSUIT FOR A SACK; AND HIS DECISIONS ON WHO HE THREW IT TO EVEN THOUGH THE COVERAGE WAS TIGHT. ELI WORKED HARD, AND BOTH QUARTERBACKS (THE BEARS LAST YEAR AND THIS YEAR'S GIANTS) HAD AN EXCELLENT DEFENSE BEHIND THEM. IT WAS JUST A MATTER OF WHO WANTED IT AND WHO DIDN'T!
Ebony, I don't think it's fair to say that Rex "didn't want it." Of course he wanted to win the Super Bowl. He didn't get that far and say, "You know, I don't really want to win this one." That just sounds ridiculous. It's a matter of talent and confidence, and Eli has a lot of both. Rex has some talent, zero confidence, and we all know - zero protection. That's the difference.
Strike up ...the Music ...the Band Has Begun, ..................The REXXXXXX BANDWAGON Polka.
JULIE, I DIDN'T SAY THAT HE GOT THAT FAR AND SAID "HE DIDN'T WANT THAT!" WHAT KIND OF SENSE DOES THAT MAKE? IT HAS A LOT TO DO WITH WHO WANTS IT THE MOST. THAT YEAR, BOTH PEYTON AND HIS TEAM, AND REX AND HIS TEAM WANTED IT. BUT PEYTON SHOWED HE WANTED IT THE MOST. TALENT IS SO OVERRATED. LOOK AT THE PATRIOTS: I THINK ITS SAFE TO SAY THEY HAD THE MOST TALENTED TEAM THIS YEAR, BOTH OFFENSIVE AND DEFENSIVE! BUT PROVING MY POINT, DID THEY COME HOME WITH A SUPERBOWL TROPHY?
Tony Romo was this years Rex...
ok next topic!
Ebony, It's difficult to decipher your posts with all caps, but I disagree with you still. Talent is overrated? Last year, the team with arguably the most talented QB in all of football won the Super Bowl. This year, if there was any weakness on the Patriots, it was their defense. That was the case even before the Super Bowl. The Giants pass rush was THE BEST in the NFL this year, and that was clear throughout the game. I never saw Brady on his ass more than in the Super Bowl. He was sacked more in the SB than in any of the other 18 games they played this season. The Patriots were held to a season-low 14 points. If the Patriots defense was the most talented, then they would have been able to stop Eli from taking his team on an 80 yard drive to win the game. They would have been able to sack him on 3rd and 5, kept the clock ticking and likely would have won. How do you know "who wants it the most?" It's ridiculous to make that kind of speculation. Do you personally know any of the players on either team?
Im more amazed that some rookie named Ebony elicited the longest response by JB'ers to date!!
Truly amazing!
and....
that you mentioned Tom Brady and on his ass in the same sentance without referencing your desire for it.
You're just jealous. And that's "sentence," with an "e." Haven't I corrected you on that one before?