Jay Mariotti, along with the rest of the Chicago media establishment, are a bunch of seething lunatics. Every morning on sports radio shows in Chicago you hear the commentators discussing how wonderful Rex Grossman was and how woeful Craig Krenzel is. Day in and day out, ever since Rex was injured, all we hear about is how on earth will we ever find a replacement for Rex. Rex Grossman has been elevated and placed on a pedestal. To Chicagoans he represents the only hope for any type of team worth cheering for.
Krenzel played for Ohio State and was 24-3 in the two seasons he started. He also won the NCAA Fotball National Championship.
To Ohioans and Toledoans, this is an insult. We have had the pleasure and honor of being able to watch the Ohio State Buckeyes and Craig Krenzel on our televisions for the last 3 years. All the way back to when he replaced the starter for one game against Michigan, and pulled off the ultimate Buckeye victory. He would beat Michigan twice in his career, go on to win a national championship and have a career record of 24-3 as a starter. So why are Chicago media analysts so down on Krenzel? Do they even know who he is? Do they really want to mess with the Buckeyes? Who the heck is Rex Grossman anyways?
Grossman is a para-God in Chicago, but undeservedly so. Why are Chicago media outlets crying that they are forced to start Craig Krenzel, as if Krenzel is a second rate, washed up, pathetic, untalented QB? Jay Mariotti, in the Chicago Sun Times writes, “The question is whether Craig Krenzel has the stuff to be Rex Grossman’s backup.” (11/01/2004) Later he writes, “Krenzel looks like a No. 3 that might eventually mature into a backup.”
Excuse me? Does Krenzel have the stuff to be Grossman’s back up? Who the heck is Grossman? What did he ever do? What is so good about Grossman that other QBs have to try to replace him? Grossman would never even start in the NFL if he wasn’t on the Bears roster. Why is Grossman painted as a savior and Zeus-like superhero? What has Grossman done to become the darling of Chicago? Could it be that Chicagoans have nothing else to cling to? Cubs? White Sox? Blackhawks? Bears? Ok, maybe the Bulls, but it’s been over 8 years. All the Chicago teams have had terrible seasons, and have never gone anywhere or to any championships recently. As one caller put it, “Chicago sports just sucks!”
Who is Jay Mariotti to criticize Krenzel? What qualifies Rex Grossman as a veteran starter that no one could possibly replace? Why are Chicagoans so infatuated with Grossman? Is their obsession with Grossman justifiable? A simple look at the facts easily bursts the Grossman bubble.
Rex Grossman has only started 6 NFL games. That’s only 5 more than Krenzel. Shortly, Krenzel will have more NFL starts than the almighty Rex. In his first start this year, Grossman had a QB passer rating of 79. In his first game as a starter this year, Krenzel had a passer rating of 112. In his first start as a QB, back in 2003, Grossman’s first pass was an 11 yard gain. In Krenzel’s first start, his first pass was a 49 yard pass for a touchdown. During his first start, when Rex finally put together a drive against Minnesota in December of 2003, it lead to a measly field goal. In Krenzel’s first drive of his first start, the second play from scrimmage, resulted in a 49 yard completion for a touchdown.
In 2004 in his first 3 starts, Grossman only threw for a single passing touchdown. In Krenzel’s very first start in 2004, very first passing play, he threw for a 49 yard touchdown. That says it all. All the while, Chicago media says he doesn’t have an arm and can’t throw accurately.
In his first two seasons in the NFL Grossman posted a pathetic passer rating of 74 in 2003 and an even more pathetic 67 in 2004. Krenzel’s passer rating in his first game as a starter is 112. As a starter Rex won his first two games, and was useless in his third start. We’ll just have to wait and see what Krenzel is able to do in his first 3 starts. His next start will be against the New York Giants.
(Update: Krenzel went on to win his first 3 starts and finished teh year 3-1 as a starter only losing to the high-flying Indianapolis Colts.)
In college, Grossman posted mad numbers for the Florida Gators playing three years for them. Krenzel played for The Ohio State Buckeyes and was 24-2 in 2 years as a starter and won the National Championship in one of the most exciting National Championship games ever, in triple overtime. How is that for pressure and national media attention?
The intangibles? Rex is short. He is 6’1” and can barely see over the line. Krenzel stands tall at 6’4” and is stronger. Further, Grossman can’t scramble to save his life, while Krenzel can scramble like mad. Krenzel can win games. He has confidence and can always put together a win. Rex is not very bright and makes lots of decision mistakes, while Krenzel is probably the smartest quarterback ever.
Krenzel is far more durable. In preseason and during his stint at Ohio State, he threw blocks on running plays, scrambled, pushed linebackers around and made the plays. He throws himself into a block and pushes his teammates to push themselves. In preseason for the Bears, we all remember when Krenzel threw a screen pass to a wide receiver while a lineman was hanging from his jersey. On that same play, he runs out in front of the wide receiver to throw a monster block against a huge linebacker. This boy is tough! Rex’s small frame and fragile body can’t handle that. Rex has already been injured twice in his first 6 starts and hasn't been able to play more than 3 consecutive games.
In addition, Rex played at Florida. Lots of passing, speed, and no defense. He didn’t have to take many monster hits. Krenzel played in the big ten. Defense, monster hits, smashmouth football. He survived without injury. That’s similar to the NFL's style of play.
Further, Grossman comes from a pass-happy Gators program, while Krenzel comes from a defense and punt-happy Buckeyes program. Which is the better fit for Chicago? Obviously, Krenzel is already a Chicago-style quarterback. The Bears love defense, and Krenzel is already in the Bears mindset.
The Bears are not going to blow opponents out offensively. They need to be able to win the close ones. Krenzel has a track record of winning very close games. Yes, he can win the close ones.
Yes, Krenzel has a stronger arm. Yes, Rex may have a slight edge in accuracy. But I would take the brains and arm over the accuracy. For a guy who is “so accurate” in his first start in the NFL, Rex threw an interception, Krenzel did not. Yes, he fumbled the ball, but it was not his fault, and no one can blame that on him.
Further, Grossman is a baby and is being babied by the Bears management. They did not want to bring in a “Kurt Warner” type veteran so as not to scare Grossman or bruise his confidence and ego. This is pathetic. Yes, it is management’s fault for babying him, but why do they feel the need to baby him? Is he a baby? Is his ego weak and frail? They see him everyday, and they thought that he would not survive a challenge to his ego or any type of preseason competition. Krenzel on the other hand, has always had to fight for his job and earn it.
So is the Chicago media establishment crazy to be so down on Krenzel? Are they justified in christening Grossman as an unmatched gladiator? We will have to wait and see. But for now, Chicago should be happy that they have a quality quarterback and a quality human being as they have in Ohio’s Craig Krenzel.
Krenzel finished the year 3-1 as a starter and only lost to the Indianapolis Colts. No other Bear QB this year has performed so well. In fact, Grossman and Hutchinson had one win each, while Quinn had none.
ToledoMuslims.com predicts that next season, Krenzel will be giving Grossman a run for his money.
Note: The views expressed in these articles does not necessarily represent the views of Muslims in Toledo, Ohio nor the views of ToledoMuslims.com, it's staff, owners, editors, webmaster, or writers. The views expressed represent the views of the writer only. ToledoMuslims.com is not responsible for any of the expressed views. Please feel free to comment on our articles in the article discussion area provided.
Printer
Friendly 
Email
Article