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 "I'd like to be back here if I'm wanted back here," Grossman said Tuesday. "We'll see what goes on."
The Bears are 5-8 and out of the playoff picture. Grossman, a first-round pick in 2003, said he wants to be somewhere where he can compete for the starting job.
He's had an erratic season, losing the starter's job after three games, regaining it after Brian Griese was hurt and then having another season cut short by injury.
His second and third years were sidetracked by a knee ligament injury and a broken ankle. This time he sprained his left knee against the Redskins in the first quarter last Thursday.
Now, he's forced to watch from the sideline again. Kyle Orton has moved in to start Monday night's game against Minnesota with Griese the backup.
Grossman wants the chance to start next season and that's what he's hoping for, wherever that might be.
"I think you're always proving yourself, and I definitely would like to be in a situation anywhere where I'm competing for the starting job and show what I can do, and just kind of improve and take the experience that I've had throughout the last couple years and build upon that," Grossman said.
"I know I can play good football, so if I'm in a position where I can compete next July, I'll be happy."
Grossman completed 122 of 225 passes for 1,411 yards with four TD passes and seven interceptions in eight games this season, seven as a starter. In his career he's passed for 5,907 yards with 33 interceptions and 31 TD passes in 32 games, 30 as a starter.
He drew heavy criticism last season, his first full one as a pro, for uneven performances that included one game when his quarterback rating was 0.0.
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But he has a strong arm and a solid football background. And there was no structural damage in his latest injury. He said Tuesday he actually hoped he could make it back as an emergency third quarterback for the season finale against the Saints, but that is unlikely.
After returning to the starter's role following his benching earlier this season, Grossman showed some improvement from the first three games. But the Bears have not looked at all like a team that made it to the Super Bowl
-- not on either side of the football.
"I think as a team we have definitely not played the way we're capable of and especially myself early in the season, I did not play the way I wanted to, but hopefully I learned from some of those mistakes and got back in there and played a little bit better," Grossman said.
Grossman was a star at Florida and the Heisman Trophy runner-up in 2001. But after the injuries slowed him early on, he's struggled to be a consistent performer.
"You just look at the potential of what I can become and hopefully that's a consistent good quarterback that can make a big play here and there and still play good football without being too risky," Grossman said.
"Right now I don't have any answers as far as my future, I'm just going along for the ride and we'll see what my options are at the end of the year."
Notes: Their defensive line depleted by injuries, the Bears signed defensive tackle Jimmy Kennedy. Kennedy was a first-round pick of the St. Louis Rams in 2003. He started 30 games for the Rams, including all 16 a year ago. He spent the preseason with the Broncos.
[Associated Press; By RICK GANO]
Copyright 2007 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This
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