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 Bears coach Lovie Smith made the announcement Wednesday. Griese's injury wasn't the only consideration.
"Everything is based on one basic thing: who gives us the best chance to win this week? You take injuries, you take performance, you take everything into play," Smith said.
"That's what we did coming to this conclusion."
Grossman relieved after Griese went down with a sprained left shoulder against Oakland on Sunday and threw a go-ahead 59-yard TD pass to Bernard Berrian to lead the Bears to a 17-6 victory.
Even though he's not guaranteed the starter's role past this Sunday, Grossman said he hopes to be No. 1 for the remainder of the season.
"I'm trying to keep this job for the rest of the season, I think that's a given. I've already been benched, what are they going to do to me? I've been there and I don't want to go back," Grossman said.
"I'm just excited about going out and playing football and not worrying about the repercussions of it."
Smith said he liked the way Grossman gave the offense a boost against the Raiders. He completed 7-for-14 passes for 142 yards after a shaky start when he fumbled his first snap. Griese was hurt late in the first half.
So why not commit to Grossman beyond this week? Smith's reason is this: the Bears are in a different situation than they were when he first benched Grossman in favor of Griese. They're 4-5 and have no room for error or erratic play with their chances for making the postseason so slim.
"Rex is starting this weekend. And I can't look into the future any more than that and I'm not going to," Smith said.
"It's not to that point where a guy has to worry about being yanked after one play. But in the same sense as our football team goes, every play is important. We need everyone to perform at a certain level."
During practice Wednesday at Halas Hall, Grossman took snaps with the first team, while Griese was in a baseball cap. Griese told reporters he hoped to practice Thursday and be able to play Sunday, but that's not the scenario Smith mapped out.
Smith said both QBs had been informed of the switch.
How about the unwritten rule in the NFL that a starter doesn't lose his job because of an injury?
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"There is and there isn't. This it the NFL. Nothing is guaranteed, right?" Griese said.
"What I know is that I had an injury on Sunday, and that it feels better today and I'm going to be ready to play."
Griese has completed 62 percent of his passes and has nine TD passes with 10 interceptions, including four in one game against Detroit. Chicago is 3-3 in games he has started.
Grossman has completed 52 percent with two TD passes and six interceptions. The Bears are 1-2 with him as a starter this season.
Griese's QB rating is 77.1, Grossman's 53.9
Grossman, who struggled in the Super Bowl loss to the Colts, said he picked up some details while watching from the sideline the past six games. He acknowledged it was tough not playing.
Now he's got another chance.
"It's not really that much pressure for me. I didn't even know if I was going to play again," he said.
"Just go out there and play like it's recess and just have fun. You never know if you're going to have this opportunity again to play with this team, so I'm excited about that."
Grossman's contract expires after this season but that's not a major consideration for the former first-round draft choice when takes the field in Seattle. He even joked about it.
"I've probably missed the boat on the big one," he said.
Grossman led the Bears to two victories over the Seahawks last season, including one in the playoffs. But both of those games were in Chicago. He'll make his comeback in one of the NFL's loudest stadiums: Qwest Field.
Seattle quarterback Matt Hasselbeck said he was worn out following the Seahawks' Super Bowl season two years ago because it lasted so long.
Grossman said that's not the problem or why he got off to such a slow start this year.
"I had plenty of time to rest and get my mind off that season. That's not an excuse for me," he said.
"Not playing is not fun. That's all that was, and hopefully I've been able to observe things from a different perspective and hopefully I'll benefit from that."
[Associated Press; By RICK GANO]
Copyright 2007 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This
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