Welcome ladies and gentlemen to the Gateway to the West, beautiful downtown St. Louis.  Tonight, the 10-2 NFC leading Chicago Bears take on the mediocre 5-7 Rams!  Good evening everybody, I’m Mike Tirico along side Joe Theismann and Tony Kornheiser.  The story for the Chicago Bears all week: Rex Grossman.  Which Rex Grossman will show up tonight?  Will Brian Griese see action if Rex Grossman falters?  How long of a leash will Lovie Smith give Rex Grossman?  We know the questions, and in just a few minutes, we’ll have the answers, Joe.

Mike I spent 13 hours with Rex Grossman yesterday and I really got the feeling that Rex is a quarterback who is unsure of himself.  When I spoke with Rex Grossman, I really felt that Rex Grossman has lost the confidence that Rex Grossman had early in the season, when Rex Grossman was the leading candidate for MVP.  Amidst all the controversy of the last 8 days, Lovie Smith has said repeatedly that Rex Grossman is his quarterback.  That means Rex Grossman will throw the football all over the football field.  And certainly, Rex Grossman has had more lows than highs of late, isn’t that right Tony?

Last week Rex Grossman had his worst outing as pro.  Rex Grossman was bad, Rex Grossman was awful, Rex Grossman had a putrid rating of 1.3.  1.3!!!!  Wilbon and I have higher ratings on PTI!!!  When speaking with Rex Grossman, I found a man that is hard not to like.  Rex Grossman’s teammates want Rex Grossman as their quarterback.  Rex Grossman is a likeable young man and there’s nobody in that Bears locker room who isn’t pulling for Rex Grossman. 

Rex Grossman comes from a long line of men named Rex.  There was Rex Chapman at the University of Kansas Kentucky and of NBA fame.  Rex Tucker is an offensive lineman for the Detroit Lions and used to play for both the St. Louis Rams and Chicago Bears – who are quarterbacked by Rex Grossman.  Rex Ryan is doing wonders in Baltimore as defensive coordinator.  Even Ronald Reagan, the man who led the charge against the Cold War, confided in his best friend, Rex the Dog.  The British rock band T. Rex stormed across England in the 70s.  And thousands of years ago, the master, Sophocles, crafted the fantastic mythical tale of Oedipus Rex. 

You can even go back to prehistoric times when Tyrannosaurus Rex roamed the earth as the undisputed king of the world.  In the NFL, it turns full circle as Rex Grossman is trying to reclaim his spot as the undisputed king of quarterbacks for the Chicago Bears.  Rex Grossman has self destructed the last two months, turning the ball over 18 times in 7 games.  If Rex Grossman can play well tonight and recapture some of the early season magic in front of a worldwide audience, Rex Grossman will let the residents of the Windy City rest easy – at least for one night.

And thankfully, I don’t have Rex Grossman on my fantasy team!  Now let’s go down to Michelle Tafoya, who has more on Rex Grossman.

Well Tony, I was talking to Rex Grossman while he was warming up and he said the one thing he can take onto the field with him is having the support of not just the Bears coaching staff, but his teammates as well.  Mushin Muhammad says he likes Rex Grossman.  Brian Urlacher said he has no control over what Rex Grossman does, but he likes the way Rex Grossman peels a mandarin orange.  It should be an interesting night for the Chicago Bears and Rex Grossman.  Now let’s go over to Suzy Kolber who has more on the Rams.  Suzy…

Michelle, new Rams head coach Scott Linehan got off to a roaring start at 4-1.  Since then, the Rams have struggled.  In fact, they’ve gone 1-6 in their last 7 games.  Ironically, that’s the same number of games which Rex Grossman has struggled mightily.  He’s turned the ball over 18 times in that span and has accounted for 21 turnovers on the season, more than 12 TEAMS in the National Football League.  I’m sure Rex Grossman will want to limit those turnovers tonight.  Hopefully for Rex, Rex Grossman won't shit his pants.  Mike…

Very well said Suzy, and certainly Rex Grossman will hope that his performance won’t be gross, man.  Kickoff is just 5 and half hours away.  It’s Rex Grossman against Rex Grossman.  Hopefully for the Bears, the good Rex Grossman will show up.  We’ll be right back!