Would Rex Grossman Be a Good Fit in Jacksonville?

(Photo by Jonathan Ferrey/Getty Images)

Earlier this month, I wrote an article dealing with Jacksonville's pathetic backup quarterback situation.

Behind David Garrard, the Jaguars have Cleo Lemon (who the team inexplicably signed to a three-year, $8.1 million deal in the offseason), Todd Bouman, and rookies Michael Desormeaux and Tyler Lorzenen. Those names wouldn't exactly make you feel confident if Garrard gets hurt.

As I listened to the Pete Prisco Show on my drive from work yesterday, it came to my attention that former Chicago Bear quarterback Rex Grossman was still on the free agent market. Prisco then asked his listeners if they would like to have Grossman in Jacksonville as a backup to Garrard.

My immediate reaction was, "Of course."

Say what you want to say about Grossman (and believe me, there is plenty to say), but he has had some tremendous success on the NFL level.

In 2006, Chicago's Super Bowl campaign, Grossman threw for 3,193 yards with 23 touchdowns and 20 interceptions.

In a column by Prisco on cbssports.com, he pointed out that half of the projected starters in the NFL have never thrown for that many touchdowns in a season. That group includes Garrard.

It was a tumultuous tenure for the UF alumnus when he was in the Windy City. When he was good, he looked like an all-pro (20-of-27, 289 yards, four touchdowns, no interceptions in 34-7 win over Detroit).

When he was bad, it looked like he had no business being in the NFL (6-of-19, 34 yards, no touchdowns, three interceptions, QB rating of 1.3 in 23-13 win over Minnesota).

Despite the ups and downs, he was able to navigate through the postseason and helped Da Bears get to the Super Bowl. His playoff statistics were respectable (52-of-92, 591 yards, three touchdowns, three interceptions in three playoff games).

Yet this guy is still on the scrap heap.

Personally, I think he would be a great fit in Jacksonville. He'd be close to his old college stomping grounds. Jacksonville is a small media market, so he wouldn't face the constant media scrutiny that ran rampant in Chicago.

For Jacksonville's perspective, the move makes sense. He's definitely better than Bouman and Lemon, and you could make the argument that he's more talented than Garrard.

The Jags probably couldn't get rid of Lemon because of all the money they threw at the guy. But they could definitely cut Bouman. And that's nothing to say that they couldn't make Lemon the No. 3 QB.

Jaguar fans: Wouldn't you feel better having a backup QB who played in a Super Bowl, as opposed to one whose last name pretty much sums up his NFL career?

I know I would.

Hopefully Wayne Weaver and Gene Smith do, too.

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