Grossman facing another serious injury
Chicago saw its brightest flashes of Rex Grossman’s talents in a Bears uniform last September.
The former Florida star was carving up the Minnesota Vikings defense, keeping Chicago in the game on 21-for-31 passing for 248 yards before leaving with what at the time looked like a sprained knee.
But Grossman left the Metrodome that day wearing a brace and using a crutch, and the Bears lost not only the game, but their hopes for any real offensive production.
Now, for the second straight season, Chicago is bracing for a long stretch without Grossman.
Grossman, who played only three games last season before being derailed by the ruptured right knee ligament, will be sidelined three to four months after breaking his left ankle early in the second quarter of Friday night’s 17-13 preseason loss to the St. Louis Rams in St. Louis.
Grossman was hurt with 11:08 to go in the first half on a 4-yard completion to Darnell Sanders. He was flushed from the pocket by Jeremy Loyd and Trev Faulk and spun and dropped by Faulk, initially getting back to his feet after the hit.
But then, limping, Grossman signaled for a trainer. He sat down and grabbed his left knee in pain, slamming his helmet on the cart before being taken off the field.
Jones reaches impasse with Titans
Negotiations between Adam “Pacman” Jones and the Tennessee Titans reached an impasse Friday, the cornerback’s agent said before returning to Jacksonville, Fla.
That was news to general manager Floyd Reese.
Agent Michael Huyghue issued a statement Friday afternoon, saying the sides have not been able to reach agreement.
“I don’t think I’ve ever seen this,” Reese said an hour before the Titans kicked off their opening preseason game against Tampa Bay. “So this one’s kind of new. I’ve only been doing this for 30 years, and this is the first time the press got an e-mail and the GM didn’t.”
•Steve McNair tested his surgically repaired chest and Tennessee’s new offense, and so far he is very happy with both.
McNair scrambled and even took a hit that had fans holding their breath until he popped back up. But Matt Bryant kicked a 33-yard field goal 3:02 into overtime, and the Tampa Bay Buccaneers beat the Titans 20-17 in Nashville, Tenn.
Rob Bironas, competing against Ola Kimrin for a job, made a 53-yard field goal with 19 seconds left that tied the game at 17 and forced overtime. The Titans couldn’t move the ball after winning the toss and had to punt.
Vikings 27, Chiefs 16
Daunte Culpepper and the Minnesota offense gave a glimpse of the way they’re going to have to move the ball without Randy Moss.
Culpepper opened the preseason by guiding an efficient 65-yard touchdown drive, leading the Vikings to a victory over Kansas City in Minneapolis.
Completing his first five passes, each to a different receiver, Culpepper found new No. 1 target Nate Burleson for a 33-yard score to cap a drive that lasted only 3 minutes, 8 seconds. Culpepper finished 5 for 6 for 84 yards.
Patriots 23, Bengals 13
Rookie quarterback Matt Cassel led four scoring drives as defending champion New England beat Cincinnati in Cincinnati in the preseason opener for both teams.
Cassel never started a college game while backing up Heisman Trophy winners Carson Palmer and Matt Leinart at Southern California and now he is battling 42-year-old Doug Flutie for New England’s No. 3 quarterback spot behind Tom Brady and Rohan Davey.
Jets 10, Lions 3
Jay Fiedler and Joey Harrington both looked comfortable running their teams’ new offensive systems.
Fiedler, filling in for starter Chad Pennington, capped a 98-yard scoring drive with a 1-yard touchdown run in the New York’s preseason victory over Detroit in East Rutherford, N.J.
Signed as a free agent in the off-season after playing in Miami the last five years, Fiedler completed 7 of 9 passes for 69 yards – but had an interception on his second throw – in two series leading new coordinator Mike Heimerdinger’s offense.
Harrington was flawless running offensive coordinator Ted Tollner’s offense, going 9 for 9 for 100 yards.