From where he sits, Smith must see need for a change

Ben Bernanke he isn't, but maybe there is some method to Lovie Smith's mad defense of Rex Grossman.

When the Fed Chair speaks today, the world markets will await with bated breath, having already priced in a quarter-point rate cut but begging for a half.

Maybe in his own way, Smith has done the same.

Maybe he really does see how bad Grossman has been, and with the Grossman Apologist Society (GAS) losing hot air and suffering defections by the hour, it's hard to believe Smith is as firmly behind the Grossman policy as he was this time a year ago.

Perhaps, Smith already has priced in a Grossman cut and wants only to get anything he can out of this starting quarterback until absolutely forced to shift, knowing the risks of policy change.

Smith knows he also can't be viewed as wishy-washy on the subject and doesn't want to go back and forth between QBs haphazardly, so if he's already factored in the Grossman move and knows he has to go to Brian Griese eventually, maybe now it's only about getting inflated, ugly wins from Grossman before pulling the trigger.

What we don't know is how Griese will play or how Grossman will react.

It's possible that some time to sit and watch might be good for Grossman, that he might come back a better football player.

But as it stands now, he's the same player he was last year, unable to make a play when there's any hint of a pass rush, or when there's any sort of physical, mental or emotional pressure, and it's left to Devin Hester and the defense to win the game.

Grossman isn't soft, not by any stretch, and any suggestion to the contrary is unfair and foolish. He's extremely tough, but he acts like a guy who doesn't want to take the hits because he doesn't want to get hurt again and miss football games.

The problem is, any team watching film knows that pressure makes him do crazy things, and that's going to become more a rule than a trend.

Smith has to be able to see this, so you have to think he has some sort of plan for Griese and/or Kyle Orton.

But this team has a Super Bowl quality defense and special teams, and it's unfair to them to have to suffer with a 7-9 offense.

You know it's bad when even the GAS can't stand the smell any longer.

Tracking a billion

The Oct. 1 issue of Forbes lists the annual NFL team valuations and has the Bears jumping to $984 million (up from $945 million a year ago), with revenues of $209 million (up from $201 million), and an operating profit of $36.9 million (down from $40.1 million).

Since the Bears were given a new stadium, the franchise value has skyrocketed to seventh overall in the NFL, up from 10th a year ago.

Hester hysteria

If you weren't convinced already, maybe you believe now that Devin Hester is the best return man in NFL history.

It's just a thought, but since he represents the Bears' best chance to score or gain field position, is it worth risking an injury by having him play offense, or having him distracted by trying to learn offensive sets and a new position?

Seam stress

Lou Piniella is going to get roasted if throwing Carlos Zambrano and Ted Lilly on three days' rest this week doesn't work, but it's the right move under the circumstances and better than any other options he's got.

So even if it fails, give Piniella credit for managing his team, rather than sitting back and making no decisions.

Dusting off

Think the previous manager would have played the subs Sunday, giving his regulars a rest, while managing to steal a win in St. Louis?

Flipping

If you're thinking ahead to a one-game playoff with Milwaukee, the Cubs won the coin flip and would play at home on Oct. 1.

The Cubs would be returning from Cincinnati, while the Brewers would be driving south from Milwaukee.

As for the remaining schedule, the Cubs with two off-days face the woeful Reds five more times and the incredibly woeful Marlins and Pirates a total of six.

The Brewers with zero off-days have five with Houston and St. Louis but travel to Atlanta for four and finish with four at home against the Padres, who will be fighting for their own playoff lives.

The good cause

Don't forget the 29th Annual Ron Santo Walk to Cure Diabetes, which takes place Oct. 14 in -- among other locations -- Schaumburg, Lisle and Libertyville. For more info visit jdrfillinois.org/walk/walk.html.

Dialing

Mike Golic, of ESPN Radio's "Mike and Mike'' morning show, says his son Mike is still committed to attending Notre Dame on a football scholarship next year, just as did his dad.

"He's been texting all the other guys he knows who committed and they're not wavering. They're all still going,'' Golic said. "He thinks this program will get turned around and he wants to be a part of that.''

Just thinking

Do you suppose O.J. Simpson burst into that Vegas hotel room in search of the real killer?

And finally …

NBC's Conan O'Brien, on New England's video-scandal penalties: "Coach Bill Belichick had to give up a first-round draft pick, and quarterback Tom Brady had to give up one of his supermodels.''

brozner@dailyherald.com