Players await Griese's first start with cautious anticipation

Reaction in the locker room to the quarterback shuffle was subdued for the most part.

Asked about Brian Griese's strengths, leading receiver Bernard Berrian said, "That's a hard question to answer."

Berrian was asked if either had a greater tendency to throw the ball downfield and said, "The only thing I could really say is, 'Rex has a stronger arm.' That's all I know, but I think Griese is smart enough where he knows how to make up for that."

In the first three games, Berrian caught 16 passes from Grossman for 221 yards, while Muhsin Muhammad had just 4 catches for 36 yards.

"I think everybody's kind of eagerly anticipating and waiting to see exactly how everything's going to work out," said Muhammad, who didn't anticipate Griese struggling despite not having started a game in two years.

"This game really is like riding a bike once you've been it as long as we have. Once you get up the road, you can start taking your hands off the handlebars and maybe pop a couple of wheelies.

"I don't know how long that's going to take, but he knows how to ride the bike."

Tight end Desmond Clark played with Griese in Denver from 1999-2001.

"He's been through the fire," Clark said. "He's not a young guy who you've got to be nervous about getting a start. I think it will make the rest of the offense feel comfortable knowing that he's been through the battle before."

Dealing with it: Though unhappy about losing his starting job to Brian Griese, new backup quarterback Rex Grossman said he would support his replacement.

"I just told him that I had no hard feelings toward him at all, and I wish him the best," Grossman said. "I'm going to be right there on the sidelines helping him in anything he wants me to do, or if I see something on the field, I'll tell him. I'll do my job and I'll just be patient and wait for my next opportunity."

Including the last two postseasons, Grossman has started 23 straight games for the Bears. Sunday will be Griese's first start as a Bear. He has been a starter and a non-starter on four NFL teams, so he's familiar with Grossman's predicament.

"I had a good conversation with Rex," Griese said. "It's a tough situation. I've been where Rex is, and I had a candid conversation with him about that, too. I have a lot of respect for Rex in the way that he's handled it. I know that it's not easy. He has every right to be upset and angry. But he has no animosity, which I really respect him for."

Griese said Grossman's anger isn't directed at any player or coach.

"I think (he's mad) at the situation," Griese said. "It's not a situation anybody wants to be in."

Asked if the break could be good for him, Grossman said, "No."

Musical chairs: The Bears signed cornerback Ade Jimoh to the 53-man roster and terminated the contract of punter Dirk Johnson, who played in Week 2 when Brad Maynard was out with a groin injury, then was re-signed last week as insurance but did not play.

Safety Josh Gattis was re-signed to the practice squad, and wide receiver David Ball was released for the second time.