Grossman accepts 1-year Bears contract; to compete for quarterback

INDIANAPOLIS -- Rex Grossman will be back with the Bears for at least one more season after agreeing to the terms of a one-year deal on Saturday, six days before the 27-year-old quarterback was eligible to test the market as an unrestricted free agent.

For the first time in four years, however, Grossman is not returning as the clear-cut starter. Instead, he will compete for the No. 1 job after back-to-back inconsistent seasons.

The former 2003 first-round draft choice helped the Bears reach Super Bowl XLI in the 2006-07 season, but bounced back and forth with exceptional efforts and disastrous outings. He was benched after three lackluster starts at the beginning of the 2007-08 season, but played with more consistency and fewer errors when he returned to the starting lineup for four starts late in the season.

Grossman is expected to compete with last year's No. 3 quarterback Kyle Orton. The return of backup Brian Griese is questionable, and the Bears are expected to draft a quarterback in April and could also sign another contender in free-agency, which begins Feb. 29.