Winnie the Pooh vs. Frank Merriwell

You can't but want to see Rex Grossman get to the Super Bowl.

Forget his abilities and his judgment as a play caller and decision maker.

The Chicago Bears quarterback is, at the end of the day, so incredibly human.

He lays his personal doubts and demons right out on the table for the world to see.

He reminds me of that Saturday night Live character played by the late Chris Farley who conducts celebrity interviews then berates himself for his questions, pounding his head saying "Stupid, stupid."

He'll admit that he didn't prepare hard enough for a meaningless late season game, and acknowledge on a certain play he really didn't know what he was thinking or if he was thinking at all. For the most part, he seems oddly unscripted, and he never points the finger at anyone else.

Grossman is a little Winnie-the-Pooh, a little Jean van de Velde and on his best days, a little Jim Plunkett.

You wonder if he'll remember to put his helmet on, then he'll rifle a perfect strike 50 yards downfield.

Sometimes to a member of his own team.

Having come this far, it seems inconceivable that the pigskin gods wouldn't let Grossman play one more game after Sunday's NFC championship.

I hear what you're saying. Saints QB Drew Brees, he of the miraculously healed shoulder, is as good or better a story for being part of bringing a sliver of joy to Katrina-ravaged New Orleans.

Plus he's got one humdinger of a mother to deal with.

But while Brees is an obvious hero, Grossman has heroic intentions but, as often as not, feet of clay.

Brees, right now, is a Frank Merriwell-like figure.

Grossman, by contrast, is Jughead.

So I'm going with Grossman and the Bears this weekend, also thinking a dome team going to Soldier Field in January might get cold feet at the altar.

And what about the Patriots and Colts?

Well, right now it seems Tom Brady is to Peyton Manning as Troy Aikman was to Dan Marino.

And the Pats just seem a little meaner, a little more driven.

So it'll be the Bears and Patriots in the Big Game with the Roman Numerals.

Hope Rex doesn't take the wrong bus to the stadium.