MIAMI – If the Bears play defense Sunday like they have when fielding questions about Rex Grossman this week, the Indianapolis Colts may not score in Super Bowl XLI.

In daily sessions with the international media, players and coaches alike have lined up to defend the embattled quarterback from what they perceive is unfair and excessive criticism.

Rex Grossman celebrates with Bernard Berrian after they hooked up for a 41-yard TD pass in a Week 2 win over the Detroit Lions at Soldier Field.

“He’s had to overcome so much, even early in his career he was getting hurt and coming back and getting hurt again,” said right guard Roberto Garza.

“He’s come out of everything with his head above it. He’s worked extremely hard this year to bounce back from some of those (disappointing) games.

“The reason why we’re here is because of him. He’s definitely our team guy and our leader. Everybody has the confidence in him to take us to the promised land.”

Coach Lovie Smith clearly didn’t appreciate when a reporter asked him Wednesday to identify a scenario in the Super Bowl in which he would replace Grossman with backup Brian Griese.

“I’m just wondering if Peyton Manning will be asked that question,” Smith said. “Probably not. Rex Grossman should not be asked that question. I shouldn’t be asked that question. Rex is our quarterback. I should not have to continue to go over that. I am not planning on pulling Brian Urlacher or Olin Kreutz either.”

Grossman struggled during the middle of the season after being named the NFC Offensive Player of the Month for September. But Smith stuck with him and was rewarded when the fourth-year pro snapped out of his slump and helped lead the Bears to their first Super Bowl in 21 years.

When asked about his decision not to bench Grossman, Smith said: “I think he gives us our best chance to win. He’s a great leader. He’s our best player at the quarterback position.

“I judge that position like I do all others. We try to evaluate the players every time we see them. I’ve been with Rex for three years. I’ve gotten a chance to see him come back from tough games, come back from great games, all the different situations you look to judge players on. I’ve had a chance to see Rex in those situations and every time it comes up the same way.

"Has he been perfect each game? No, no one is. You should judge more quarterbacks by their record and Rex Grossman’s record as a starter is pretty good.”

Grossman’s 17-6 mark as a starter in the regular season is the best by a Bears quarterback since 1961. But the intangibles he possesses are just as important to his teammates.

“He’s a very confident kid,” said defensive end Alex Brown, who also played with Grossman at Florida. “If he throws an interception, he’ll go back and try to make that same pass again because he believes in himself. We believe in him and we have his back. The guy is very strong mentally.

“He has a cannon arm and he has the instincts to play quarterback. He has the knowledge. He knows the game and understands defenses, so it’s just a matter of him doing it over and over. He’ll gradually get better. But Rex, in his first year starting, has brought us to the Super Bowl. I think that should say something about him.”

Grossman had an up-and-down regular season to say the least, setting a Bears record by registering at least a 100 passer rating in seven games while also posting clunkers of 0.0, 1.3, 10.2, 23.7 and 36.8.

In playoff wins over the Seahawks and Saints, the former Florida star has connected on 32 of 64 passes for 426 yards with 2 touchdowns, 1 interception and a 75.4 passer rating.

The Bears are hoping for more of the same in the Super Bowl from Grossman, who has shown tremendously resiliency in rebounding from poor performances this season.

“He’s a great quarterback,” said left tackle John Tait. “I think some of the criticism he got this year was a little bit unfair. He showed what kind of character he had. He bounced back and he’s played really well. I don’t see him playing any different in the Super Bowl.”