Grossman is ready for 1st playoff with Carolina

The Bears quarterback has only played in six quarters this season.
LAKE FOREST, Ill. (AP) -- Rex Grossman turned on his iPod this week and instead of rock and roll, jazz or country, all he could hear were the voices of Wade Wilson and Ron Turner.
Grossman decided he need an information overload to get ready for the first playoff game of his career, so he took a digital recorder into the meeting room with Wilson, his quarterbacks coach, and Turner, the Chicago Bears' offensive coordinator.
"I just thought it's a good way while I'm going over my notes to listen to the meeting as well, just another added thing to try to get better," Grossman said Wednesday.
"Most people listen to music and he's listening to me. I feel sorry for him," Turner said with a laugh.
Grossman is tuned in, prepping for the Bears' rematch Sunday with the Carolina Panthers at Soldier Field. It's the latest chapter in his football life.
Hasn't been easy
It has not been an easy road. The former Florida star has survived two major injuries the last two seasons, a torn knee ligament and a broken ankle, and spent more hours in rehab than on the football field.
He missed 26 regular-season games before returning to play six quarters this season. And when he takes a game snap Sunday, it will be his first in three weeks.
"I've said all along the lack of experience is not what I would wish going into this game, especially in the third year of my career," said Grossman, who has started just seven NFL games.
"But at the same time I don't feel like a rookie going into it, somewhere in between there."
Has strong arm
Grossman's strong arm gives the Bears a downfield dimension missing with rookie Kyle Orton, who started most of the season. Against a tough Carolina defense and a team that was in the Super Bowl just two years ago, Grossman will have to adapt quickly.
"I'm smart enough to know this guy can lead a team. He did it in college. He's done it the games he's been in the NFL. He has the arm to make some throws that Kyle Orton couldn't ... so they're going to open up the offense a bit more," Panthers defensive tackle Brenston Buckner said.
When the Bears beat the Panthers 13-3 at Soldier Field on Nov. 20, Orton was running the team. He completed 15-of-26 passes for a TD and 136 yards as Chicago used two interceptions by Nathan Vasher for a 13-3 victory.
Now it's Grossman's turn. And since he has spent so many hours sidelined, there's very little tape of him as a pro.
"One thing I noticed about Rex is he's good at going through his progression and then coming back to it again to find the open guy," Buckner said.
"You can't just key in on one thing and think that he's going to have a tendency to go one way because when you do that, that's when he hits you deep."
Needs running game
But Turner said the Bears aren't planning an all-out passing attack Sunday. Much depends on how well running back Thomas Jones plays against a defense that held Tiki Barber to 41 yards and forced Eli Manning into four turnovers while blanking the Giants 23-0 in the first round.
"If we do what we've done to get here -- play great defense, run the football and protect the ball -- that will take a lot of the pressure off Rex and allow him to play his game," Turner said.
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