The Front Row: Gundy’s outburst

Use your “inside voice:” Next time Oklahoma State coach Mike Gundy decides to hold a post-game press conference, his assistant coaches might want to make sure he switches to decaf.

By now, I’m sure everyone with access to a computer or television has seen Gundy’s 210-second rant directed at Oklahoma sports columnist Jenni Carlson.

This the most outstanding post-game coach’s speech since former Arizona Cardinals’ coach Dennis Green shouted, “They were who we thought they were!” after last season’s devastating loss to the Chicago Bears.

He accused Carlson’s column of being “3/4 fiction” even though he couldn’t point out a single incorrect statement Carlson made.

Was Carlson’s column mean-spirited? Yes, but I’ve read meaner. Was it poorly written? Well, it was a little scattered.

But Gundy has now made Carlson into a celebrity and started a feud with the entire newspaper.

However, I’m glad a coach like Gundy took the risk to protect his players. Who wouldn’t love to play for a coach like this?

In my articles, I try my best to leave the sarcasm at the door and look at the fun, positive side of sports. Gundy’s reaction is directed at the cynicism that has infiltrated sports reporting.

Even if his speech was a little misdirected (and really loud), his honest display of emotion and compassion for his players is refreshing.

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Finally: Did you feel a strong gust of wind yesterday?

I’m no meteorologist, but I’m pretty sure that breeze came from millions of Chicago Bears fans breathing a simultaneous sigh of relief.

Rex Grossman is mercifully being removed from the starting lineup in favor of Brian Griese for this Sunday’s game against the Detroit Lions.

Grossman technically led the Bears to the Super Bowl last season, but it would be more accurate to say Chicago advanced to the sport’s ultimate game in spite of its erratic signal caller.

Grossman had one final chance to salvage his 2007 season at home against fellow NFC contenders the Dallas Cowboys.

If he couldn’t excel against Dallas’ weak pass defense in front of his home crowd, it would be time to pull the plug on the Grossman experiment.

Instead of exploiting Dallas’ secondary woes, he threw three interceptions and completed less than half of his pass attempts.

His quarterback rating through the first three games stands at 45.2—only Tavaris Jackson’s is worse.

Griese has no choice but to perform better, right?