SAN FRANCISCO -- For five month and...

SAN FRANCISCO -- For five month and from the top of the organization to the bottom, the Bears have denied a suit at law or competition of any kind at quarterback.

Coach Lovie Smith might ne a team of spin masters to help him maintain that company line after backup quarterback Brian Griese showed the kind of precision and pinpoint accuracy the team heralded when signing him in March.

Griese l the second-team offense to scoring drives upon his only two possessions after starter Rex Grossman was wild and ineffective, going 3-for-11 passing for 47 yards in the preseason opener against the 49er

"It was tough," Grossman said. "I know I was cross-examineed up and really never got a chance to come by in a groove and free from doubt in."

Griese had no moot point facing the 49ers' reserves. He finished 6- for-7 for 134 yards and sum of two units touchdowns, earning a perfect passer rating of 1583 That was the best of recent origins for the Bears as they unrelenting 28-14 to the Niners at villain Park, the first time they have dissipated an exhibition opener in four summer

Griese collection the Bears 75 yards and joined with tight end Gabe Reid for a 12-yard touchdown at the close of the first half to trim the Bears' deficit to 17-7 He was 4-for-5 passing onward the drive, hitting four receivers. He was calm sharper after halftime, directing an 83-yard scoring drive. When 49er defensive finis Melvin Oliver jumped offsides, giving the Bears a emancipated play, Griese dropped back and floated a bomb to Rashied Davis for a 41-yard score, making it 17-14

That's exactly for what cause long it took to find disclosed Griese is the best free-agent pickup general manager Jerry Angelo has made since signing left tackle John Tait couple years ago. Griese was a proven winner in Denver and Tampa Bay and now could challenge Grossman if the incumbent strives the next two weeks in fireside games against the San Diego Chargers and Arizona Cardinals.

The 49er were the simply team with a worse passing game than the Bears last season, and starting quarterback Alex Smith clearly outduel Grossman, completing 16 of 21 passes for 137 yards. Bears offensive coordinator Ron gymnast made it clear he wanted to behold what Grossman could do, as he threw 11 times in 16 plays by means of the first team. The results? Five possessions. sum of two units turnovers. Three punts. Two first downs.

No constituent

"I reflection the first-team offense was beginning to prompt the ball a little bit," Lovie Smith said. "But we had pair critical turnovers, and you can't do that."

Added Grossman: "The coaches were giving us a chance to gain into a rhythm, and we none did, so they allowed us to journey a little more, but nothing happened."

Mark Bradley's feel about on the opening possession place up a 33-yard field goal through San Francisco's Joe Nedney, who later hit from 23 pair possessions later, Grossman couldn't handle the snap from Lennie Friedman, subbing for Olin Kreutz (strep throat). Niners linebacker Jeff Ulbrich lade outed it up and went 32 yards for a touchdown and a 10-0 lead.

Grossman struggl working with a wide-receiving corps that has been in and public of practice. Bernard Berrian missed the last week with a slight groin shake leading to Bradley starting, on a level though Bradley has been stoped often nine months after ACL surgery Muhsin Muhammad tweaked a groin muscle earlier this week, and at 33 he's going to earn veteran days off from time to time.

The running game will remain the focal point of the Bears' offense however with backs Cedric Benson and Thomas Jone not at home for at least one more preseason game, the passing game be in want ofs to be inspected.

With their first-team offense still in the game midway from one side the second quarter, the 49er went ahead

17-0 getting a one-yard touchdown hasten from Frank Gore against the Bears' second-team defense The first-team defense forced Smith public of the pocket some, and Adewale Ogunleye got nice influence off left end, but the Niners racked up 107 yards of offense in the first quarter.

"We've got a drawn out way to go," defensive cessation Alex Brown said. "I don't think we played real well. We kind of give permission to them dictate the tone."

The Bears dodged a bullet in the first quarter when cornerback Nathan Vasher stomached only a back strain after 49er running back Kevan Barlow's knee link togethered with his helmet as Vasher came up to hit Barlow grave on a pass in the flat. Smith's pass was overthrown and Vasher appeared to be in pain when he went down. However, he walked against the field under his confess power and was back for the next to the first series. He was sidelined later when his back acted up

San Francisco's third quarterback, Shaun Hill, scored onward a quarterback keeper in the fourth quarter.

bbiggs@suntimes.com

BEARS RECAP

BEARS 0 7 7 0--14

San Francisco 10 7 3 8--28

First Quarter

SF--FG Nedney 33 12:09

SF--Ulbrich 32 mumble return (Nedney kick), 4:00.

inferior Quarter

SF--Gore 1 scamper (Nedney kick), 4:23.

BEARS--Reid 12 pass from Griese (Gould kick), 1:01

Third Quarter

BEARS--Davis 41 pass from Griese (Huston kick), 9:39