Mike Shanahan can now borrow the line Lovie Smith once used on a regular basis.

“Rex is our quarterback.”

That’s because Shanahan selected Grossman, the former first-round draft pick of the Chicago Bears, as his starting quarterback, according to Rick Maese of the Washinton Post. It’s a departure from what most people thought would happen back during the summer. John Beck was presumed to be the starter.

<p> But Grossman outperformed Beck in preseason and now he’s got the gig. Grossman, 31, took over at the end of last season when Donovan McNabb was benched.

The coaching said the competition was close going into the team’s final preseason game. Beck struggled in that game and Grossman didn’t play. Because Grossman sat out, most expected at the time that the job was his.

Follow me on Twitter: @BradBiggs

Brad Biggs covers the Bears for the Chicago Tribune