LAKE FOREST, Ill. — Brian Griese is in. Rex Grossman is out.

Yet, despite numbers indicating the Chicago Bears needed to make a change with their starting quarterback, when it finally happened the news jarred Grossman.

He used words like “surprised” and “frustration” to describe his feelings when he learned Griese would be calling signals Sunday at Detroit.

“The frustrating part is I know this offense is close to getting in a rhythm and clicking, and I just wish I could have been the one pulling the trigger,” Grossman said Wednesday afternoon, hours after the Bears announced the change.

At 1-2 and with the league’s 30th-ranked offense, the defending NFC champions need to do something different. So they turned to Griese, a Pro Bowl pick with Denver in 2000.

“I’m excited for Brian,” coach Lovie Smith said. “He brings a lot of experience. He’s been a loyal soldier in a backup role up to this point. He’s anxious to go. Our team will back him 100 percent like they did Rex, and hopefully, we can get this thing going in the right direction.”

Currently, he ranks 24th in the NFL with 500 yards, has a 45.2 rating and is 47-of-89 (52.8 percent) He has six interceptions and one touchdown and got picked off three times in last week’s 34-10 loss to Dallas.

Grossman’s contract expires after this season.

“As far as week to week, no. We don’t do things that way,” Smith said. “Rex wasn’t under week to week: ’I have to play a certain way or I’ll lose my job.’ I always let a player play for a period of time to show us exactly what we are. That’s how we’ll look at it from here on.

“Brian is our quarterback. The starting rotation has been established now.”

A 10-year veteran, the 32-year-old Griese has passed for 16,564 yards with 104 touchdowns and 80 interceptions and a 63 percent completion rate. He was a starter with the Broncos, Miami and Tampa Bay, but all three teams released him.

“First and foremost, as an offense we have to step up,” Griese said. “I think that playing offense is an attitude, and I think since I’ve been here, the offense has been kind of second-class citizens. Hopefully I can bring a little bit of energy and enthusiasm to our huddle and to our game.”

Vick tested positive for marijuana

RICHMOND, Va. — Michael Vick tested positive for marijuana earlier this month, a violation of the conditions of his release as he awaits sentencing in federal court on a dogfighting charge that already jeopardizes his freedom and career.

Now, he’s incurred the ire of the judge who could sentence him to up to five years in prison in the dogfighting case. On the day of Vick’s guilty plea, U.S. District Judge Henry Hudson warned that he wouldn’t be amused by any additional trouble.

Hudson, who will sentence Vick on Dec. 10, ordered him confined to his Virginia home between 10 p.m. and 6 a.m. with electronic monitoring. He also must submit to random drug testing.

Hall fined for meltdown

FLOWERY BRANCH, Ga. — Atlanta Pro Bowl cornerback DeAngelo Hall said he’s been fined $100,000 by the Falcons and may have to sit out one or two quarters of the next game for his meltdown last week against the Carolina Panthers.

Hall wasn’t pleased with the decision and plans to appeal through the NFL Players Association.

The Falcons (0-3) acted quickly after their defensive star was called for three penalties totaling 67 yards on one possession, including two personal fouls, then got into a heated sideline confrontation with coach Bobby Petrino and one of his assistants.

BASEBALL

Umpire suspended  for season

NEW YORK — Umpire Mike Winters was suspended by Major League Baseball for the remainder of the regular season because of his confrontation with San Diego’s Milton Bradley last weekend.

The Padres claimed Winters baited Bradley. Bradley tore a knee ligament when his manager spun him to the ground while trying to keep him from going after the umpire during Sunday’s 7-3 loss to Colorado in San Diego.

Winters was suspended because the commissioner’s office concluded he had used a profanity aimed at Bradley.

Bradley going under knife today

SAN FRANCISCO — San Diego Padres outfielder Milton Bradley will have surgery Thursday in Cincinnati to repair a torn anterior cruciate ligament in his right knee.

Another milestone  for Pujols

MILWAUKEE — Cardinals slugger Albert Pujols hit a solo home run in the first inning of St. Louis’ game against the Milwaukee Brewers, giving him 100 RBIs for the seventh straight season.

Pujols, who now has 32 homers, is the first player in history to hit at least 30 homers and drive in 100 runs in his first seven seasons.

BASKETBALL

Corliss Williamson retires to coach college team

NORTH LITTLE ROCK, Ark. — Corliss Williamson announced his retirement after 12 seasons in the NBA — and was introduced as an assistant coach at Arkansas Baptist College. The move is a return home for Williamson, who was born in Russellville and led Richardson’s Arkansas Razorbacks to the 1994 national championship.

Williamson was drafted by Sacramento in 1995 — and finished his career with the Kings. He averaged 9.1 points in 68 games last season. Williamson’s pro career also included stops in Toronto, Detroit and Philadelphia.

Mavs forward sues league

HOUSTON — Former Dallas Mavericks forward Roy Tarpley filed a federal lawsuit, claiming the NBA and the team violated the Americans with Disabilities Act by refusing to reinstate him to the league.

Tarpley claimed in his lawsuit that the league and the Mavericks discriminated against him on the basis of his disability as a recovering drug and alcohol abuser.