Chicago is a tough sports town, and football is one of the most physically grueling games.
Cutler was on the bench with an injured knee, looking his usual morose self.
Rushing to judgement a glut of analysts and players started to question Cutler. Jacksonville running back Maurice Jones-Drew tweeted, "He can finish the game on a hurt knee. I played the whole season on one" and "Hey I think the urban meyer rule is effect right now ... When the going gets tough........QUIT."
Former NFL star Deion Sanders said "I never question a player's injury but I do question a player's heart."
In all honesty, I too was wondering whether Cutler had just quit. We got an answer today.
In what's been the most discussed knee injury since New England QB Tom Brady went down, Cutler was sidelined for the second half of the Bears biggest game of the year for a Grade II MCL sprain, which would probably sideline a player 3-4 weeks during the regular season.
I don't quite understand all the heat Cutler's been taking for not being "tough" enough.
He plays football with Type I diabetes, and this year started in 17 of 18 games behind a porous offensive line which allowed him to get sacked an NFL worst 52 times. While that doesn't elude toughness like playing with a dislocated elbow, you can't be soft and make it through 50 sacks.
Sure, Cutler doesn't have a cuddly personality and the perception of the body language on Sunday came across that he didn't give care. But when has Jay Cutler ever been called one the games great leaders?
The only thing I've heard is he's a great talent, a guy with all the right physical tools.
You can't play a game at such a high level and just go through the motions. Cutler cared, he just didn't show it and never really has.
Hopefully, he can learn (and mature) from going through the ringer of a ridiculous media cycle.
Then maybe tomorrow the people of Chicago can start asking some real questions about the Bears, like what was coach Lovie Smith thinking when he called an end-around for a wide out not named Devin Hester, during the potential game-tying drive?
1 comment:
American pop culture is all about personality, and most folks just don't like Jake Cutler's. Despite building a nice resume this season, his career at Vanderbilt, Denver, and now Chicago leaves little to be desired. He never won a bowl game in college, whined his way out of town in Denver, and strolled into the playoffs on the back of one of the league's best defenses this year. Your point is well taken, though. He's got enough talent, now all he has to do is work on that not-so-cuddly personality.
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