There was a lot of confusion at Soldier Field on Sunday afternoon. When Todd Collins entered the game on the Bears’ second series of the third quarter, people in the stands (myself included) started fumbling around with their phones, looking for some news on Jay Cutler. No one really noticed what had happened late in the first half or the early exit to the halftime locker room by the Bears franchise QB. While we were all confused in the stands, the Twitter-verse was on fire, ripping the Bears quarterback and questioning his toughness. I am hear to tell you, they are OUT OF LINE and I can only hope that each and every one of them lines up to apologize when the truth about Cutler’s knee injury comes out.
Jay Cutler isn’t going to win any Miss Congeniality awards and for the time being, no Super Bowl rings either. After suffering a knee injury late in the first half of Sunday’s, Jay Cutler’s season and the Bears chances of advancing to Super Bowl XLV disappeared, but not without a little controversy.
After Cutler left the game, NFL players and pundits alike questioned his heart and his toughness. Check out these quotes that Pro Football Talk compiled:
"* Jaguars running back Maurice Jones-Drew wrote, “All I’m saying is that he can finish the game on a hurt knee… I played the whole season on one.”* Former NFL lineman and current ESPN analyst Mark Schlereth wrote, “As a guy how had 20 knee surgeries you’d have to drag me out on a stretcher to Leave a championship game!”* Cardinals defensive lineman Darnell Dockett wrote, “If I’m on chicago team jay cutler has to wait till me and the team shower get dressed and leave before he comes in the locker room!”* Jaguars linebacker Kirk Morrison wrote, “Jay Cutler better go put some Tussin on that knee and get back out there.”* Deion Sanders wrote, “Im telling u in the playoffs u must drag me off the field. All the medicine in pro lockerooms this dude comes out! I apologize bear fans! . . . Folks i never question a players injury but i do question a players heart.Even one of Cutler’s fellow quarterbacks, Oakland’s Bruce Gradkowski, got in on the action, writing that he once played with two torn MCLs and adding, “Is cutler still ur starter next year? Did the players give up on him?”"
People don’t know the situation or the severity of the injury. Besides, didn’t they see Cutler try to come back into the game in the third quarter to give it a go? HE GOT PULLED. The coaches wouldn’t let him go. With the condition of this offensive line and the game situation, you needed to have an active, mobile quarterback. Cutler couldn’t plant and push off. He relied on a couple of back foot throws and couldn’t get anything on the ball.
To question Cutler’s toughness after the onslaught of sacks and hits he’s take this season is completely asinine. Jay’s been beaten and battered all year long. To be honest, I’m surprised it took so long for him to really get banged up.
In the days and weeks to come, the full extent of the injury will come out. If it turns out the Cutler wasn’t seriously injured, I’ll be the first one to pile on, but after the beating he took over the last two years, I think Cutler’s earned the benefit of the doubt.
If one of the media darlings like Peyton Manning or Aaron Rodgers gets dinged in the game, the world gasps and Rachel Nichols and Pam Oliver and every other sideline bimbo is painting a picture of woes and misery. Jay Cutler gets hurt and everyone just calls him a quitter. Why? Because he likes to keep to himself and doesn’t pimp himself out to advertise TV’s and sports drinks.
Somewhere Rick Reilly is laughing.