Urlacher and Marshall Heading in Different Directions with Bears Fans
Dec 16, 2012; Chicago, IL, USA; An injured Chicago Bears middle linebacker Brian Urlacher (54) on the sideline during the second half against the Green Bay Packers at Soldier Field. The Packers beat the Bears 21-13. Mandatory Credit: Rob Grabowski-USA TODAY Sports
Adversity brings out the best in some people and the worst in others. I can’t think of greater adversity than the 5 out of 6 losses the Bears have in their last couple of months, dropping them from Super Bowl contenders to playoff pretenders. Two of the team’s biggest names are headed in opposite directions under this adversity. Brian Urlacher is curling up and Brandon Marshall is standing up.
In his regular Sunday appearance with Fox Chicago’s Lou Cannelis, Brian Urlacher ripped the fans who booed the Bears in their pathetic 21-13 losing effort against the Packers.
"“Two of the people I don’t care about: fans or media,” Urlacher told WFLD-Ch. 32 while defending coach Lovie Smith after Sunday’s loss. “They can say what they want to about our head coach, about our players. …It does bother me. They don’t know what they’re talking about, obviously.”“Our crowd was pretty good today for the most part,” Urlacher said Sunday during his weekly segment on Fox Chicago. “They were loud for a minute there. The boos were really loud, which is always nice. The only team in our division to get booed at home is us. It’s unbelievable to me.”"
The face of the franchise is out there telling the people who made him an icon in Chicago that he doesn’t care about them. You’re all idiots, so just drop your paychecks at Soldier Field, the Fan Shop, Xfinity and all my other endorsement deals. It’s understandable that Urlacher is frustrated since he’s sidelined with a bum wheel, but ripping the fans is deflecting blame from where it belongs.
Dec 16, 2012; Chicago, IL, USA; Chicago Bears wide receiver Brandon Marshall (15) during the second half against the Green Bay Packers at Soldier Field. The Packers beat the Bears 21-13. Mandatory Credit: Rob Grabowski-USA TODAY Sports
On the other hand, you’ve got Brandon Marshall, the wide receiver that the Miami Dolphins practically gave away because they thought he was a basket case, nearly brought to tears calling for accountability. Marshall was so frustrated after another loss, one that he “took personally” that he was choking himself up. He got this bit out before he had to leave the podium to compose himself:
"“Everybody involved in this offense should be held accountable, even if that means jobs,’’ said Marshall, who continued to say that the offense has been a mess all season and then brought up accountability again.“It’s the same every single game,’’ Marshall said through noticeable tear-induced sniffling. “We need to be held accountable. What I have to do is try my best to keep it together and not let this affect me because it’s starting to affect me more than it should.’’"
Steve Rosenbloom foolishly calls Marshall out, saying “there’s no crying in football.” That’s just downright wrong. I’d rather have the leader of my team so upset by a loss that he’s brought to tears than to make his weekly TV appearance and rip on the fans.
If half the Bears had the heart of Marshall, this team wouldn’t be in the dire straights they’re in. One is pointing fingers and the other is pointing thumbs. One is on his way out, the other is here to stay.