For those new to the site, when a player or coach doesn’t really show up during a Bear’s game, they get put on the Milk Carton. As most of you know, people’s pictures used to be put at the back of milk cartons when they went missing. So the Milk Carton for the Bears is more about who went missing or played terribly during the game. Here are the nominees.
Dec 4, 2014; Chicago, IL, USA; Chicago Bears quarterback Jay Cutler (6) scores a touchdown in the second half of their game against the Dallas Cowboys at Soldier Field . The Cowboys won 41-28. Mandatory Credit: Matt Marton-USA TODAY Sports
A lot went missing in tonight’s Bears game. It went badly. I know the Bears fought hard towards the end and made a little comeback, but it was far too little too late. Jay Cutler had nice stats, but let’s not insult anyone’s intelligence by saying he played a good game. The defense was atrocious, again. The Special Teams had a successful onside kick, but that was the extent of its success. They had many penalties and errors. This game was another embarrassment.
The Milk Carton has been owned by Jay Cutler and Marc Trestman this year. I feel as though the former is not deserving of it because he was not terrible, just fairly ineffective. Trestman, on the other hand, implemented another poor game plan. He’s on Mel Tucker status in my eyes. It’s at the point of no return for him, so no need to put him on the carton. He is a deficient coach and I would like to see him go.
Dec 4, 2014; Chicago, IL, USA; Dallas Cowboys running back Joseph Randle (21) scores a touchdown past Chicago Bears outside linebacker Shea McClellin (50) and strong safety Ryan Mundy (21) during the second half at Soldier Field. Dallas won 41-28. Mandatory Credit: Dennis Wierzbicki-USA TODAY Sports
The Milk Carton is going to the entire defense for obvious reasons. They allowed the Cowboys to run all over them and looked foolish in the process. But then again, I don’t know what I expected from them. Kyle Fuller was getting burned every play, the linebackers were overrunning plays, the line could not generate any pressure, and the safeties were just plain awful. The offense eventually showed up in the second half. They put on a display of what this season should have been. Short, effective passes, good protection, and occasional deep throws down the field. The fact that the Bears were getting slaughtered may have had something to do with the success, but at least they eventually came to play. The defense can’t say the same at all.
Dec 4, 2014; Chicago, IL, USA; A Chicago Bears fan in the crowd during the second half of their game against the Dallas Cowboys at Soldier Field. Mandatory Credit: Matt Marton-USA TODAY Sports
Another worthy Milk Carton candidate are the Bears fans who cheered upon hearing about Chris Conte’s injury. I, as a Chicago sports fan, understand players who are head cases. I completely understand the idea of players who are so bad that it makes one crazy. Conte was one of those players for a while. The Cubs have had many of those, exemplified in Milton Bradley, Edwin Jackson, and LaTroy Hawkins. Terrible players are common in all sports and it is okay to not want them to be playing. But when you cheer for an injury, expressing jubilance for another’s pain, that is nothing short of disgusting. As Eric Winston of the Chiefs put it, “we are not gladiators, this is not the Roman Colosseum.” It’s true. Conte is not a good safety, but he works hard to be one and gets injured all the time. He always plays through pain and he is probably the best safety on the roster despite being subpar. Even if he was a slacker, there is no reason to relish his agony. That is wrong. When Aaron Rodgers went down last season, I was happy the Bears won, but upset that he had to deal with a broken collarbone. NFL players, terrible or elite, on the beloved or the hated, are people too. Do not delight in their physical misery. That is despicable.
Here’s a question. Should we, as Bears fans, begin rooting for losses and a high draft pick and potential firings of pathetic coaches, or should we cheer the team on and hope they go out on a positive note? Comment below!