EmBEARassing

This doesn't happen often, but I am about to actually and honestly say positive things about this city's football team.  Unless you live under a rock, you know the team lost to the Green Bay Packers in the NFC Championship game yesterday.  Judging by the first drive of the game, it looked like Green Bay would hang 35-40 points on the Monsters of the Midway.  Aaron Rodgers surgically picked apart every aspect of the Bears defense and practically walked downfield to take a 7-0 lead.  The Bears looked lethargic and unprepared for what was called the biggest game in Chicago Bears history.  I guess their Super Bowl visits are meaningless.

Jay Cutler came in and failed to produce much of anything.  The offensive line wasn't clicking like it had been the second half of the season and receivers weren't getting the ball.  Jay Cutler was trying to produce in my honest opinion.  Nevermind he was playing against one of the toughest and fastest defenses in the NFL.  Dom Capers is also a very legitimate defensive coordinator.  Maybe fingers should be pointed at the three-headed ex-head coach gorup of Martz, Tice, and Marinelli for their abyssmal gameplan.  Then before the end of the half, word got out Jay Cutler suffered a knee injury.  He was able to walk off the field without assistance but was unable to return.  Cutler finished the half 6-14 for 80 yards.  By no means is this a productive day.  Todd Collins was warming up after it was told to him Cutler couldn't go.  Collins lasted a series and Caleb Hanie came in.  Hanie has thrown a total of fourteen career passes.  The NFC Championship was now on this guy's shoulders.  He nearly came back from being down by two scores until throwing a game-ending pick deep in Packers territory. 

Let the media onslaught begin.  Jay Cutler isn't the greatest quarterback in the game.  He does have some poor decision making skills at times.  Who doesn't?  He is better than Kyle Orton, Rex Grossman, and any quarterback the Bears have had over the last 25 years.  He also may be the toughest quarterback in the game.  For someone to get hit as much as he has and does and bounce right back up with not much more than a bloody elbow is absolutely incredible.  He was sacked nineteen times in the PRESEASON and 90+ times over the last two seasons.  Most first string guys play no more than a quarter for three quarters of the preseason.  A concussion sidelined him for a week and that was after getting sacked nine times in one half by the Giants.  Other than that, he has been under center every single snap this season. 

Yesterday's diagnosis was a sprained MCL.  I'm not a doctor, but I did my research and came to find out a sprained MCL is a degree of a tear.  Now, had Cutler played and actually torn it, he would be out for the Super Bowl had the Bears won.  He would also require surgery and rehab for all of the offseason and become a statue in the pocket, aka Todd Collins.  Do you Bears "fans" want your franchise quarterback to continue absorbing more hits like he has the last two seasons?  Didn't think so.  Maybe you should consider a serious upgrade on the offensive line.  Jay Cutler needed to sit and should absolutely not have to explain himself to the media, Maurice Jones-Drew, or Darnell Dockett.  Brian Urlacher said it best when he proclaimed the aforementioned NFLers jealous. 

For Cutler to work with a different offensive coordinator every single year of his pro career and succeed at the level he succeeds deserves commending.  This Bears team was pegged to go 6-10, 7-9, or 8-8 at best by 85-90% of the media.  They ended up going 11-5 and coming within a game of going to the Super Bowl. Cutler also cut his interceptions in half.  He doesn't have a true number one receiver like he did in Brandon Marshall.  His favorite target at times was running back Matt Forte.  He did what he could with what he was given to work with.  Maybe the finger should be pointed at his illiterate bunch of wide receivers for not properly running routes or putting in the extra time to learn the complex offense we heard so much about.  Maybe the finger should be pointed at the front office for not drafting anyone worthwhile EVER or going after a proper wide receiving core.  Maybe the finger shouldn't be pointed at anyone and "fans" should realize they got beat by a better team.

Jay Cutler isn't the media's best friend.  He never claimed to be and it wasn't to my knowledge stated anywhere in his contract he had to be.  This is a major market always looking for a scapegoat.  One of this morning's "breaking" news stories was about Jay Cutler being seen dining at a restaurant with his girlfriend after the game.  Boy, that's appalling.  I can't believe the nerve of that guy.  Who would want to eat a meal in this city?  Maybe he should just hide in his girlfriend's hotel and get room service or go through the McDonald's drive-thru.  Then Cutler's nutritional decisions would be in question, which is why his muscles and ligaments are strained and tearing.  There's always an excuse.  Give me a break.  Is Cutler your best option at quarterback for the next couple years?  From an objective eye, my answer is yes.  Bears fans-make up your mind and while you do, keep burning your Cutler jerseys.  Maybe he will take his talents to South Beach and "CalebHania" can take the city by storm.