Criticism Of Jay Cutler Blowing Out Of Proportion

It’s amazing how the most talked about quarterback after a conference title game comes is from the losing team.

After trouncing the Seattle Seahawks in the second round of the playoffs, Jay Cutler was preparing for the biggest game of his life as the Green Bay Packers were headed into Soldier Field for the NFC Championship game.

What started out as an opportunity to reach the Super Bowl for the first time in his career ended up becoming a nightmare that the former Vanderbilt quarterback just can’t wake up from.

After one half of below-par play, Cutler would end up playing only one series in the second half and watched the rest of the game on the sideline as a spectator due to a knee injury.

It wasn’t so much getting hurt that was the problem, but what would come next. Former and current NFL players observing Cutler began shooting comments and negativity at him with the new form of bad mouthing and trash talking in the 21st century: “tweeting”.

According to the Bleacher Report, numerous messages from other NFL players began popping up on the Twitter website aimed at the Bears QB.

Asante Samuel: "If he was on my team I'd be looking at him sideways."

Maurice Jones-Drew: “All I'm saying is that he can finish the game on a hurt knee... I played the whole season on one..."

Darnell Dockett: "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! #FACT."

The situation has now even balloned to a point that the paparazzi found it necessary to film him walking around in Los Angeles with no limp or walk as if it were a scandal.



The line between playing through injuries and being tough appears to be thin according to those who spoke about Cutler not returning for the rest of the second half. There is an understanding as to why they would say such harsh words when numerous players play hurt and do whatever they can to remain on the field.

Yet, it’s hard to debate the toughness of a player who was sacked twelve more times than the quarterback who ranked second in that category. Despite taking so many shots by the opposition, Cutler only missed one game during the regular season.

So the big question in this whole fiasco: is this issue getting out of hand?

There are several reasons why the negativity circling around Cutler isn’t necessarily valid.

The first reason centers around the reaction from his teammates and those within the Bears organization. While Cutler is the QB of the team, everyone associates Chicago with LB Brian Urlacher. As he goes, so do the Bears, and when he speaks, his words usually resonate with the rest of the squad. So when he chimed in after the game about his quarterback, it’s more substantial in merit than what others tweet.

"Jay was hurt," the linebacker said, according to an ESPN article. "I don't question his toughness. He's tough as hell. He's one of the toughest guys on our football team. He doesn't b****. He doesn't complain when he gets hit. He goes out there and plays his a** off every Sunday. He practices every single day. So, no, we don't question his toughness."

The second part to this issue is the timing. It’s understandable to wonder about an injury when the player isn’t in the locker room getting medical attention or limping noticeably, but to publicly criticize him without any medical assessment is unfair. There should be no reason to bash someone’s durability and heart unless it was diagnosed that he wasn’t hurt or that his injury was so minor that he could have returned.

What about if he actually returned to finish out the game? Prior to the injury, he couldn’t even compile a single scoring drive. How effective could Cutler have been if he played the second half with an injured knee after playing awful at full strength? If he would have returned, third-stringer Caleb Hanie would have never orchestrated two scoring drives and the score might have not have been as close as the 21-14 score the game ended at.

Another concept to consider is the issue of jealousy. Is it possible that there may be a hint of that floating around with the tweets coming from players who weren’t playing in the game? Is it possible that they wish they could have been in the position the 27-year-old quarterback was in with a chance to win and head to the Super Bowl?

That feeling could have heated up as those who lashed out Cutler saw him sitting solemnly on the sidelines watching the game, just as they were. The big difference was that his team was playing in the game, and theirs weren’t.

Regardless of the negativity and why it’s unfair, the fact is that it is easier to kick a man while he is down. It is also extremely sad and disappointing to see all the bad feedback Cutler’s peers have poured upon him. It’s bad enough that he has to deal with losing the game that would have catapulted him into the Super Bowl.

Hopefully one day, Cutler will reach that pinnacle and vindication over all the doubters will be his.

Then, just maybe, he could finally awaken from this nightmare.

The Intruiging Possibilities For Super Bowl XLV

Just how intriguing can this year’s Super Bowl be? Let’s now look at what are some of the match ups and scenarios that could be possibilities after the AFC/NFC championship games end:

Green Bay Packers vs Pittsburgh Steelers

Two historic franchises could frame the ultimate David and Goliath-type of match up if they have their way in their conference finals.

The Steelers would be the out-right favorite as the stronger team on both sides of the ball that could brew up headaches for the Packers coaching staff. Pittsburgh is a team that has seen it all, done it all, and facing a potent Green Bay offense will not scare their defense.

After playing through two road games though, the Packers could surely enhance their confidence going into the Super Bowl if they could knock off the Bears in Chicago.

Key Match Up: Aaron Rodgers arm vs Troy Polamalu’s Defensive Instincts

Chicago Bears vs Pittsburgh Steelers

If you are a fan of old school football, bone-crunching tackles, and an all out war between two sides, pray that this will be the two teams that come out of championship week successful.

Both teams have strong beliefs that they have the best defense in the league; but can you blame them? They both play in divisions that require top notch, smash mouth hitters on the defensive side of the ball. Toughness is the identity both defenses wear on their sleeves like tattoos.

Yet, despite having the ability to stop their opposition from scoring, putting up points will be more of a problem for both squads. Both are capable of making plays on offense, but that will be a more difficult task to accomplish against the other’s defense. So if you like high scoring and big offensive plays, you better hope this isn’t how the Super Bowl ends up when the dust clears on championship weekend.

Key Match Up: Chicago’s Offense vs Pittsburgh’s Offense

Chicago Bears vs New York Jets

This is quite an intriguing match up for teams whose offenses are like old, rundown cars: sometimes they have trouble starting and often end up stalling towards the end of the ride.

While the Jets defense is not on an elite level as the Bears or Steelers are, their resume during this post season run says otherwise. If you can contain a Colts and Patriots offense (led by Peyton Manning and Tom Brady) from scoring more than your offense that is questionable in terms of when it will show up, then you should have that swagger of feeling elite. Yet, both New England and Indianapolis don’t have defenses like the Bears do.

The key on both sides will be special teams, as each have weapons that can make big splashes in the return game (Devin Hester for Chicago and Antonio Cromartie for New York). Field position will be the ultimate key in a game where both offenses need as much help as possible.

Key Match Up: Chicago Bears Special Teams vs New York Jets Special Teams

Green Bay Packers vs New York Jets

Who wouldn’t want to see these two storied franchises, who combined to win the first three Super Bowls ever played, go up against each other for a title for the first time ever?

This match up would have the most common playing field in terms of talents and strength if these historic teams were to face off against each other. Both have young quarterbacks that are looking to prove they belong in the discussion as elite talents. Their offenses are similar in that they are stronger at one facet of the game (Jets running game and Packers passing ability) than the other (Jets passing game and Packers rushing ability).

Both defenses are exceptional, especially against the pass, but it is the Jets that have the advantage on stopping the ground game than the Packers are. It would also be an intriguing match up on the sidelines with Ryan’s abrasive, boisterous personality against coach Mike McCarthy’s calm, serene demeanor.

Key Matchup: Packers Run Defense vs Jets Run Offense

Anyway you look at it, the potential battles that the Super Bowl may entail is exciting to imagine. Aside from the great match ups, this year’s game or winner could give a refreshing new look for one of the most watched sports events every year. Of the remaining teams, only the Pittsburgh and Chicago are also the only teams of the last four that have played in the game since 2000 (and only the Steelers have won a title since the turn of the new decade).

Intriguing…isn’t it?

An Unexpected Final Four For The 2011 NFL Playoffs

We are inching ever so close to Super Bowl 2011 and just trying to figure out who will play for the Vince Lombardi trophy is puzzling. The NFC and AFC Championship games will feature four teams who many had no belief would make it this far, let alone the playoffs.



Who could have ever seen this coming?



The NFC side will showcase the sixth seed Green Bay Packers, who stormed through Phildelphia and Atlanta, against their division rival and second seeded Chicago Bears, who dismantled Seattle with ease after a first round bye. The boastful New York Jets, who shocked both Indianapolis and New England in their house, will battle the enduring Pittsburgh Steelers, a team fresh off a hard fought victory over the Baltimore Ravens, for the AFC title game.



This is definitely a season where betting on the underdog could churn a hefty pay out. It is stunning to see a playoff picture with notable absences in the playoffs over the past few years (those usuals include New England, Indianapolis, New Orleans and Philadelphia). Even more surprising is how they were all shocked by teams most gave no chance to win.



How could these franchises be just one step away from the professional football title game when they were never in the discussion to reach this far at any point this season?



Let’s look at the 2010 journey for these four squads.





Chicago Bears





Prior to the start of the season: The Bears are like the old, historical pirates that people hear stories about: lost at sea with no compass to direct them, yet somehow they find their destination. It was only five years ago that this team made it to the Super Bowl, only to lose at the hands of Peyton Manning and his Colts. Since then, they have had only one winning season and no playoff appearances. It looked like it would be another season of watching from home with the Vikings loading up again and Green Bay looking ready to take the next step.



During the season: That outlook on the season was very much a skewed according to the Bears. With Cutler’s improvement and a defense that looked like the one from five years ago, the Bears appeared back to their winning ways. They started out hot, winning their first three and taking top billing over the NFC Central, but sputtered a bit as they entered their bye week losing three of four. They would recover to rip off five straight wins and they would lock up the division, as well as the second seed of the playoffs.





Green Bay Packers





Prior to the start of the season: For the cheese heads, it was all about taking down their rivals Minnesota Vikings and their former messiah Brett Favre after they watched him march the Vikes to the 2009 NFC Championship game. Aaron Rodgers finally got a taste of the playoffs in 2009, and he revived faith in an organization that he could begin a new chapter in the Packers history book.



During the season: The franchise and its fans rode that same hope as the Packers would go on to a 6-3 record to start the season. As the year progressed, it was obvious that the Vikings ship was sunk and the only barrier that stood between Green Bay and the division title were the Bears. They would remain neck and neck with Chicago after their bye week, but a Rodgers concussion quickly halted their chance to take over the division. They would win the last game of the season, luckily securing them the final spot in the playoffs.





Pittsburg Steelers





Prior to the season: After winning another title during the 2009 season, the Steelers looked ready to return back to the promise land. With QB Ben Roethlisberger still under center, and defensive beasts Troy Polamalu and James Harrison making big plays, it seemed inevitable. The Ravens would erase those happens after taking the last spot of the playoffs away from them. Then, prior to the start of this season, Roethlisberger was suspended for the first four games of the season and it looked like 2010 had a high probability of replicating the 2009 season.



During the season: Lucky for the Steelers, Dennis Dixon and Charlie Batch were able to keep the team afloat with three wins in the four games Roethlisberger was suspended for. After their bye week and Roethlisberger’s activation, the team continued floating higher and higher in the standings. They would go on to win nine of their last twelve games of the season and only trailed behind the Patriots for the best record in the AFC.





New York Jets





Prior to the season: If anyone selected the Jets as one of the participants in the AFC title game in 2009, then give yourself a round of applause. What the achieved that season was miraculous, despite the bellowing from their rambunctious leader Rex Ryan that this team was a Super Bowl contender. That success led to their own reality show, in which those same prophecies that Ryan had been loudly protesting became the moniker of the show. Despite the hype, most felt that his bantering was nothing more than hot air and that the team would not be able to duplicate their overachieving success from 2009.



During the season: Those J-E-T-S, Jets! Jets! Jets! would show off early that coach Ryan’s boldness was felt throughout his players. They would start the season 5-1 and looked to finally prove the naysayers wrong in that they were an elite team. Then, after winning four of their next five after their bye week, the Jets would stumble by losing back-to-back games and concerns were raised that QB Mark Sanchez may be starting to choke. They would go on to win two of their last three, eventually capturing the final playoff spot.



It’ll be interesting to see how the final two stages of the season play out and what scenarios will be brought up for the Super Bowl. Both conference championship games will be exciting when they are played out and will produce a participant for the NFL title that no one expected.



Unforeseen endings will most likely be the theme heading into the final game, just as it has been for the first two rounds of this year’s playoffs.