Bears Blitz

Published by Mike Foster on January 24, 2011
Article Source: Bleacher Report - Chicago Bears

I will have you know that I am currently sitting at a computer desk, using only the movement in my fingers, to type up this article.

The exercise I’m currently performing is surprisingly (if that isn’t an understatement) similar to the same actions NFL players had to take to type up their tweets regarding Jay Cutler’s injury, which sidelined him in yesterday’s loss to the Green Bay Packers in the NFC Championship game.

Get my drift?

Since the 21-14 loss at the hands of the Pack, Jay Cutler has been bombarded by NFL players who are calling his toughness into question.

Not to mention the fact Cutler plays in the NFL, despite having diabetes, and is the most sacked quarterback in the league.

Cutler left the game with an apparent but undefined knee injury, and stood in a sideline jacket for the entire second half of the game.

It seemed sad enough that the budding star quarterback had to leave the field in the biggest game of his young career, but matters worsened when the disrespect started to flood through the Internet.

Here are just a few examples:

Eagles cornerback Asante Samuel: “If he was on my team, I’d be looking at him sideways.”

former Buccaneers linebacker Derrick Brooks: “There is no medicine for a guy with no guts and heart.”

And the puzzling quote from Deion Sanders,

“Folks I never question a players injury but I do question a players heart. Truth.”

Really Deion?

Sanders’ tweet might have been the most contradictory statement I’ve read in months.

Nothing keeps you off the field more than an injury.

The fact that these players show so much premature disrespect baffles me. (It’s a shame my word choice ironically includes the suffix “mature”).

How in the world can anyone possibly fathom quitting in the NFC title game, when they are so close to achieving their goal, when they know they have a chance to continue playing?

There is no doubt in my mind that, not only Cutler but, any other player on an NFL roster, especially at quarterback, would not have stopped playing unless they absolutely had to.

I do not find a problem in people critiquing Cutler. If done constructively, it’s permissible to say “You know, I think Cutler should have tried to give it a go, at least. But, I wasn’t the one on the field.”

What offends me on so many levels is the fact that these fellow NFL players take no delay in going out of their way to call out what we should classify as a peer, in such an elementary way.

This is especially disturbing considering the fact every single person who had controversial things to  say did not play a game on Sunday.

I don’t care how much of an iron man you are. I don’t care how much of a wimp you think Cutler is.

The National Football League is a “professional” entity. Members of the NFL should be expected to be professionals.

Yes, I’m aware of freedom of speech. But, I can take offense and seriously disrespect people who don’t use their voice in the right fashion.

Becoming an NFL player implies enhanced responsibility.

It calls for professionalism. 

It appears to continue to lack in both categories. Jumping right onto your twitter to join in on the fun of calling Cutler into question comes across as childish, more than anything.

It shows a lack of self control. And, again, it shows a lack of respect. I cannot emphasize that enough.

I understand that these players have lives, just like us, but even I am strongly against taking jabs at friends or acquaintances who have access to my social media outputs.

Not only because I expect consequences, but because I have the right mind to not demean a person.

The fact that people on such a higher radar than myself lack such awareness is sad, to say the least.

How can this argument even go the other way? How could anyone write something calling Cutler’s will into question?

Cutler was playing for a chance at the Super Bowl. I’m pretty positive he gave it all he had. And, if you are a defensive player who’s called Cutler out, you better hope you’re not on the Bears schedule next season.

Read more Chicago Bears news on BleacherReport.com