Bears Blitz

Published by Jim Weihofen on January 24, 2011
Article Source: Bleacher Report - Chicago Bears

In the wake of losing the NFC Championship Game to the hated rival Green Bay Packers, Chicago Bears quarterback Jay Cutler has come under a lot of heat for not finishing the game. Players and fans alike have questioned Cutler’s toughness and dedication to his team and to the sport after he failed to finish out the game, giving way to backup Todd Collins, who gave way to third-stringer Caleb Hanie—who had the Bears painfully close to a miracle comeback to force overtime.

Overlooked in all of this is the abysmal blocking Cutler got from his offensive line. Before the bye week, the Bears O-line was a joke, with Cutler being sacked nine times in one half against the New York Giants, which would cause him to miss his next start with a concussion. In all, Cutler was sacked 52 times throughout the course of the season—12 more than any other quarterback in the league. Through all that, he never pulled himself out of a game.

When Cutler was out for Week 5 due to a concussion, it marked the first time he hadn’t started a game since being named the starter for the Broncos at the end of the 2006 season. Only 12 quarterbacks started in all 16 of their teams’ games this season, and Cutler went out and gave them 15 starts. No matter how many times he was sacked, and how many yards he lost as a result, Cutler went out there. No matter how many interceptions he threw, Cutler took the snaps for the Bears.

Two main things have been easily—more likely conveniently—forgotten by Cutler’s critics. The first is that this team was widely predicted by analysts to finish no better than 7-9, and yet they managed to win the division and a first-round bye with a sparkling 11-5 record. Second, Cutler had a repulsive year last season, and led the league in interceptions. Cutler managed to cut his interception total by 10 picks in 2010, all while being sacked over 10 percent of the time he dropped back to pass.

Cutler did attempt to re-take the field after sustaining his knee injury, however, team trainers and doctors wouldn’t let him. Cutler played through a bloodied elbow, and was limping a good part of the game, yet he still went out when he did and gave it his all. He never looked right in the game, and still tried with everything he had.

Upon seeing Cutler start to tear up, there is little doubt in my mind about his dedication and love for the game of football, his teammates and the entirety of the Chicago Bears—ownership, fanbase, everything. Cutler seemed disconnected at times with the media because winning one game wasn’t the goal, nor was winning the division, or securing a first-round bye. Cutler’s goal was to lead the Bears to a Super Bowl Championship, and I have little doubt that he only blames himself for this loss.

As somebody who questioned the Cutler trade the second I saw it, I must say that I now know what Jerry Angelo saw in Jay Cutler. He won’t be happy until he wins a Super Bowl, and won’t stop pushing himself to the absolute limit until he does. This is why he takes so many risks; he sometimes tries to do too much.

Cutler knows he has diabetes, and doesn’t let it get him down (during the 2008 season, he lost over 30 pounds as a result and didn’t miss a game), as was the case with another great Chicago athlete, Ron Santo. While their outward appearances and approach to the media and fans may be different, they have the same goal on the field: win it all for the fans of Chicago. If the fans can’t appreciate that, then they don’t deserve someone who leaves it all out on the field every time they play.

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