Monday, Jan. 24, 2011
4:18 p.m.
By David Kaplan
CSNChicago.com
The Bears season has come to an end and while most observers would agree that the better team won Sundays NFC Championship game the end result is not the biggest story coming out of the game. Bears quarterback Jay Cutler is having his toughness questioned by not only the Chicago fan base but surprisingly by fellow NFL players who have taken to Twitter to crush him.
WATCH: Angelo calls twitter reaction 'crap'
I am not a Cutler fan and never have been dating back to his days in Denver when his petulant act started to gain national attention. Is he a talented guy? Absolutely. Cutler has a big arm and all of the physical gifts one could want to play quarterback. However, playing quarterback as a Type 1 diabetic and being sacked more than any other quarterback in the NFL and missing only one start in five seasons should answer all of the questions about his toughness. The critics who are firing from their couch are ridiculous.
Cutler lacks the intangibles and winning persona that I believe is necessary to be a big time winner in the NFL. I know that many fans could care less how Cutler deals with the media. I understand their opinion but what they fail to realize is that the way he conducts himself in media sessions and the way he comes across are all part of a larger problem that makes me believe that he will never be a championship level QB.
Can you count on Cutler when the chips are down and you really have to step up and rally the troops? I dont believe so. Is he the biggest problem on the roster? Far from it. The Bears have to address a terrible offensive line, a vastly overrated and under-performing wide receiver corps, and a very suspect defensive backfield. However, if all of those areas are upgraded is Cutler the man who can take the Bears all the way and win a Super Bowl?
NFL
At this point in time I dont believe so. Playing quarterback his track record speaks for itself and it is not a track record that instills faith in even the most diehard Bears fan that Cutler is now or can become an elite quarterback. Is there a better option out there for the Bears to pursue at this point in time? Probably not, which means that Cutler better look in the mirror and realize he has to change his act and it better start now.
David Kaplan is the host of Chicago Tribune Live on Comcast SportsNet. Follow him on Twitter @thekapman.