Cutler Not A Cut Above The Rest

The last time the Packers were in the Super Bowl was in 1998. As we recall, the Broncos went on to win their first Super Bowl that year, beating the Packers 31-24.

That one may have been “For John,” but this year’s Super Bowl title certainly won’t be “for Jay” and it was the Packers who made sure of that on Sunday. Actually, it was Cutler who made sure of that on Sunday.

Unless you’ve been living under a rock, you know that Jay Cutler left the NFC Championship game in the third with what we now know is a sprained MCL. Cutler has been the recipient of much criticism from guys within his sport and the fans that love the sport.

"“Hey I think the urban meyer rule is effect right now… When the going gets tough……..QUIT..”"

Cutler’s main foe, Philip Rivers said in the San Diego Union-Tribune:

"“Me personally, I’d have to have been taken off in a cart.”"

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

"“As a guy who had 20 knee surgeries you’d have to drag me out on a stretcher to leave a championship game.”"

I just wrote about how I thought that Cutler got the last laugh on Denver, considering he was headed to the NFC Championship and Denver went 4-12 this season. Turns out that Josh McDaniels may have gotten the last laugh on everybody considering he’s got a golden 2nd year quarterback to work with in St. Louis, he’s not left cleaning up his two-year mess in Denver, and he’s not currently receiving the criticism that Cutler is in Chicago.

I think the cuts that Cutler is taking are warranted. Most NFL players would have to be physically removed from the field of play if they suffered an injury in the Conference Championship game. Read NFL Unplugged and you’ll hear about it firsthand. Think Clay Matthews would have left that game with the same kind of injury? No. Think Tim Tebow would have left that game? No way. Some guys you can see a pigskin heart on their sleeve while other guys need an echocardiogram just to make sure they have one.

Cutler could be seen on the sidelines standing, walking, and looking disinterested. He didn’t offer his backup QBs much help on the sideline, and his sour puss face would have been better seen out there on the field where his teammates and fans count on him.

I don’t doubt that his injury is real and/or painful, but as a member of a team, shouldn’t it be his responsibility to do everything he possibly can to still help his team win? Whether that’s being out on the field or coaching his backups, Cutler doesn’t cut it. No wonder a city such as Chicago, where the blue collar worker is highly respected, is down Cutler’s throat right now. He didn’t show strength, grit, or class.

Midway Jay has become Fair Play Jay.