Packers vs. Bears: Why Jay Cutler's Legacy Is Forever Tarnished
Packers vs. Bears had its moments, but it ultimately ended up being a pretty disappointing entry as far as NFC Championships go.
This has a lot to do, of course, with the fact that Bears quarterback Jay Cutler went down with a knee injury in the first half and the Bears were forced to mount a comeback without him.
He finished the day with just six completions out of 14 attempts for 80 yards, no touchdowns and one interception. The Bears lost 21-14.
All over the country, fans are already barking at Cutler for not grinding it out, and you have to wonder whether or not his legacy is ruined forever.
That question is on our mind too. For the sake of arguing, we have come up with the following discussion about the state of Cutler's legacy following his showing in the NFC Championship Game.
5. No: He Was Actually Hurt
1 of 11
Okay, let's go ahead and get serious before we get into the heavy speculation.
As much as everybody wants to complain about how Cutler should have sacked up and played through the pain, the fact of the matter is that football is a very violent sport, and the injuries that occur are no laughing matter.
This is especially true when it comes to knees. In fact, the latest news is that Cutler could have a torn MCL, which is a pretty legit injury.
Instead of labeling Cutler a wimp or a sissy, maybe people should show some respect.
5. Yes: He Should Have Toughed It Out
2 of 11
Two words: Philip Rivers.
As you may recall, the Chargers quarterback played the 2007 AFC Championship against the New England Patriots with a torn ACL.
I say again, a torn ACL—the same injury that requires surgery and months of physical therapy to heal.
Basically, unless Cutler's leg was literally hanging by a thread, he could have been out there. After all, it's the freakin' NFC Championship!
4. No: Out of His Hands
3 of 11
Cutler's fate was sealed by two different things.
The first is the fact that Cutler himself said after the game that the Bears' trainers and coaching staff wouldn't have let him go back out there, no matter how hard he insisted otherwise. This is usually the case with injured players, and we can certainly take Cutler's word for it.
Secondly, NFL rules barred Cutler from returning as soon as Caleb Hanie was inserted into the game. A little-known rule stipulates that if a third-string QB enters the game prior to the fourth quarter, the first two quarterbacks on the depth chart can't come back out.
So even if an angel had descended from the heavens and healed Cutler's knee, he still would have had to stay on the sideline.
.jpg?w=256)
.jpg?w=256 "Texans Giants Football")
4. Yes: Too Late, People Have Made Up Their Minds
4 of 11
Nobody ever accused football fans of being compassionate, and even fewer have accused them of being rational.
Indeed, we are a beastly lot, and I'm afraid that too many people have already made up their minds about Cutler's inherent toughness.
Don't believe me? Go check out Twitter.
3. No: Cutler Didn't Lose the Game
5 of 11
If you were to ask me, I would have told you that the Bears weren't going to win the game anyway. In fact, you could ask the oddsmakers the same thing, and you'd get the same answer.
Regardless, it's silly to put all the blame for the Bears' relatively poor showing entirely on Cutler. Just look at the box score. The Packers claimed pretty much every single major category. They gained more total yards (356), earned more first downs (23), committed fewer turnovers (2-3) and won the time of possession battle (34:04).
Honestly, would having Jay Cutler for all four quarters really make that much of a difference?
3. Yes: Yeah, It Would Have Made a Huge Difference
6 of 11
In theory, this is probably true.
To be sure, Cutler may not be the best quarterback in the NFL (he's certainly no Aaron Rodgers), but he's certainly better than Todd Collins and Caleb Hanie.
Moreover, the fact that the Bears only lost by a touchdown on a day when they intercepted Rodgers twice and held him to zero touchdown passes clearly suggests that the game could have been won. The Bears' odds are definitely better with Cutler than either Collins or Hanie.
2. No: One Choke Job Doesn't Equal a Trend
7 of 11
Okay, so maybe Cutler did drop the ball. As a matter of fact, the whole team did.
But instead of whining about it, why not look forward?
Let's not lose sight of the fact that this was just the second postseason game of Cutler's career, and it's extremely unfair to assign any kind of undeserved labels to him quite yet. If calling him a wimp or a sissy is unfair, then calling him a choker is absolutely ridiculous.
If you are calling Cutler a choker, get a life.
2. Yes: Guilty Until Proven Innocent
8 of 11
Once again, there are a lot of fans out there who have already made up their minds. To them, Cutler is both a wimp and a choker, and he will be forever.
Alas, when it comes to football fans, time does not heel all wounds. A loss such as this one will hurt just as much in 20 years if Cutler and the Bears don't redeem themselves down the road.
There's the rub: The only thing Cutler can do to clear his name is to succeed where he and the Bears failed. That means they have to make it this far again—and when they do, they have to prevail.
1. No: Cutler Still Has a Lot of Football Ahead of Him
9 of 11
When I last checked, quarterbacks tend to play longer than most other players. After all, they are the only players on the field that are not fair game for the violence that takes a toll on everyone else, and their careers are usually over after 10 years or so.
Cutler is just 27 years old, and he's only been in the league for five years. The idea that the Bears' run to the NFC Championship Game might already represent the high water mark for Cutler's career is absurd.
Yes, he's had his struggles thus far, but that just means he has lots of room for improvement.
1. Yes: Cutler's Not Good Enough to Make It This Far Again
10 of 11
As harsh as it sounds, I actually think this is true.
Make no mistake—Cutler is an extremely gifted athlete, and there certainly is plenty of room for him to grow as a player.
Nevertheless, he's had plenty of time to do that already, and there just doesn't seem to be any indication that he's going to become the player we all thought he was going to be when he came into the league with the Denver Broncos.
To put this in plain words, Cutler is what he is: an average NFL quarterback. Average quarterbacks rarely make it to the Super Bowl.
Conclusion: Is Cutler's Legacy Forever Tarnished?
11 of 11
All things considered, I fear for Jay Cutler's legacy after today.
The latest word is that he's due to undergo further tests on Monday, and all the people who called him a sissy are going to feel like real jerks if it turns out Cutler has a torn MCL or some other hideous injury.
If he doesn't, well, I suppose people will keep chattering.
Personally, I think it's obviously a little too early to condemn Cutler altogether. But like I said, I fear for him.
But it's not all about me. What do you think? If you have an opinion on this matter, by all means share it in the comments section.
.jpg?w=480)
.jpg?w=480 "Texans Giants Football")
.jpg?w=480 "NFL Combine Football")
.jpg?w=600 "Full Bryce Young Trade Return 🔁")
.jpg?w=600 "Mixon, Ekeler's Top Landing Spots ✈️")
.jpg?w=600 "Steelers Draft Pittsburgh Native")