Chicago Bears Fans: An Open Letter to the National Media About Jay Cutler

Dear National Sports Media:

It's that time of your again, when you and your colleagues will be making predictions about the NFL season and who will ultimately reach the Super Bowl in February. For some of you, the discussion and analysis will be solid and informative. However, most of you will fall into the same old myths and storylines that result from doing too little homework and relying on the same cliche discussions of past years.

Case and point: The Chicago Bears and quarterback Jay Cutler.

For years, you at the National Sports Media (NSM for short) have been so biased toward the East Coast and what New York and Boston are doing that you get lazy when you are asked to look west of Pennsylvania. Chicago boasts the second-largest populated city in the United States and has five teams (Bulls, Bears, White Sox, Cubs and Blackhawks) in the four major professional sporting leagues, yet you continue to fall into the same bad habits that you have relied on for the past three decades.

Remember Michael Jordan's Bulls back in the 90s? Every time Chicago hosted a playoff game, the NSM would show pictures and video of deep-dish pizza and pork chops, as if these were the only foods consumed in Chicago.

Have these people ever spend any time in the Second City? Sure, folks in Chicago can buy stuffed pizza at few establishments around the city, but most Chicagoans prefer Pizza Hut or a slice of thin crust from the local Aurelio's around the corner.

If you guys at the NSM would have actually spent some time in Chicago, you would have shown pictures of Italian beef sandwiches or hot dogs with no ketchup. But you are lazy and only know what you've heard.

Which brings us back to Jay Cutler.

When asked about the potential of the 2011 Chicago Bears, you continuously hear the same arguments and drivel about the Monsters of the Midway. Let's take a look at some of the more popular cliches that seem to be making the rounds from your membership.

"Jay Cutler is not a leader."

Okay, let's help out the folks at NSM here. Yes, Cutler is surly and a bit of a loner. He tends to be brief with the media and keeps to himself. His demeanor on the sideline gives off the impression that he would like to be anywhere but in Soldier Field.

A leader? If you would have spent any time actually asking Cutler's teammates about how they view their starting quarterback, the NSM would have learned he is very well respected by the other "leaders" on the team, mainly linebacker Brian Urlacher, running back Matt Forte and wide receiver Devin Hester.

If the NSM would watch more games in the NFC North, you would see Cutler commands the huddle and corrects young receivers when needed. He is as competitive and passionate as any player in the NFL. To see that, it requires that someone from the NSM travel past Philadelphia.

"Jay Cutler is not tough."

This is the statement that exposes you folks at the NSM more than any other. Cutler is not tough? Did the NSM even watch the Bears play last year?

One of the weaknesses for Chicago last year was a very inconsistent offensive line. Cutler was sacked 52 times last season. Aside from those numbers, he was hurried and knocked down at least 100 more times. During his quarterback runs, he almost always puts his head down for extra yards and takes some pretty hard hits. Yet, with the exception of a concussion and severely damaged knee, he kept coming back for more.

If you don't think Cutler is tough, you simply don't know football or the Chicago Bears.

"Jay Cutler is erratic."

Okay, here is a point with some merit, if you consider the past three or four years. However, last season Cutler reduced his interception total from 26 to 16, despite being in the first year of a pass-happy Mike Martz scheme.  On top of that, the Bears had a sub-par offensive line and below-average receivers during that period.

Cutler hasn't had a Plaxico Burress or Hakeem Nicks to throw to. He has had Johnny Knox and Devin Aromashodu as his primary targets.

If Mark Sanchez or Eli Manning decreased their interceptions by 10 between two seasons, they would be lauded by you for their improvement and their respective teams would be pegged for the playoffs. 

Most of you wonderful people at the NSM have used these tired and outdated arguments to post the Bears with a record between 7-9 and 9-7. Some of you have them finishing third in the division behind the Detroit Lions and Green Bay Packers. You like Aaron Rodgers and the potential of an upstart team from Motown, yet even in these cases, you refuse to do your homework.

The Lions are a playoff team? Are you serious?

Okay, as I know that all of you are on Eastern Standard Time, and this article is probably past your bedtime, I'll let you go. Be sure to put on your Yankees pajamas and Jets slippers. The rest of the country would hate for you to catch pneumonia.

Sincerely,

Chicago Sports Fans