Bears Blitz

Published by Bob Warja on July 30, 2009
Article Source: Bleacher Report - Chicago Bears

Cue the Cats soundtrack.

For this catfighting between Chicago Bears linebacker Brian Urlacher and quarterback Jay Cutler, which either truly exists or is being invented by a former Bears player trying to stir up trouble, is causing the media to swarm like vultures to a fresh kill.

Yet my take on this whole “did he call Cutler a (sissy) or not” story is, WHO CARES? In fact, they can openly roll around the Bourbonnais practice field and scratch each other’s eyes out if they want, for all I care.

Personally, my money would be on Urlacher, but that’s another matter entirely.

So why am I writing this article then, if I say I don’t care?

Well, I have an angle to the story that I haven’t heard anyone talk about.

That is, what if he’s right?

I mean, up until now, all I’ve heard spewing from talk radio has been debate over whether or not Urlacher called Cutler this expletive-deleted, and concern over two teammates possibly not getting along.

For his part, Urlacher denies ever having said that about Cutler.

But no one has addressed the 800-pound bear in the room. Namely, what if Urlacher’s right, and our new franchise QB and savior truly is a wimp?

So what, you say? As long as he throws touchdown passes and leads the team to victory, you don’t care?

Fair enough.

But at least to me, it does matter, for many reasons. First, your QB is supposed to be the leader of the team. Leaders need respect. It’s hard enough to walk into a new locker room and lead a bunch of guys you don’t know.

But it’s damn near impossible if you are a wimpy guy who lacks toughness and leadership skills. Players will see right through you as if you were translucent.

Then there is the delicate issue of a QB’s psyche. We all recognize that QBs are kind of like left-handed pitchers in that they are different. That is a kind way of saying that they are really out there and require special attention.

Further, there is the not-so-transparent negative reputation that Cutler is trying to shed like a defensive end on his back.

Denver fans, media, and even the coaching staff have taken Cutler to task for various issues over the years, the most recent of which is because he wanted to leave the Broncos and get away from coaching genius Josh McDaniels.

Though young, Cutler’s public persona is already steeped in a legacy of selfishness and prima donna status. Whether that’s fair or not, it is what it is. And controversy like the one that Minnesota’s Bobby Wade (seriously, dude, what grown man still wants to be called “Bobby”?) is generating, intentional or not, is something Cutler needs like a sore arm.

My first inclination was to tell Wade to shut up and grow up. You were never any good as a Bear, and your statements to the media border on insulting. It’s abusing the privilege of a friendship, at the very least.

My next thought is that, while a great player, Urlacher can be somewhat of an idiot, so why should we care what he thinks? After all, he routinely shuns the media and fans alike and has a history of surliness that has resulted in his Brian “Surlacher” nickname by the local press.

Yet another impression is that what we may be experiencing here, if Urlacher did indeed express that opinion of Cutler, is a power struggle.

Urlacher has long been the face of the team. He has truly been an awesome linebacker. So along comes Cutler, and suddenly there is a new sheriff in town.

Who knows?

Again, my focus will be on Cutler’s play on the field and his actions as a leader on this football team. I will certainly give him the benefit of the doubt. I am happy as a loon in heat that he is here.

Still, there is that gnawing suspicion that I just can’t seem to rid my mind of that maybe, just maybe, the rumors are true.

As a Bears fan, I certainly hope not. But it’s an interesting question and one that only time will tell.

Hey, we love our quarterback controversy here in Chicago, come to think of it.