Yes, It’s Okay To Call Jay Cutler A Pussy

January 25, 2011

By Eric Marmon

While the majority of our sports coverage the past 24 hours has revolved around the end of the Jets season, the biggest story in the sports world has been Chicago Bears quarterback Jay Cutler. For those who might not be aware, Cutler sprained / partially tore (the two words are apparently synonymous in medical-speak) his MCL during the first half of the NFC Championship game. Despite having his odds of returning to the game officially listed as questionable, Cutler spent the rest of the afternoon standing silently on the sideline.

Had the Bears mounted a comeback, all likely would have been forgiven. But with a third string QB throwing an interception to end the Bears chances, Cutler, with his lackadaisical look on the sideline, has become the fall-guy. The QB has been caught in a media storm, with words such as “wuss,” “pussy,” and “quitter” being hung around his neck.

So the question now arises, is the criticism of Jay Cutler fair?

You’re damn right it is.

There are some things to consider when assessing Cutler’s situation. The recently deceased sports writing legend Phil Jasner made a rule never to question how much pain a player is in, and it’s a good one to live by. Especially when it comes to Cutler, the quarterback who was sacked more this past season than any other and has to deal with his diabetes on a daily basis. It’s hard to imagine the amount of pain it must take to knock a guy like Cutler out of any game, especially one for the NFC Championship. If Cutler says he’s too hurt too play, then gosh darn it, he has to be.

What isn’t helping Cutler is, well, he’s kind of a prick. He has a reputation around the League as an immature complainer, and his skills as a football player have been accurately described as overrated. This is an aggravating combination that creates a very unlikable sports figure.

Had Cutler been a media darling or a bushel of talent, the backlash likely would not have been so harsh. Had the games other quarterback, Aaron Rodgers, been in the same position, it’s hard to imagine the sports world exploding in such animosity.

It’s also important to think what’s best for the future of Jay Christopher Cutler, and the answer is unquestionably to get out of the game. NFL contracts aren’t guaranteed, and as we’ve seen far too many times before, it only takes one play to end a guy’s career. What is best for Cutler, and every NFL player for that matter, is if they so much as sneeze they should put themselves on Injured Reserve immediately.

There is also a sense of hypocrisy in the reaction to Cutler coming out (giggle). After all, the proper handling of brain injuries has been the top issue of the 2010 NFL season. With all the extra time, new technology, and adjusted protocols being dedicated to protect players from serious, long-lasting head injuries, it’s a bit unfair for fans and analysts to demand Cutler put himself at risk of further hurting himself. We should protect the head, but the rest of the body be damned?!

So wait… if Cutler was undoubtedly hurt, if he’s an unfortunate media victim on the reg, and if it’s the best thing for him (and every player) to avoid any injury at any cost, why is the criticism of Jay Cutler fair?

Because this is football. And this is what football players do.

Being a professional athlete is different from being a professional anything else. If you get the flu, you call in sick. If your starting left tackle gets the flu, he puts an IV in, takes some medicine and spends three hours on his feet pushing around 270-pound defensive linemen.

Tom Brady. Philip Rivers. Matthew Stafford. Peyton Manning. Maurice Jones-Drew. Byron Leftwich. Michael Vick. Donovan McNabb. And of course, the immortal disgraceful Brett Favre.  These are just a handful of NFL players, not all of them Hall of Famers, and some not even pro bowlers, who played through injury despite all the reasons not to. And they all did it in games that meant a heck of a lot less than the one Cutler sat out Sunday.

For these guys to be “too hurt to play,” as the Bears claim Cutler was, they wouldn’t be able to stand on the sideline, or anywhere for that matter. They’d be immobile.

It’s the reason the concussion issue was ignored for so long in the NFL; because football players, real football players, would lie about their injuries just to get back on the field.

Jay Cutler is just not that kind of football player. And for that we are allowed to criticize him.

Being a football player means you either finish the game on the field, or you finish it in the back of a cart.

If you think that’s unfair, fine. Go play baseball. And just hope you’re not on a team with Kurt Gibson.

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