Comments get taken out of context all of the time when it comes to professional athletes. Maybe only a snippet is taken, maybe the whole back story isn't laid out. I have a hard time trying to understand what the comments made by Brian Urlacher to Yahoo Sports could otherwise mean if they don't mean that Brian has a some issues with Jay Cutler:

"Look, I love Jay, and I understand he's a great player who can take us a long way, and I still have faith in him," Urlacher said. "But I hate the way our identity has changed. We used to establish the run and wear teams down and try not to make mistakes, and we'd rely on our defense to keep us in the game and make big plays to put us in position to win. Kyle Orton might not be the flashiest quarterback, but the guy is a winner, and that formula worked for us. I hate to say it, but that's the truth."

Uh, oh, someone has gone football retarded on us. I'll concede it, Jay Cutler is having a terrible season. There I said it. But the guy has nothing to work with...(I can't believe I'm writing this again, so I won't). Back to Urlacher.

Sure Brian, it sucks that your identity has changed. It also sucks that most of the players on the field suck. Don't blame Jay for that, blame management for years of bad drafting and swings and misses in the free agent market. The Bears used to "establish the run" and wear teams down. Ding! However, this team, as currently constructed is last in the NFL in rushing offense, yes last.

Sure Brian, you used to rely on your defense "to keep [you] in the game" and make big plays. Unfortunately the only big plays being made are by opposing offenses on your defense, a unit that is allowing 23.7 points per game and is 18th overall in total yards allowed and 24th in rushing defense. Doesn't third and long mean anything anymore?

And then the Orton comment. What did he hope to accomplish with that? That is just what this season needed, the team's "leader" questioning the team leader and bringing up players who are no longer here to the media.

Damage control was done by Lovie Smith at his weekly post-game press conference where he stated that everyone was frustrated and that Brian was a "team player." Right. Maybe so, but it sure doesn't sound that way.

Let's not forget that Brian may have called Jay out before. Remember what he supposedly said to ex-Bear Bobby Wade, calling Jay a "p----." Urlacher denied it at the time. Do you believe him now?

If Brian wants to be a "team player" then I think the best idea might be for him to sit and keep quiet. There is no reason to splash water onto the sinking boat. If you have thoughts of this nature keep them in house, it will do no good to have stories like this circulating all around an already disastrous season.

Melissa Isaacson of ESPNChicago had this to say about Urlacher's comments:

"The fact is, they are not good enough to defeat the Vikings or most of the teams on their current schedule. Whether that is because of injuries to the likes of Urlacher and others or because Smith is doing a subpar coaching job or because Jerry Angelo is not doing a good enough job assembling the talent necessary to absorb injuries probably won't matter to whoever it is that makes the most important decisions at Halas Hall.

And whatever Urlacher has to say about it doesn't change a thing."

No, it doesn't change it, but it sure doesn't help. Shouldn't we expect more from a leader.

Comments (2)

He Was Leading!

Anyone who knows Bears football knows Brian was telling the truth. Our identity HAS changed. We have no running game. NONE. The Bears RUN the football to open up the passing game, not the reverse.
Brian was just saying what us fans have been observing every week. He knows the winning formula for Bears football

David Tolsky , December 06, 2009 | url

Bears football?

Thanks for the comment David.

I'm not sure what the fascination is with "Bears" football. This league has become a passing league, period, and the Bears need to adapt to that.

Plus, the fact remains, they can't run the ball. Maybe when they get a line that can block and defense that can make a stop, then they can go back to that formula that was successful a couple of years ago.

This team, led by Lovie Smith, continues to label themselves a running team first, but here's the problem, they haven't made the playoffs since 2006!!

Lovie's formula isn't working.

rexjaybels , December 06, 2009 | url

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