Bears linebacker Brian Urlacher said today that the comments he made to Yahoo! Sports regarding his teammates were not meant to be derogatory.
The injured linebacker watched Sunday's Bears-Vikings game with reporter Michael Silver and had this to say about quarterback 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. 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.''
Urlacher clarified his comments during a phone interview with the Tribune.
"I'm not taking a shot at Jay. I'm not one bit taking a shot at Jay,'' Urlacher said. "He throws it better, right? And we haven't tried to run the ball as much. That's true.
"But Kyle has won games. His formula works. So I'm not taking a shot at Jay or Kyle.''
Urlacher said he doesn't feel the need to clear the air with Cutler.
"I do like Jay,'' he said. "He's a cool dude. But the way things are going right now, anything you say that appears to be derogatory, they're going to run with it. That's for damn sure.
"People are going to think I'm taking shots at my teammates, but I'm not. The guys that have been around here and have played with me would know my tone of voice when I'm saying that (stuff). I don't feel like I said anything bad about Jay.''
Also in the Yahoo! Sports story, Urlacher had this to say after running back Matt Forte was stuffed on a screen pass:
"You know why that doesn't work? We don't make anyone [expletive] miss. I guess I just don't realize what great tacklers these [opposing defenders] are. They're amazing."
Urlacher said he was not criticizing Forte's ability.
"Minnesota's a good-tackling team, and they were up on our receivers pressing all game along,'' Urlacher said. "They never backed off. That's all I was saying.''
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Let's see the bears track record for making good decisions when it comes to quarterbacks and runningbacks.
Rick Meier
Cordell Stewert
Henry Burress
Cade McNown
Rex Grossman
RB
Curtis Enis
Trade Thomas Johns so
Cedric Benson would feel more comfortable and less threatened by a good back
So maybe Brian was just saying what we should have figured out - The Bears can't judge talent when it comes to the future of the Team at the position of QB. I think Jay will probably be added to the list above.
Well what your referring to is the definition of insanity. If the bears want to fix the problem then you have to change what your doing and start rebuilding the offense. Your ignorant if you don't think major changes are coming. I wouldn't discount the rumors that the bears are guaging interest in a few coaches already. Everyone said there was no way the bears would get cutler and they did. You can't get rid of turner and think that's going to fix the problem. You have to blow up both sides of the ball and get new blood on both sides. No more special teamers no more guys you think you can coach up. You have to start getting it right on both sides. This front office will make the changes and we will have the premier coach we need next season to get this team headed in the right direction. There is no way this organization is going to want to risk a back to back season like this.
I believe his comments mightve been a bit misinterperted.. dont think the guy was doggin Cutler. I tink he was simply saying the system we had in play with orton was working we should try it with cutler.Cutler airing it out is great but we need a number 1 reciever chris Chambers, Marvin HArrison, a vet than can teach our guys to be number one and run routes correctly..If forte cant handle the running game lets see what Blle can do. At this point in the season i rather loose the rest of the season with bell than just hammer away with forte.Thats is not working...its not working the only thing that works with forte is the screen pass..thats it.I think forte is a great running back but hes to small to run behind a week line..Urlacher shoulve kept shut but i really think there blowng this out the water..The Bears dont need anyother distractions we suck and we need to get better
It’s AMAZING how fickle people are, these same people who were complaining about the Bears inability to come back in games when Kyle was under center are the same people who are saying they want Kyle back. The only game Kyle may have won that Cutler didn’t would have been the 49ers game. Kyle would have never won any of the games where the defense didn’t show up. We have an inept collection of WRs to go with a predictable Offensive Coordinator. I have seen more wrinkles in a brand new pair of shoes than I’ve seen in the offensive play calling of Turner. If me sitting at home watching the game with only playing a little college football can call the plays that the Bears are going to run how easy it must be for a Defensive Coordinator… Next year when we get a new coaching staff in here, I would like for everyone who wants Jay Cutler gone to not be the fickle people you are and jump on the wagon when he’s winning games and making plays…
Gavin
To all of you who think they can fix the Bears by getting rid of the existing players and signing free agents, not going to happen. Go through the roster and look at all the guys signed through 2010 and beyond. Probably 90 percent of the roster. They just signed three worthless offensive linemen to 2-3 year contracts and you want them to go out and sign some more junk? The Bears organization will make one coaching change next year: Ron Turner. Nobody else is leaving in management and none of the players are going anywhere. The Bears cannot afford to let these people go from a business perspective, salary cap of no salary cap in 2010. They are too cheap to do it so we are all stuck with this situation for several years to come. For those who do not think Urlacher would have made any difference, go get your head examined.
Two words:
Plaxico Burress
Two more words:
Terrell Owens
This Chicago Bear team couldn't beat a high school team in the Chicago Prep Bowl. They simply stink, from the gay, NFL coach, who put's players on his team, because he thinks they are handsome, and not because they are real football players. The Chicago Bears Defense is obsolete, because anyone can throw for over 300 yards against the Cover 2 Defense, because all you have to do is throw over the middle for 40 yards. This is why the Bears lost the Superbowl, to Peyton Manning, and the Colts. Fire Lovie Smith, and his entire coaching staff, especially the Offensive Coordiantor and Line coaches. As for Brian Urlacher, he was always the "Great White Hope," but was never a true middle linebacker, who could meet a runner head on, so the Bears need to trade Brian Urlacher for a number one Draft Pick, in the 2010 Draft.
I think whoever the gm or coach is for this team next year. You have to make some major
moves with some of the players you have on this team right now. First of all you have to get Hester returning kick offs again. You can't take away our mist dangerous threat and not have him returning kicks, but I think you have to look at who our most valuable players are other then cutler, and guage what their trade value would be. I would say you start with hester and urlacher. Find out what you could get out of Tommie Harris and Alex Brown or lance Briggs.I would hate to see these guys go, but you have to blow this thing up. You have to get new blood on this team on both sides of the ball. The Bears are going to have to be major players in the free agent market. It's obvious now ogunleye and vasher as well as pace will not be back. That should free up a lot more cap space to be major players in the free agent market. Let's hope we get a cowher or shanahan next season and the make these moves which im sure they will. Regardless though our OL needs a major overhaul with top tier OL not backups like we did last year or guys with nothing left in their tank. The second priority is to get a true number one WR and then this team can focus on defense and bring a at least two top tier guys on defense. This team has to build an offense around jay no questions about it. This team needs an offensive minded coach a true genious to run this team on offense. The defense can rebound with a few good moves to help them, but on the offensive side if the ball. We need a lot moves to be made on OL
and WR position as well as RB.
What has Url done with all the money he got? what has he done since 2006? NADA! So how about a `nice cup of shut the f up' Url. Url has to be the loudest big mouth player - Url! did you ever hear the phrse `Don't dis a teammate in the media' ??? Url really needs to go, we overpaid him now he's not even playing and hurting the team.
And for all you Jay Haters, name me 1 ProBowler on this team. ok, too easy, now name me 1 No. 1 WR on this team? Doh 0 again, ok...how many of our Olinemen would be starters on a good NFL team? try 0 again...
TEAM, We have no team, we do have a QB but no team.
Loser at Vandy. Loser in Denver. Loser in Chicago.
"Franchise " quarterbacks make the guys around them better.
Jay Cutler makes the guys around him worse.
Hey you bears fans...you live in the world of 1990's football.... We will give you back Orton in a second for Jay...you should feel proud to have him.... oh yeah...you still listen to a washed up linebacker....
Urlacher is washed up and a classless JERK! "run the ball and let the defense win the game"? Are you kidding me?!?
Mr. Urlacher...the Bears cannot run the ball and their defense looks like the Polish cavalry fighting German Panzers in WWII. WAKE UP, moron!
The Bears are imploding from within now. Papa Bear weeps.
Roby,
Your right on thinking Brian should be shopped, and thats the unfortunate side of NFL as a business, little or no loyalty. The real shame will come when that action will be construed as punishment for speaking out against the franchise savior jay, and maybe it will be, who knows.
I do know that Brian has forgotten more about how to play football in Chicago then baby jay will ever know. He has more heart, passion and desire in his little finger than cutler will ever posses.
If I had to build a new team in Chicago and had the choice to start with either Brian or Jay, it would be Brian 100 out of 100 times.
I appreciate all Brian Urlacher has done for the Bears. It has been a real pleasure to watch him play. In all fairness to the TEAM we should trade him now while he still has some value and land some good young players and picks. Last season was not exactly his best and this one? I'm not sure even mighty Brian could make much difference.
We need to rebuild folks-
Congratulations Urlacher! He knows the difference between potential and a winner.
i agree brian but why didnt you go there to cheer your teamates instead of sitting on your butt at a party?
"mikemo on November 30, 2009 4:09 PM
Brian: Why NOT criticize Never apologize for being right. Cutler is a punk.!!!
Dont back off.. Say it as it is.. Orton is more accurate and the players liked him alot more than Cutler .. Cutler is a spoiled brat.. Ask Denver.. They stole the trade and will be good for years to come with all the hight 1st round draft choices the bears gave them."
mikemo...it was only one first round pick for the next nfl draft. I believe there is also one more for second or third round I can't remember.
"This team has been about running and defense the last 2 years with Orton at QB and had a 16-16 record to show for it, how dare they change that winning formula!"
Nah, were much better off with a guy who has a career record well below .500. In fact, lets bank the next 5 years on it and give up our future for a guy who has never won at any level, who has never been to a playoff game, who is only known for his mouth, his attitude, his arm and his turnovers. Great recipe! whohooooo!
Criticizing TEAMMATES at a party. Even if you feel that way, a GOOD teammate keeps it to himself!
Real classy Brian!
Is Urlacher right to criticize Cutler and Forte? Absolutely. What we've discovered is that Cutler isn't nearly as good as we hoped him to be. Of course, with all the problems that the offense has it's hard to think he's as bad as he's playing right now. No o-line, no running game, no top notch receivers... not a lot of quarterbacks are going to excel with that formula. Perhaps many would have been happy barely missing the playoffs for the indefinite future with Orton (we can let the over-anxious Denver fans tells us about that). I think we had to have more than a game manager at quarterback, and Cutler can be that. The question is whether or not we can get his game improved and the personnel around him to make that happen.
For all of you congratulating Urlacher for his honesty, don't sprain your shoulders patting him on the back just yet. It's shocking that he hung the offense out to dry when the defense has been a total joke this year. If he were honest he'd point out that Cutler wouldn't be forcing nearly as many balls if the Bears could make a defensive stop once is a while. Remember the terrible running game the AZ Cardinals brought to town? Yeah, they torched our defense on the ground. If someone can explain how that's Cutler's fault I'd love to hear it. What's even worse about Urlacher selling out the offense while being conspicuously silent about the defense is that he did this all from the bench. Right now the only thing Urlacher is for the Bears is an overpaid cheerleader, and he sucks at that too.
Brian: Why NOT criticize Never apologize for being right. Cutler is a punk.!!!
Dont back off.. Say it as it is.. Orton is more accurate and the players liked him alot more than Cutler .. Cutler is a spoiled brat.. Ask Denver.. They stole the trade and will be good for years to come with all the hight 1st round draft choices the bears gave them.. Ask Dungy about Cutler. He might become good.. But his stats in wins and losses is terrible.. Brian the braes didnt sign the free safety Mike
brown.(player of the week 2 weeks ago.. He tackled like football players should, I loved him and the bears made another bad move and didnt sign him .. Mcgowan was good and they let him go and kept Vasher who could tackle my mother. THe bears are just bad in accessing talent .!!!!!!
Urlacher's right! If Orton were still here, the Bears would be better, both at defense and at running the football! The defense was poised to have a big year before they made that stupid trade for a QB! Matt Forte was about to become a superstar but the QB has slowed him down. Didn't you see the way Orton would help push Forte through the hole last year? Now Cutler just gets in his way and slows him down. This team has been about running and defense the last 2 years with Orton at QB and had a 16-16 record to show for it, how dare they change that winning formula!
Yup, even the hardest of hard-core cutler fans would have to admit, we are a better team without him. Put an average QB behind our hideous line and we still win more games. With the ability to win games by yourself comes the unwanted and not-nearly-discussed-enough ability to lose games by yourself, and jay at this point in his career has certainly mastered that. He is a one man team-chemistry wrecking crew who only cares about himself and his stats, doesn't give a s**t about team victories.
IT'S TIME FOR CHANGE. FROM PRESIDENT TO VICE-PRESIDENT TO HEAD COACH!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Urlacher you should learn not to say anything about your defense. That defense you play in has not made the playoffs in 3 years and soon to be four. Please spare us the stupidity that you just spewed. The only reason the players stand up for Lovie Dovie is because he is an easy coach to play for. It is very evident that that is the case. With the exception of a few and the QB is one of the few...this team lacks physical and mental toughness and that is a direct reflection of your coach Brian. Maybe it's to easy to play for him. He's not tough enough on any of you. Some of the bone headed plays I see would have Cowher or Holmgren or Shanahan frothing at the mouth ready to take some ones head off or at the very least cut that player by the next day. Your coaches system does not work. I hope somehow they can trade you now to.
"if you have learned nothing about Chicago by this point, let me help you out, never tell the people the truth."
WTF are you talking about? Urlacher said the Bears should be running more and rely on their defense to make plays. You think that is the truth? Those two areas are the two biggest weaknesses in the team - both are absolutely horrible. Urlacher still thinks its 2006.
Meant to write with a full set of draft picks.
This is why Mike Brown is missed. This guy was a true leader. If he felt like he needed to call a team out he did. There was no retractions, no saying the media twisted his words. He called it like he saw it.
Cutler has stunk this year I will not defend him on that but for all those that bash him my question is. Do you think he is the sole reason why we are a bad team this year? Do you not recognize that along with Culter's bad play that there are other reasons why this team is bad?
What's needed is Phillips, Angelo, Lovie and company to go. Keep the spec. teams coach. Then pick a stud WR, improve both lines, add a MLB in the draft, get a shutdown corner and a RB to push Forte because he plays as uninspired as his head coach looks.
This all can't be done in 1 year with a pull set of draft picks. We are looking at least 2 more seasons that we fans will continue to suffer.
"Urlacker or I mean Urlel Your Washed up Biatch Keep you mouth shut an pack up an roll out punk an take you coat tail ridding brother with yea. You two are like the Landon Twins little Bitches ."
I tried to read this using Google's language interpreter, but even it doesn't understand stupid.
Someone had to do it. Apparently Brian isn't buying the endless list of excuses. Glad someone in the organization isn't coddling the franchise QB, certainly isn't the coaches.
BTW, for those Cutler apologists, with very few exceptions and I mean very few, an interception IS the QB's fault. How can anyone in their right mind suggest that half are not?
Trade Urlacher for some picks. He's on the decline and we aren't going anywhere in the next couple of years. Yeah, we might be better..maybe 6-5 with him, but that ain't gonna cut it w/Minnesota, Green Bay and the Lions getting better. Says something about Lovie though-everyone else in the division is getting better while we are getting progressively worse. The only way to turn things around is change management, philosophy and attitudes...see Vikings, Packers, Bengals, Atlanta and Miami (Parcells before/after)...
Wow ... What a difference a series of regular games makes ... :-)
Expectations for Cutler were too high. This is his first season with these receivers,who 3e pedistrian receivers at best. One half on Cutler's interceptions are on the receivers cutting off routes, popping balls in the air, etc.
No protection from the o-line causing Cutler to throw early, off-balance, etc ... So the other half are on Cutler.
O-line issues are affecting the running game which is non-existent, which affects the passaing game.
Bears offense is not good and the blame is not only Cutler.
Wow ... What a difference a series of regular games makes ... :-)
Expectations for Cutler were too high. This is his first season with these receivers,who 3e pedistrian receivers at best. One half on Cutler's interceptions are on the receivers cutting off routes, popping balls in the air, etc.
No protection from the o-line causing Cutler to throw early, off-balance, etc ... So the other half are on Cutler.
O-line issues are affecting the running game which is non-existent, which affects the passaing game.
Bears offense is not good and the blame is not only Cutler.
Urlacher can not grasp the fact that the Bears defense is on a rapid decline and the organization has no chance of competing with a run, run, pass for two yards mentality.
Offensive line is pathetic....No QB in the league can stand behind this line and offensive play calling and be sucessful. Start from scratch with Cutler. When was the last game Urlacher was a factor???
If Urlacher hadn't held the Bears' front office hostage for an unwarranted extension and raise, the offensive line might not have to be rebuilt around a legend that had to be talked out of retirement (Pace). If he has to stick around, Urlacher should return to his policy of clamming up around the media.
Johnny Milburn----
Thank you for having a clue, I couldn't agree with you more.
Yes, Cutler has made some bad decisions. But, the real problem is with the coaching staff. Turner wants to throw the ball on every down. They have no offensive line. Their defense is one of the worse in the league with an idiot head coach that thinks that it is okay to single cover Larry Fitzgerald with Antoine Bolden out. And most of all, a coaching staff is suppose to develop players. That means when you have quarterback that is struggling, you are suppose to have a coaching staff that can help him on his mechanics and decision making. And Hester would probably be a top number one receiver with another coaching staff that knew how to develop players. There is absolutely no doubt in my mind that Kyle Orton would be struggling on this team just as much or more that Cutler has with this coaching staff and lack of an offensive line. Kyle has a 10 times better offensive line, 10 times better receivers, and 100 times better coaching staff. Cutler would have been doing just as well or better then Orton if he were with the Broncos right now.
Since he apparently has all the answers why doesn't Urlacher tell us what's wrong with the defense?
Jay Cutler's next playoff game will be his first.
Four, I guess now at least five, years into his not so stellar career and this guy hasn't even PLAYED in a playoff game, much less won one of them. I can't believe the Bears are already officially eliminated from the playoffs with 5 games to go in the season.
I guess I shouldn't have listened to all the experts that thought Jay Cutler would take this team over the top. He is VERY AVERAGE. Makes good plays, makes bad plays, but most of all, HE IS NOT A WINNER.
Why does Ulracher keep retracting his comments - we know this is how he feels. A lot of us feel the same way, JUST SAY IT!
How much money did we give to Cutler?
I would think the so called experts that comment on this page would be a little more intelligent about football. Cutler has played awful, but you have to ask yourself why? Is it to
do with the inability of the OL to protect him? Yes! Is it the inability to run the ball this year? Yes! Has the defense gotten slow and outdated on their coverages? Yes! Do the bears have depth on defense and offense? No! Is this coaching staff calling the right plays on offense or defense? No! Has the coaching staff caused the players on this roster to regress? Yes! Has the play of this team on both sides of the ball exposed how bad this team really is? Yes!
The only thing I can see as a solution without totally anarchy for
next season, is to make a change with this coaching staff for next season. You have to over haul the defense and offense. Number one priority is to fix the OL and bring in top tier lineman. You have to bring in a number one WR no questions asked. Brandon Marshall should be the top priority at WR and Boldin would be number two if Brandon is not available. This team will have the cap space to over the offense and bring in a few free agents on defense. Since we have no picks until the third round this team has to do do something it rarely does, and that's be a major play in the free agent market.
Urlacher = Idiot. Ok, run the ball. It doesn't matter, our defense is the worse ever. Against three teams who can run *and* pass (AZ, Cin, Minn), our defense is so bad, words cannot describe. Our defense gets pushed around like little girls. Even Farve said it after the game "It (Bears def) doesn't look the same", and "They do nothing exotic".. (interpretation - coaches (Lovie) are as predictable as where the sun comes up.). Urlacher is stupid. Orton would be 0-11 with this defense.
Thank you Urlacher, now go screw yourself. Cutler is a good QB. The reason is that the offense line and WR stink. Defense stink. Plain and simple. If Cutler had the protection Favre had no one would complaining right now.
BEEP BEEP BEEP, ok Brian... back 'er up... BEEP BEEP BEEP
I am not a doctor, but every time I look at Cutler's eyes coming off the field, especially in the second half, he looks like he is hypoglycemic. I hope they are giving him some extra glucose and monitoring his blood glucose levels during the game.
Bears in 2016 you are wrong about Cutler. It doesn't take a genius to figure out that Cutler has no talent around him. He has no offensive line, no running game, no wide receivers and a dumbass for a offensive coordinator. So no Cutler doesn' Blow. Blame the coaches for making Cutler the way he is. Cutler was a pro bowl QB, he sucks here because the team sucks. And every Bear fan that said we were going to the Super Bowl were morons. It takes time to get used to a system. So please, keep your comments to yourself and stop judging someone based a year of football. its the coaches not Cutler.
from one simpleton to another... who are you crapping.