Former Buffalo Bills Linebacker London Fletcher took some shots this morning at quarterback Jay Cutler on his NFL Sunday morning talk show. On “TOPS: That Other Pregame Show” on CBS Sports Network, Fletcher says Cutler’s Chicago Bears teammates really don’t like him. He also pointed how Cutler just doesn’t care and that his arrogance and attitude rubs people the wrong way.
Not good qualities to have in a supposed team leader; especially one who is the highest paid player in the NFL this year, at $22.5 million, or $1.4 million per game.
The transcript:
(On Chicago Bears Quarterback Jay Cutler)
LONDON FLETCHER: I like the Bears. (Jay) Cutler just needs to protect the football a lot better. He’s a gunslinger. He just doesn’t care. And then you see his attitude and that rubs you the wrong way… He has a different type of arrogance and different vibe… If you saw when Cutler (would get) sacked, guys (would) not run to pick him up. Because the offensive line, they don’t really like Cutler. He just rubs you the wrong way. He throws interceptions. (When we played the Chicago Bears once), DeAngelo Hall picked him off four times. (Cutler’s) attitude was, ‘I’ll go right back at him again.’ Dude, you just threw four interceptions. Come on man. Get a grip.
(related: Bears vs 49ers game preview and prediction)
The video:
Well, we know Jay Cutler doesn’t care; that’s been well established.
However, does he have an arrogant attitude? That’s in the eye of the beholder. Although bartenders that have served him might agree with Fletcher.
Do his teammates not like him? You’ll have to ask the men in the Chicago Bears locker room themselves.
You’ll have to ask off the record of course, to get a straight answer. Since Jay Cutler makes a million dollars more than anybody else (Matt Ryan of the Atlanta Falcons is second at $21.5 million) in the NFL this season, it’s bound to inspire some resentment.
Not just from teammates and opposing players, but possibly from former players too. Here’s what the most prominent members of the national media covering the NFL had to say about Cutler being the highest paid player in the league, and how he can live up to that.
Like Boomer Esiason said, this is “a no excuses season” for Jay Cutler, as they surrounded him with everything he needs. And like Greg Gumbel said, if Cutler could just win, it would be enough to win over Chicago; no matter what people thought of his personality.
NFL Network’s Michael Irvin and Brian Billick on the other hand, believe that Cutler will be MVP this year. With his team’s run defense being so bad though, it might not matter what Cutler does. Here’s Deion Sanders and Bill Cowher analyzing the team’s ineptitude in that department.
Paul M. Banks owns, operates and sometimes writes The Sports Bank.net, which is partners with Fox Sports and Yahoo. Read his features stories in the Chicago Tribune RedEye edition. Listen to him on 1620 The Zone. Follow him on Twitter (@paulmbanks) His work has been featured in hundreds of media outlets including The Washington Post and ESPN2.