http://www.chicagobreakingsports.com/2011/...-criticism.html

 

Staff report

 

Nearly a week after the Bears' heartbreaking loss to the Green Bay Packers, Pro-Bowl linebacker Brian Urlacher is still baffled by the criticism of quarterback Jay Cutler by current and former players.

 

Urlacher, appearing Friday morning on the WMVP-AM 1000's "Waddle & Silvy Show," said the shots on Twitter from the likes of the Jacksonville Jaguars' Maurice Jones Drew "pissed" him off.

"Anyone who knows Jay and has played with Jay and seen the hits he's taken in his career knows he's not a sissy. He's a tough guy. He goes out there every day and doesn't say anything about what's going on, just practices and plays and goes about his business. It really frustrated me. I didn't think it was warranted, but that's just the way -- with all the social networking now -- it's the way things go."

 

Photo: Brian Urlacher has a word with Aaron Rodgers during the third quarter of the NFC Championship Game. (Jose M. Osorio/Tribune)

"I think they are going off his body language, which to me doesn't matter anyway. He was probably frustrated he wasn't in the game.

 

"As a player, I personally try not to take shots at other players publicly. Sometimes it's hard to do that."

 

Other highlights from the interview:

 

• Urlacher is not rooting for the Green Bay Packers in the Super Bowl:

 

"Hell no I'm not rooting for the Packers in the Super Bowl. I have a ton of respect for that organization and the head coach, but I don't want them to win the Super Bowl. They're in our division, I want them to lose."

 

• Urlacher said he wants the Bears to sign coach Lovie Smith to an extension:

 

"He treats us like men. If we do the right things -- you're on time, you show, which you should do, you're a professional football player -- he treats us like men. He gives us days off here and there. The way he acts. You know, he doesn't sell us out in the media, the media that gets on him for being more vocal, this and that. But we love it. That's kind of how we are, as well, and we get that from him. I don't want to play for anybody else and it think that's how the rest of our team feels as well.

 

• Did he think he was going to score after intercepting that Aaron Rodgers pass?

 

"I did. You know what I should've done is just run right at Aaron Rodgers. I should've tried to stiff-arm him or just try and out run him. He's fast; let me get that out there. He took a great angle. I didn't think I was going to get to the sideline. I didn't want to get pushed out of bounds because that's kind of the sissy way to go out. But I did the next best thing and let him tackle me in the open field.

 

"Here's what went through my mind: I caught the ball -- first i was happy I caught it. Then I was like, OK, there's receivers on the field; they're probably going to catch you from behind. So I knew (Donald) Driver was out there and (Greg) Jennings, so I've got that going through the back of my mind. I look at the jumbotron and I see Rodgers out there and I'm like crap, what am I going do? so i tried to make a little juke and then I was like, you know what, just hold on to the football and someone will tackle yoiu. I get nervous when I get the ball. I'm not going to lie."

http://www.chicagobreakingsports.com/2011/...-criticism.html

"you know what, just hold on to the football and someone will tackle yoiu. I get nervous when I get the ball. I'm not going to lie."

Haha. No problem Url. You're not a running back (though you did used to be the go to receiver on goal line formations in college...but whatever).

 

What he said really explains it well though. If you go at that situation with all that trepidation, you've already lost. Mentally you have to be excited about how you're going to school that bozo and have your mind in high gear. Negative mental distractions slow you down.

"He treats us like men. If we do the right things -- you're on time, you show, which you should do, you're a professional football player -- he treats us like men. He gives us days off here and there. The way he acts. You know, he doesn't sell us out in the media, the media that gets on him for being more vocal, this and that. But we love it. That's kind of how we are, as well, and we get that from him. I don't want to play for anybody else and it think that's how the rest of our team feels as well."

 

What this says to me is Lovie Smith will be extended and will coach for the Bears until Urlacher retires. If Smith goes, Url will follow.

 

Peace

"He treats us like men. If we do the right things -- you're on time, you show, which you should do, you're a professional football player -- he treats us like men. He gives us days off here and there. The way he acts. You know, he doesn't sell us out in the media, the media that gets on him for being more vocal, this and that. But we love it. That's kind of how we are, as well, and we get that from him. I don't want to play for anybody else and it think that's how the rest of our team feels as well."

 

What this says to me is Lovie Smith will be extended and will coach for the Bears until Urlacher retires. If Smith goes, Url will follow.

 

Peace

I can't see Url going anywhere regardless of who is at the helm. But to make sure he stays, I agree, Lovie will get extended.

I can't see Url going anywhere regardless of who is at the helm. But to make sure he stays, I agree, Lovie will get extended.

We've come a long way to even be caring where Url goes years down the road. I thought it was silly at the time, but it wasn't that long ago people were talking about trading him and how he was washed up at 31 or 32.

We've come a long way to even be caring where Url goes years down the road. I thought it was silly at the time, but it wasn't that long ago people were talking about trading him and how he was washed up at 31 or 32.

If he gets hurt next year, people will be right back to saying the same thing. If he stays healthy, I'll bet people will keep being amazed that he's still going.

"Hell no I'm not rooting for the Packers in the Super Bowl. I have a ton of respect for that organization and the head coach, but I don't want them to win the Super Bowl. They're in our division, I want them to lose." - Brian Urlacher

 

That is what I want to hear!!!!

Urlacher is my favorite player in the NFL and has been ever since he was drafted. He is the leader of this team and if he says something, it should be noted and given serious cred.

 

Obviously Cutler is a tough SOB...given the number of times he has been hit, he would have to be tough. I say if we get the OLine fixed and they can play with consistancy, Cutler will be an all pro QB. All he needs is a little time in the pocket, and he will get the job done.

 

Url says he want Lovie extended. Well, i am one of the biggest Lovie Smith haters (as a coach...i dont know him personnaly), but is he winning because he is a good coach, or is he winning in spite of himself. You cant really argue with the success, so i guess he deserves to stay. Also i think replacing the coaching staff forces us to start over...i dont think we can afford to do that right now as we need to just tweak this team.