Cutler: I'm Not Bothered By Critics
LAKE FOREST, Ill. (CBS) -- When Jay Cutler's name has come up in past comparisons of NFL quarterbacks, "never been to the playoffs" before was always mentioned; but that has never bothered Cutler.
"No it never bothered me," Cutler said Wednesday. "I am not the first quarterback that hasn't been to the playoffs in his first five years of his career and I won't be the last."
As CBS 2's Megan Mawicke reports, it also doesn't bother Cutler that he's often criticized for his body language and demeanor.
The national media descended on Halas Hall Wednesday to find out how many people really know who the real Jay Cutler is.
"I don't know," Cutler said. "You have to poll these guys; there is one, two people."
Why is that?
"Because they raised their hand," Cutler said.
So does he care how he's perceived by the public?
"I don't worry about it. I don't know what my public image is," Cutler said.
His teammates were quick to defend Cutler's personality.
"Jay is a good guy and he comes to work every day to work hard. A lot of guys get this perception of Jay as arrogant or whatever, but I think he is the opposite of that," said Bears running back Matt Forte.
"People form their opinions off of misinformation, but not one of his teammates cares about it or what people think of him. He is our leader and no one around here (Halas Hall) questions it." said Bears tight end Greg Olsen.
No one is going to care if Cutler is surly, prickly or Mr. Congenitally if he wins his playoff debut and leads the Bears to the NFC Championship game. But there is no doubt that Sunday's playoff game is a defining moment in Cutler's career.
