Optimism, Denial Among Bears Fans After Cutler's Injury
UPDATED 11/21/11 7:31 a.m.
CHICAGO (CBS) -- Fans are reacting to the news of Bears quarterback Jay Cutler's broken thumb, which could leave him out for the rest of the season.
As CBS 2's Susanna Song reports, on Monday morning, most fans were staying optimistic, saying the Bears can pull it together and beat the Oakland Raiders next week, with or without Cutler.
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But others were still in denial, saying they don't even believe that Cutler broke his thumb on his throwing hand.
"I want to hear one of the players; one of the coaching staff. I want to hear one of the PR directors come out and say something, and then I can go with that," one fan told 670 The Score.
"Jay Cutler is not the type that would sit out over something that I can play with," another fan said. "All I can say is a ligament is a different story, but if it's anything other than that, it's minor, so I don't see him sitting out."
Therese Kunach of the White Palace Grill was accepting of the seriousness of Cutler's injury, but thought the Bears would persevere.
"They're a pretty good team, and hopefully they'll stick together and do what they do, and show what they can do without him," Kunach said, adding that backup quarterback Caleb Hanie has "probably been waiting for this."
Other fans were nervous, or even resigned.
Aaron Bensinger was wearing his orange Bears Brian Urlacher sweatshirt Monday morning. He said his wife is more nervous than he is.
"It's definitely going to be very interesting here," he said. "Not so much me, but the old lady that's a little nervous this morning. She hasn't woken up yet, but she knows about it. She went to bed with a sigh on her face, let me put it to you that way. We'll see how Hanie does, though. Cross your fingers on that one."
But another fan said simply, "We're screwed."
Cutler apparently broke his thumb while chasing down the San Diego Chargers' Antoine Cason after a fourth quarter interception. He slowed the defensive back up enough for Matt Forte to shove him out of bounds saving a touchdown.
The Bears won the game 31-20 Sunday.
