I get that Jay Cutler is not the most well liked dude in the NFL. I get that everyone says he needs a strong dose of Dale Carnegie to shore up his people skills, that a trapped animal is not as surly and that his work habits always belie his God given skills and that is a tragedy. But, I am going to take the unpopular position of defending the guy based on the notion that we as sports and NFL fans have our sensibilities all F***** up.
Item- Michael Vick- killed and tortured dogs, did prison time, found a mentor in Tony Dungy, came back this year and excelled on the field and what do you know? He became the poster child for the healing power and redemptive quality of sports and a gleaming example of how the U.S. penal system can turn young, successful multimillionaires around. Vick did his time, I have no quarrel with that and I sincerely hope he has a long, prosperous career but he still committed the crimes for which he was incarcerated.
Item- Ben Roethlisberger- no one is sure what, but something criminal or damn close to it happened in that bar in Georgia. Was it lack of witnesses or local authorities who thought it best that the whole thing go away? We may never know how close Big Ben likely came to watching his team behind bars. NFL boss Goodell originally thought 6 games, then 4 on the sidelines for violating personal conduct rules was suitable even though no criminal charges were laid, an open admission that Roethlisberger did something he shouldn't have. And now? Deification of the highest degree after his performance Sunday, praise and plaudits for this unique and truly gifted gridiron God.
Item- Jay Cutler led his team to the second seed in the NFC and a trip to the Conference finals. Never killed a dog this year to my knowledge, never sexually assaulted a girl to my knowledge but wait...that yellow son of a bitch tore his MCL Sunday and had the stones not to appear in pain on the sidelines, wouldn't even help poor Caleb Hanie look at the polaroids. Wow, if ever a guy deserved the vicious tweets of his NFL brethren past and present its this guy...Can you imagine? Dogs and chicks be damned, this is serious.... grab the pitchforks and torches, monster of the midway indeed!
What does this say about our sensibilities as fans and the hero culture we create when criminals, convicted and otherwise earn our fawning praise and a guy who rips apart his knee our bitter contempt? Yes, Cutler is a jerk- likely. Never met the man but the NFL media tells me so, and God knows they are never wrong. So, because of that he deserves the venom poured all over him Sunday. I feel for this guy and know enough about sports to realize this: If he was faking, his career is over. Not a locker room in the land that would have him. So grow up...lets keep some perspective and recognize Cutler's only crime was possibly, possibly violating the code of "playing through it". Think the media, the tweeters and the fans who are enraged look downright juvenile on this one. It won't change anything, its a cultural thing and in this case, the culture is dead wrong.
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