“Black Monday” is no joke around the NFL…no one is safe and that included Bears coach Lovie Smith who was with the team for 9 seasons. Many (including myself) were shocked that he got the boot.
So what does the Bears QB and other players think about the firing?! You might be surprised to hear what Cutler had to say…
According to Dan Hanzus at NFL.com:
When Jay Cutler learned his coach, Lovie Smith, had been fired Monday, the Chicago Bearsquarterback said he was “surprised” and “shocked.” He also said “change isn’t always a bad thing,” according to the Chicago Tribune.
Those aren’t exactly words of deep support for Smith, but if you expected schmaltz and sentimentality, go talk to Devin Hester. Jay Cutler is a different bird.
The Bears finished 28th in the NFL in offense this season and perpetually have been an offensive bottom-dweller during Cutler’s four years in Chicago. Cutler admitted to feeling like he let down Smith.
“Absolutely,” Cutler said. “I take a lot of pride in the way I play, and offensively, we didn’t show up in the last four years for him, and a lot of that blameâs going to be on me. As soon as I heard he was fired, there was instant regret in what we could have done and what we should have done.”
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Devin Hester & Brian Urlacher Reactions via ESPN:
Bears receiver Devin Hester was so emotional after hearing the news that he talked about retiring.
“I don’t even know if I want to play again,” Hester said. “That’s been something on my mind for two years.”
Brian Urlacher has been one of Smith’s strongest defenders and said Monday he was “shocked” by the news.
“You win 10 games … we didn’t finish up the way we wanted to. We didn’t get in the p layoffs,” he said on “The Waddle & Silvy Show” on ESPN 1000. “We still won 10 games and had a chance to get in yesterday if Green Bay beats Minnesota. …. They didn’t. Now you’re out.
“It’s just tough for me to really figure out right now. But Lovie is a great coach and I’m sure he’ll get hired pretty quick. No one could do with this team what he’s done the last nine years. We went to the Super Bowl, we didn’t win, we went.”
