The guys take a look back at Week 11. With the news of Jay Cutler’s broken thumb breaking, Steven begins to question the toughness of the Bears QB, however Jeff continues to give Jay the benefit of the doubt. Steven proceeds to compare Jay Cutler to the London Eye. The Benglas/Ravens game leaves Steven to question, “What is a touchdown in the NFL?” since Jermaine Gresham’s catch in the endzone was over-turned on a significantly questionable call leaving Steven to say that might have cost the Bengals the game.
In recapping the games, the guys think the Jets and Bills are both in serious trouble after dropping to 5-5. Jeff would like for both wild card teams in the AFC to come out of the AFC North, while Steven thinks both the AFC and NFC playoff spots are wide open. Steven clamors for the 49ers to be bumped up to Gold status, but Jeff is sticking to his guns that nobody can compete with the Packers this year.
Finally, with the Bills getting blown out by the Dolphins, Jeff has built up a seven game lead in the Challenge Game prompting even Steven to agree that he has little chance of catching up. Jeff’s magic number is now at two – meaning two more wins in the Challenge Game and Steven will not be able to catch him this season.
I am fans of you guys and enjoy listening to your ramblings on the podcast. But your comments on Jay Cutler are way out of line. First, he tried to make a tackle, unlike Stafford or Manning, and he still gets questioned about his toughness. He finished the game with a broken thumb, and he still gets questioned about his toughness. He doesn’t whinge about the injury to his teammates nor the media immediately after the game, and he still gets questioned about his toughness. He has been sacked more than anyone in the past two plus years, plays most games, and he still gets questioned about his toughness.
You compare Jay to Big Ben because you are assuming that all thumb injuries are the same. So, you make the gleeful, intangible suggestion that the reason Ben is playing and Jay is not is because Ben is “tougher” than Jay. Ben’s thumb is broken near the tip of his bone. It’s painful, but does not affect his grip on the football. Jay’s thumb is broken on/near the base joint of his thumb. This significantly effects the quarterback’s grip, especially the longer it is left untreated. Why don’t you find out the nature of the injury before being so willing to display your own easy, lazy opinion about a player that you can’t wait to jump on anyway?
I have a proposal. Since it is clear Steven is going to lose the challenge game, here is what I think the humiliation should be. First, Steven should go to Halas Hall and ask Lovie during a press conference, “Coach, are you disappointed Jay Cutler has not being tough enough when the team is on the threshold of a championship?” Then, Steven should suit up in pads during a full-pad, full-contact practice and perform as the scout QB. Sounds good, eh Jeff?
I concur with Lance. In today’s Chicago Trib, they pointed out several doctors were questioned about the thumb injury, and Ben and Jay breaks were 2 totally different injuries. Also, my physical therapist said when surgery is required on the thumb, it’s because a major artery runs along the bone in the thumb, and there is concern that said bone is not stable and has a chance of puncturing the artery. Just reeling you back in Steven.
Oh my. This Challenge Game thing isn’t even fun anymore! It’s like watching Rocky II, and Steven is Apollo Creed, practically knocked out but still on his feet. Steven’s throwing the punches, but missing, and Jeff is Ivan Drago just teeing off Apollo’s dome. I’ll be Rocky, I’m throwing the towel in before its too late!!!
Jeff, your comments about the end of the Rex Ryan era in New York seem very reactionary considering the success he has had there in the past two seasons. Ryan is a coach you’ll either like or love but he is unarguably an entertainment factor for the Jets organisation and we’ve seen the ups and downs of that with all the prediction nonsense but also in the way he inspires his players. From a fans perspective Rex Ryan seems to be getting the job done and the Jets need some stability at the head coach position with relatively high turnover in the past two decades. I’m not about to say Rex Ryan is likely to have a tenure similar to Belichick or Reid but it certainly would have to be a bad season for Woody Johnson to get rid of him and Mike Tannenbaum, and missing the play-offs wouldn’t be a disaster.
A likely third winning season in three years won’t lead to changes within the organisation.