Jay Cutler in "The Injury and The Backlash"

We get spoiled by NFL players. We see these modern-day gladiators banging their heads into each other week after week. We see them dragging around broken ankles and legs and playing with a club hand. We're so used to seeing players sacrificing their bodies that when someone doesn't play with an injury, we're all taken aback.

The immediate reaction to Jay Cutler and the Bears coaching and medical staff's decision to sit out the second half of the NFC Championship game due to a knee injury cut deep. Cutler's toughness, mentality, desire, effort and body language were all called into question as soon as he didn't re-enter the game. With no specific play highlighted to account for the injury, it was easy for people to jump down Cutler's throat about not finishing the game.

In the NFL, we expect these guys to do whatever it takes to win the game. Seeing Cutler on the exercise bike for about five minutes and seeing him standing on the bum leg on the sidelines, people questioned what Cutler was all about.

Cutler's reputation took a hit

Lovie Smith confirmed Monday Cutler suffered a sprained MCL during the first half. Can we call Cutler's toughness into question now that we know what the injury he suffered? Should everyone have waited for the MRI before getting on their Twitter accounts and calling him out? The answer is no, to both.

Most would agree Cutler is tough. He's got to be playing QB in the NFL, behind that line, which gave up 57 sacks this year. But he's not "Favre-tough" or "Big Ben-tough." People are going to rush to judgement about Cutler because they know guys like Favre and Roethlisberger would still be out there, dragging that leg around, trying to make a play. That's Cutler's only fault. And no one knows, except Jay Cutler, how much pain was in that knee.

Smith also said it was his decision to pull Cutler. "He was hurt, he couldn't go, so we moved on." That sounds like a "Vince Young" to me. (def: The QB gets dinged after playing awful. He "tries" to give it a go but doesn't really want to go back in. The coach says enough is enough, this guy's not helping us today even if he is healthy. Let's put the next guy in, regardless of how awful he might be.) Maybe effectiveness played a role in the decision to sit him.

Which brings us to the Bears' back-up quarterback situation. Has to be worst in the NFL. Todd Collins has a chance to go legend and instead throws four incomplete passes before being pulled for emergency-QB Caleb Hanie. It would seem Cutler on one leg, having a bad day, would be more effective than Collins. Hanie did better than anyone could have hoped and actually made a game of it. Nice job by him, despite a couple ill-advised throws (B.J. Raji).

While watching the game Sunday, I was critical of Cutler, like so many others. I felt if he could stand, he should be out there. Only a broken leg should keep someone out of a game to go to the Super Bowl. But I've been spoiled watching the NFL. I've seen Phil Rivers play two games on a torn ACL and I said "If he can do it, why can't you?"

Each player and each injury is different, however. The backlash on Cutler went over-the-top but I understand why it happened. I won't label him a quitter but he's reputation will need some recovery. But unlike his sprained knee, it will take longer than three to four weeks.