Chicago Bears fans were understandably frustrated after their team lost to the Green Bay Packers on Sunday for the second time this season. At the time being, the Bears are on the outside looking in at the NFC playoff picture. They got off to a 7-1 start this year before losing five out of their last six. During their loss to Green Bay, the boos began raining down at Soldier Field.
In addition, some critics are calling for head coach Lovie Smith to be replaced. Brian Urlacher finds this to be ridiculous.
“Our crowd was pretty good today for the most part,” Urlacher said Sunday during his weekly appearance on Fox Chicago. “They were loud for a minute there. The boos were really loud, which is always nice. The only team in our division to get booed at home is us. It’s unbelievable to me.
“It’s not going to change. If we talk about it, then the media says, ‘You’re blaming the fans for losing. You’re doing this. You’re blaming the refs for losing.’ We lost that football game. Every football game we play in, we lose, it’s nobody’s fault but ours, but we’re allowed to say what we want.”
Urlacher was obviously speaking with sarcasm and frustration. Most players spend time talking about how their team has the best fans in the nation, but the 13-year veteran sounds like he has had enough of the criticism that comes with a big market like Chicago.
“Two of the people I don’t care about, fans or the media,” Urlacher said. “They can say what they want to about our head coach, about our players. It does bother me because those people don’t know what they’re talking about, obviously.
“I know there are a bunch of experts in the media, and there are a bunch of smart guys out there who know exactly what they’re talking about all the time. But they don’t know what they’re talking about.”
Jay Cutler knows what it’s like to get frustrated with Bears fans, but that’s what happens when you play for a franchise that has a storied history like the one Chicago has. Perhaps the problems this season stem from injuries like the one to Urlacher. Maybe Cutler’s play has been too inconsistent. Maybe the coaching has been an issue.
In reality, the Bears’ recent struggles have probably been caused by a combination of things. If players want to stop hearing negative things from fans and the media, they have to win some games. When you lose five out of six — including two to your biggest rival — everyone needs to be held accountable.
Also see:
Brian Urlacher: If the fans can say whatever they want, why can’t we?
