JAY CUTLER NFL PLAYER | JAY CUTLER INJURY REACTIONS | TORN LIGAMENTS ? (VIDEO)

Jay Cutler on Sunday after he came under withering criticism from fans, analysts and even fellow players for having left an NFC title game loss to the Green Bay Packers with a knee injury.Bears coach Lovie Smith said there was no hesitation to pull Cutler after officials determined his knee was too sore to play.He appeared to grow agitated by repeated questions about Cutler's status."He hurt his knee, and he was out," Smith said. "There's nothing else for me to tell you on that."The Packers earned a berth in the Super Bowl with the 21-14 win.

Before exiting, Cutler was 6-for-14 for 80 yards with an INT. He was sacked twice.Cutler could not identify on which play he was hurt, and said he hoped surgery would not be needed.it is possible that questioning Jay Cutler's manhood could turn out to be premature. Not that Cutler has ever done anything to earn the benefit of the doubt, but an insider tells us the Bears are trying to sell that they were worried Cutler had torn knee ligaments.Hanie said Cutler gave him some advice on the sideline.

"He calmed me down a little bit, helped me out by saying 'Trust your line, trust your receivers, just go out and make throws. Don't try to do too much,'" Hanie said.Smith said Cutler was disappointed he could not continue."He was hurt, and he couldn't go,"

Smith said."Trainers, doctors and all, they are the ones who really made that decision. As far as Jay, he is like everyone else; he was disappointed he couldn't go out and play to help his team win."Smith grew agitated when asked again about Cutler not returning."He hurt his knee and he was out, all right? There's nothing else for me to tell you on that," Smith said. "I don't know exactly when it happened.

He couldn't go, and we moved on. Let's go to some other questions, how about that?"Cutler completed 6 of 13 passes for 80 yards and an interception in the first half for the Bears, who trailed 14-0 at the break. He finished with a passer rating of 31.8."[Cutler is] a tough guy, a big old guy," Hanie said. "He takes hits really well, so obviously you don't expect or plan on going in, but you still have to prepare just in case."

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