Even as he prepares to play in the Super Bowl, Packers quarterback Aaron Rodgers is aware that Bears quarterback Jay Cutler is having his toughness questioned this week. And Rodgers said the criticism of Cutler is “very inappropriate” and “disrespectful.”
Cutler was criticized by current and former players, fans and media members after leaving Sunday’s NFC Championship with a knee injury. Rodgers, who is friends with Cutler, applauded Bears players for sticking up for their teammate.
Rodgers was roughed up himself in Sunday’s 21-14 victory over the Bears, taking a helmet-to-helmet hit from Julius Peppers.
Rodgers shot down speculation that he sustained another concussion and credited his helmet for potentially preventing another significant head injury. Rodgers switched helmets after sustaining two concussions earlier this season.
STEELERS: Pittsburgh’s Pro Bowl center Maurkice Pouncey missed practice yesterday with a left ankle injury, and his status is uncertain for the Super Bowl.
Pouncey was injured in the first quarter of Pittsburgh’s 24-19 victory over the Jets in the AFC Championship Sunday. He was helped off the field after Jets linebacker Bryan Thomas got pushed back into his leg. He didn’t return.
Doug Legursky replaced Pouncey, a rookie who started every game this season. Legursky played well except for a bad exchange with Ben Roethlisberger that led to a safety.
DOLPHINS: Miami has completed a shake-up of its offensive coaching staff with several moves, including the hiring of former Giants receiver Ike Hilliard as assistant wide receivers coach.
Karl Dorrell is moving from receivers coach to quarterbacks coach, and former offensive quality control coach Steve Bush is now the receivers coach. Coach Tony Sparano also hired his son, Tony Jr., as offensive quality control coach, the team announced yesterday.
Former assistant special teams coach Darren Rizzi was promoted to special teams coordinator, and former 49ers assistant Dave Fipp was hired as assistant special teams coach.
RAVENS: In Luling, La., a body pulled from the Mississippi River has been tentatively identified as the brother of Baltimore safety Ed Reed, authorities said at a news conference attended by the NFL star.
St. Charles Parish Sheriff Greg Champagne said tattoos on the body recovered late Tuesday appear to match those belonging to 28-year-old Brian Reed, who jumped into the river after an encounter with a sheriff’s deputy. An autopsy was planned for today.