Sports

Bears blast Cutler’s critics

As Jay Cutler’s toughness was called into question, the Chicago quarterback refused to comment on being called out by his NFL peers. Turns out, he would’ve had a leg to stand on if he took on his critics. In fact, probably just one.

After Cutler underwent an MRI yesterday — one day after the Bears’ 21-14 loss to the Packers in the NFC title game — coach Lovie Smith said his quarterback had suffered an MCL sprain and would have been questionable to play in the Super Bowl had the Bears advanced.

Smith said the coaches and team medical staff made the final decision to remove Cutler from the game after playing one series in the second half. Later, the Chicago Sun Times reported the injury to Cutler’s left knee was actually a Grade II MCL tear.

“Our quarterback’s a tough guy. . . . It’s pretty simple what happened [Sunday],” Smith said. “Before the half, Jay hurt his knee. He showed a lot of toughness to continue to play with it.”

That toughness wasn’t visible to several current and former players who flocked to Twitter while watching Cutler on the sidelines Sunday.

Jaguars running back Maurice Jones-Drew, who played 14 games with a partially torn meniscus in his right knee this season, wrote, “All I’m saying is that he can finish the game on a hurt knee . . . I played the whole season on one.”

He also compared Cutler to former Florida coach Urban Meyer, writing, “Hey I think the urban meyer rule is [in] effect right now . . . When the going gets tough . . . QUIT.”

Jones-Drew, who said he received death threats yesterday from Bears fans, was in the minority of detractors retracting their criticism, acknowledging the injury was serious enough to warrant his removal.

“I threw out this joke and the backlash came in,” Jones-Drew said yesterday. “I tried to make it right, but it backfired.”

Cardinals defensive lineman, Darnell Dockett, posted, “If I’m on chicago team, jay cutler has to wait till me and the team shower get dressed and leave before he comes in the locker room!”

Deion Sanders wrote, “I’m telling u in the playoffs u must drag me off the field. All the medicine in pro locker rooms, this dude comes out! I apologize bear fans! . . . Folks, i never question a player’s injury, but i do question a player’s heart.”

Bears general manager Jerry Angelo was incensed when discussing the controversy surrounding Cutler, who has missed one game, in four full seasons as a starter with Chicago and Denver.

“I think it’s [garbage],” Angelo said. “I certainly didn’t like what was said. I take that personally, too. He’s our quarterback. We wouldn’t have been where we’re at without him, and I want that to be made clear. We stand by him.”

His teammates certainly did. Receiver Earl Bennett described the criticism as “very unprofessional.” Defensive tackle Anthony Adams called it “garbage” and “unfair.”

Tight end Greg Olsen said, “I think it’s insane. I think anyone who’s ever watched us, that would probably be the last thing anyone’s ever questioned.”

howard.kussoy@nypost.com