Packers linebacker Clay Matthews was asked if ''Hanie was tougher to defend than Collins'' against the Bears on Sunday.
''Who's CoIlins?'' Matthews said.
After Jay Cutler left with an injury in the third quarter, it really didn't matter who the Bears played at quarterback. In fact, even Cutler didn't matter. Hounded by Packers pressure almost from the start, Cutler never looked comfortable or even close to being in rhythm in the Packers' 21-14 victory over the Bears in the NFC Championship Game at Soldier Field.
In fact, Caleb Hanie was more dangerous to the Packers than Cutler was.
''I kind of wish we would have had Jay in there the whole time the way things were going,'' Matthews said. ''When you've got a new quarterback you feel like you can turn it loose a little bit more and bring more pressure which we were able to do with 10 [Todd Collins] in there.
''Obviously 12 [Hanie] really game-planned us because he did a heckuva job. He was moving around, a little more mobile in the pocket and presented a new threat similar to the [Kevin] Kolb-Michael Vick-type deal.''
"[I]t really didn't matter who the Bears played at quarterback"?
What an idiotic statement. Hanie was the only Bear QB who did anything, it certainly made a big difference who played. If the Bears had developed and played Hanie the last few years instead of making him rot on the bench, he almost certainly wouldn't have thrown the INTs and the Bears would have had a great chance to win this game. He way outplayed Cutler this game, and Collins is about as deserving of being an NFL QB at this point of his career as Seattle was of making the playoffs. So it certainly did matter who played QB: Hanie was the only one who gave the Bears a chance to win.
''Who's CoIlins?'' Matthews said.
That's a damn good question maybe Martz and Lovie can explain him to the fans. The guy looked like Crap with a week to prep against the Panthers and somehow managed to stay the number 2 QB, how did the Bears think he would look against one of the best defenses in football?
I am not very high on what Hanie did but at least he can move and was a gamer.
There is no sense in beating the Collins horse we have seen the last of him. Once again chalk one up for Angelo the master of b.s. he should have went to Vegas instead of the Bears front office, he threw some money around and bought in Peppers reputation. I still don't think 8 sacks is worth what we paid for Idonaje had as many. But instead of getting your gun-shy gunslinger some protection he got us a 2.4 yard avg. and a quarterback who spent most of the season on the run or his back. He also gave his QB investment the smurfs instead of a physical reciever who could beat a jam Manmamula was a waste of money a serviceable guard would have been nice along with a miracle ear for Omiyale. He also gave us the weakest blind side in all of football Omiyale and Williams a center under 300 lbs and aging fast in a division with 320+ lb behemoths playing the middle giving Cutler nowhere to step up and then you complain about his mechanics. Everyone got excited when the schedule and the injury bug got into alignment for a few weeks. Truth is Lovie did his best coaching he has done in years because he sure didn't have much to work with he reigned in Martz and got Tice on the same page. But alas we still have Angelo drafting. This is really a good coaching scheme get them something to work with. Lastly kudos to Urlacher, Briggs on defense Webb really does have a bright future
There is no sense in beating the Collins horse we have seen the last of him. Once again chalk one up for Angelo the master of b.s. he should have went to Vegas instead of the Bears front office, he threw some money around and bought in Peppers reputation. I still don't think 8 sacks is worth what we paid for Idonaje had as many. But instead of getting your gun-shy gunslinger some protection he got us a 2.4 yard avg. and a quarterback who spent most of the season on the run or his back. He also gave his QB investment the smurfs instead of a physical reciever who could beat a jam Manmamula was a waste of money a serviceable guard would have been nice along with a miracle ear for Omiyale. He also gave us the weakest blind side in all of football Omiyale and Williams a center under 300 lbs and aging fast in a division with 320+ lb behemoths playing the middle giving Cutler nowhere to step up and then you complain about his mechanics. Everyone got excited when the schedule and the injury bug got into alignment for a few weeks. Truth is Lovie did his best coaching he has done in years because he sure didn't have much to work with he reigned in Martz and got Tice on the same page. But alas we still have Angelo drafting. This is really a good coaching scheme get them something to work with. Lastly kudos to Urlacher, Briggs on defense Webb really does have a bright future
As a huge Packer fan, I must say I'm happy at the outcome. Kudos to the Bears for coming out fighting in the second half and making a game of it. I kinda feel sorry for Cutler though, with all the criticism and calling him a quitter. Let's wait to see what the MRI shows. But in all honesty, he does bring this on himself with his attitude. Even if he was unable to play, to be sitting on the bench listening to his iPod (or so it appeared) rather than coaching or encouraging the backups, well you just leave yourself open to this criticism.
Todd Collins was great. He added a lot of mystery and excitement to the game.