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Urlacher shoots down talk of Cutler insult

By Vaughn McClure | Tribune reporter
July 30, 2009

In Brian Urlacher's eyes, it was just Bobby Wade trying to stir up trouble.

That's how the Bears linebacker viewed the comments his former teammate offered to a Minneapolis radio station Wednesday, comments suggesting Urlacher was not too fond of new teammate Jay Cutler.

Wade, now a wide receiver for the rival Vikings, told KFAN-AM that Urlacher called Cutler a wimp during a conversation they had in Las Vegas. But Wade used a much stronger word that had to be edited from the broadcast.

"Oh, please. I don't think I would ever say that about one of my teammates," Urlacher told the Tribune. "Look, Bobby Wade's a friend of mine. He's trying to get things going before training camp. That's just Bobby being Bobby. I'm pretty sure Jay knows I wouldn't say that about him."

Wade called Urlacher on Wednesday afternoon to apologize and told Urlacher he would call coach Lovie Smith to clarify if necessary.

Urlacher said he found humor in a WSCR-AM report that he had to be restrained from going after Cutler during organized team activities.

"I didn't even practice," Urlacher said, referring to a minor groin injury that limited his participation. "If anything, I called him a few names for zipping balls by my head with that cannon he has. Me having to be restrained? That's funny."

Word of Urlacher's alleged comments to Wade quickly spread. This is how Wade phrased it during the radio interview:

"I don't want to get him in trouble, but it wasn't what [the Bears] expected. Pretty much [Urlacher] said Jay Cutler was a [wimp] for the most part."

Urlacher laughed when informed about Wade's statement.

"To tell you the truth, I think it's just stupid," he said. "The radio stations that talk about it? I really don't [care] what they said. They are the [wimps]."

Urlacher said he has had a chance to hang out one-on-one with Cutler during various events.

"I have no problem with Jay," he said. "We're all excited about Jay. That's why we made the trade. He's one of the best quarterbacks in the league. We have a better chance to win the Super Bowl with him at quarterback.

"Again, I'm pretty sure Jay knows I wouldn't say that about him. It seems like something always happens before training camp, I guess. But it doesn't bother me. I've definitely had a lot worse things happen before training camp."