Injuries

When asked by a reporter what he thought about the resignation of Bears offensive coordinator Mike Martz, Jay Cutler gave an enthusiastic thumbs up. Unfortunately for Cutler, it was the same thumbs he broke six weeks ago and the sudden movement tore numerous ligaments. Cutler now faces an additional six to eight weeks of rehab. Experts immediately began questioning Cutler's toughness after yet another injury struck the young star.

"It was pretty graphic," teammate James Neal told reporters. "I mean, we'll be walking to the ice for practice, and he'll start rubbing his temples and complaining that he thinks the headaches are coming back, and after a while he starts screaming, 'Oh no concussion!' then the next thing you know... pop. His head just explodes. It looks exactly like that scene from 'Scanners.' We all rush over and Sid just starts laughing at us. Not cool."

When Patriots Rob Gronkowski landed awkwardly on his neck while scoring his second TD of the night Monday, concerns were immediately set off that he may have suffered a concussion. The six-foot-seven tight end downplayed further reports that he had indeed suffered head trauma, claiming he "just really stupid."

Despite taking countless punishing hits for his nearly three seasons as the Bears QB, critics who harp on Jay Cutler's perceived weakness as a soft competitor too eager to remove himself from games are piping up again now that a broken thumb will sideline Cutler for six to eight weeks. What many are most upset about is Cutler's apparent refusal to learn to throw with his left hand during the 2011 season's home stretch.

Tyler Palko has toiled around the NFL since 2007, but you wouldn’t know it since he had not recorded a stat until last year when he was the Chiefs’ third-string quarterback. After Matt Cassel left last Sunday’s game against the Broncos with an injury to his throwing hand, Palko stepped in behind center and now finds himself starting in his first NFL game against Patriots on Monday Night Football.

"Is this how it feels when you don't get sacked nine times in a game?" asked Cutler moments after the Bears finished off a 30-24 Monday Night Football win over the Eagles. "I'm walking without a pronounced limp and none of my extremities are tingling. I could get used to this."

Territorial ire came to a head on Tuesday when Tribune basketball writer K.C. Johnson accidentally dropped his gloves in the chilly press box at the United Center and Chris Kuc seized the opportunity to pull Johnson’s sweater over his head and begin throwing right hooks.