Of all the things the Chicago Bears need to improve, punting is probably toward the bottom of the list.
But after the team's humiliating 55-14 loss on Sunday night to the Green Bay Packers, quarterback Jay Cutler came out and blamed punter Pat O'Donnell for the Bears' lackluster play.
Or, at least, that's what a lot of people think.
In reality, the satirical publication The Onion published a story in which Cutler blames O'Donnell for the team's struggles. The headline read, "Jay Cutler: ‘I’ll Be The First Person To Admit We Need A New Punter’."
The story, of course, was fake. But not everyone realized that, and this confusion led to some humorous tweets:
The fact that jay cutler "will be the first to admit the Bears need a new PUNTER". You must be kidding me.
— jamie dimes (@nicholsx14) November 12, 2014
Jay cutler said they need a new punter yeah that's your problem.
— Kelsey Hjalmarson (@21Kels) November 12, 2014
"I'll be the first person to admit that we need a new punter."-Jay Cutler
Yep. That's the face of the franchise for the bears.
— Rob (@justwin84) November 12, 2014
Jay Cutler gets interviewed after getting killed 55-14 and first thing he said is they need a new punter... Bro get some first downs then
— Sam Foltz (@samfoltz27) November 11, 2014
Someone inform Jay Cutler that they wouldn't need to use the punter if he could perform at his own position as quarterback @ChicagoBears
— Steven Mirizzi (@SJM_Rizz) November 12, 2014
So, Jay Cutler manned up today and blamed the PUNTER for the Bears travails. What a leader. #BearsPride #chicagobears
— Jeff Buck (@JeffreyBuck70) November 12, 2014
Id love to stick Jay Cutler in the face. Bashing his own punter. Maybe you wouldn't punt 10 times a game if you could move your offense.
— Matt Klein (@kleinm13) November 12, 2014
Jay Cutler honestly blamed the punter in the loss? Is this dude serious? Cutler is AWFUL
— Ryan Gomes (@SmoothRyan23) November 12, 2014
Jay Cutler blamed his punter. I didn't expect anything less
— Tyler Serino (@TySerino) November 12, 2014
In other non related D.Rose news.. Jay Cutler said "we need a new punter" HOW ABOUT WE NEED A NEW QB!!! #AintThatAB*tch
— L-Matic (@LRashard36) November 11, 2014
I can't believe Jay Cutler seriously blamed the punter and long snapper for blocked punt in 3rd quarter! UH JAY, it was already 48-0??
— Logan Callahan (@CallahanLogan) November 12, 2014
Stephen A. Smith can relate to these fooled fans, as the polarizing ESPN commentator once got tricked by a 2012 Onion story claiming he thought his son (he doesn't have one) was finally ready for "the sex argument."
The same thing happened earlier this year to former NBA player Ron Harper:
Ron Harper tricked by an @OnionSports story?
Ron Harper tricked by an Onion Sports story... pic.twitter.com/OCWIQLaod1
— SportsNation (@SportsNation) May 23, 2014
What makes the Onion story so frustrating for the Bears fans who actually believe it to be true is that Cutler himself is widely perceived to be the problem in Chicago. In his first season after signing a three-year, $54 million contract extension, Cutler is second in the league with 10 interceptions through nine games. Chicago's defense, which is giving up a league-worst 30.8 points per game, also deserves much of the blame.
And how about poor Pat O'Donnell? The rookie, who had a punt blocked on Sunday in somewhat embarrassing fashion, is averaging a respectable 45.2 yards per punt.
