As the New York Giants dismantled the Chicago Bears offensive line on Monday Night Football, NBC color analyst Cris Collinsworth decided to make Chicago’s quarterback the scapegoat.
Behind the clout of primetime commentary, NBC’s multi-angled replays and in an effort to entertain, the viewer is persuaded into believing rash generalizations. The opinion of the ex-player/commentator is espoused by the masses and his judgment becomes verdict and viral.
The player earns a reputation, and because it’s easy, the viewer and media participants seek out evidence to support their pre-formed conclusion.
Over time, perception often becomes reality, as the media slowly alters the opinion of the players and coaches.
Jay Cutler certainly deserved a portion of the blame for the Bears’ first half struggles, as it was clear that Cutler held onto the ball beyond the four-second benchmark.
Clearly, however, the Bears’ biggest issue is its offensive line, which has to be the worst unit in the NFL based on its play throughout the season —not just a few edited sequences.
At the NFL level, the game is complex. Oftentimes, what appears to be the fault of one player can be the fault of many or none, a physical or mental mistake, or simply a great play by an opponent.
