Jay Cutler broke his media silence on Friday, telling the Chicago Sun-Times he was bothered that some questioned his toughness.
The quarterback hadn't spoken to the media since he left the NFC Championship Game against the Packers with a sprained MCL.
"I was gone, and I stayed away from it all," Cutler told the paper. "But I can't say it didn't bother me that people questioned my toughness and desire to play.
"I think I've been through a lot here in Chicago, and I would have loved to play."
Cutler Bothered By Criticism