For all the hubbub it caused, Devin Hester seemed unbothered by criticism from his new quarterback.
Hester didn’t appear to try to prevent the Bills’ Leodis McKelvin from intercepting a poorly thrown pass by Jay Cutler in Saturday’s preseason game in Buffalo. After the game, Cutler suggested that Hester made a mistake and could “learn from it.”
After Monday’s practice, Hester said he and Cutler have cleared the air.
“Jay said that he didn’t mean it like I wasn’t a go-up and (get it) guy,” Hester said. “You’ve just got to throw it out there and then (I’ll) go get it.
“It wasn’t no criticism or anything like that,” he added. “He said, ‘You’re not a 6 (foot) 8 receiver. You can’t go up and get everything.’”
Hester said his relationship with Cutler wasn’t tarnished by the situation.
“It’s growing stronger and stronger each and every day,” Hester said. “He’s a new guy on the team. Everybody’s trying to get a feel for what type of a person he is and trying to build a relationship.”
This is the second time that Cutler has been involved with some drama involving a teammate in recent weeks.
Just before training camp started, Minnesota Vikings and former Bears wide receiver Bobby Wade said that Brian Urlacher questioned Cutler’s toughness by using a deragotory word.
Just as he did then, coach Lovie Smith did his best to downplay the latest flare-up, going so far as to plead ignorance.
“First off, I don’t know what comments you’re talking about,” Smith said. “This is what I know about our football team: there are going to be things said from time to time. Jay has a great relationship with the receivers, running backs and all.”
Offensive coordinator Ron Turner at least admitted he knew the comments and though he aknowledged there’s a line that shouldn’t be crossed, he said wasn’t bothered that his quarterback criticized a receiver.
“He’s a leader and he’s doing a great job of leading out there,” Turner said. “Some things obviously you address one-on-one and other things you can talk about. He’ll find that fine line.”
