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Bears’ Long says he was wrong to blame fans
Chicago Bears guard Kyle Long admitted he was wrong for criticizing fans at Soldier Field for booing Sunday as the team went into the locker room at halftime down 14-0 to the Miami Dolphins.
“It was wrong for me to point fingers at the fans,” Long said Monday during his weekly appearance on the WXRT Morning Show in Chicago
Long said the Bears should have given the fans a reason to cheer instead of losing 27-14 to the Dolphins.
“I just think (reporters) had asked everybody in the locker room how they felt about (fans booing), and a lot of the guys didn’t take the bait,” Long said. “Obviously emotions are running high after a game. Obviously if we were giving them something to cheer about there would be a lot more cheers coming off the field at halftime. Hopefully the score would be a little bit closer as well.
“That falls on our shoulders. It’s unfair to put it on the fans. There was a lot of frustration after the game. You work hard all week. You’re trying to string some wins together. You’re at home. You feel like you’re riding some momentum, and to be down 14-0 going into the half, it’s tough. It’s tough on everybody obviously.”
After the game, Long was clearly upset with the fans’ actions.
“I don’t know if upset is the word I would use,” Long said Sunday. “As somebody that is blood, that has blood, sweat and tears in this locker room like the other guys, the coaches, the trainers, the staff and the equipment guys, to be getting booed at home when you’re walking off the field down two possessions is unacceptable; especially when there is not a lot of noise being made on third down (when Miami possessed the ball), period.”
Meanwhile, ESPN reported that wide receiver Brandon Marshall called out quarterback Jay Cutler as yelling could be heard from outside the double doors to the locker room.
The Bears were hopeful they had turned their season around with the 27-13 victory at Atlanta the week before, and they had reasons for it. Cutler was coming off an excellent performance, and an offensive line that was struck by injuries earlier in the season, was intact for the first time since the opener.
Marshall didn’t deny there was friction in the aftermath of the game.
“We lost, there should be a lot of frustration,” Marshall said. “You should hear frustration. We’re 3-4. Yeah, this means everything to a lot of guys in this locker room. This means a lot.”
Marshall reportedly also yelled at kicker Robbie Gould, but the receiver declined to answer when specifically asked.
“OK, were you in here?” Marshall asked. “Were you in this locker room? This is a team matter. That has nothing to do with you. There’s a lot of guys this means a lot to. We’re 3-4. We need to play better. That’s unacceptable. That’s unacceptable. Unacceptable; shouldn’t have lost today, shouldn’t be 3-4. (The) offense (has) got to play better. It’s as simple as that.”
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