Chicago Bears offensive coordinator Aaron Kromer made a tearful apology in front of the team this week for criticizing Jay Cutler to a reporter.

The Chicago Tribune reported that Kromer made the apology during a Monday team meeting. Kromer admitted he criticized Cutler to an NFL Network reporter on Dec. 4 after the Bears’ fifth loss in seven games, and those comments led to a report last Sunday that the organization is feeling “buyer’s remorse” after signing the quarterback to a seven-year, $126.7 million contract that includes $54 million guaranteed.

Kromer confirmed to the Tribune that he told the players he should not have spoken outside the Bears family and did so in the heat of emotion. He told the newspaper that he hoped the team could use it as a learning experience.

“I said what I had to say to the players,” Kromer said Thursday.

ESPN.com reported that a source who spoke to Cutler after Kromer’s apology said the quarterback “certainly isn’t happy.”

The Tribune report cites sources as saying Kromer denied telling the NFL Network that the franchise had buyer’s remorse, and made it a point to inform players during the meeting that portion of the report did not come from him.

The report states that Cutler was in the room during the meeting and shook his head the whole time while Kromer apologized.

Kromer reportedly admitted to venting about Cutler’s play management, and the NFL Network’s report mentioned growing displeasure internally with the quarterback’s inability or downright refusal to check out of run plays when necessary.

Cutler currently leads the league in turnovers (21), and opponents have scored 92 points off the team’s 25 total turnovers. In 13 games, he is 330-of-494 passing for 3,446 yards and 26 touchdowns with 15 interceptions.

“Jay and I talk daily,” head coach Marc Trestman said of reports about Cutler being benched. “I think he has a very good understanding of how we feel about him. There’s a lot of noise out there. We’re all aware of that. You get away for a few days, you know how much noise there is out there because you’re not working 24-7.

“Jay Cutler, as long as he’s been healthy, has been the guy we’ve had in there and wanted to play. There’s been no (indecision) there whatsoever.”

Two disappointing 5-8 teams will face off Monday night when the Bears meet the New Orleans Saints at Soldier Field.