Report: Bears player threw helmet 'in disgust' after Jay Cutler fumble
A Chicago Bears player threw his helmet "in disgust" after quarterback Jay Cutler fumbled at the end of the first half of the Bears' 51-23 loss to the New England Patriots, Fox reporter Pam Oliver said on air.
Oliver did not name the Bears' player.
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The fumble led to the Patriots' fifth touchdown of the first half, as Patriots defensive end Rob Ninkovich ran the ball back 15 yards into the endzone. The Patriots led 38-7 at halftime.
Cutler finished the game 20-for-30 for 227 yards, three touchdowns and an interception. On the Bears' last offensive series of the game, quarterback Jimmy Clausen replaced Cutler.
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Patriots quarterback Tom Brady went 30-for-35 for 354 yards and five touchdowns. Jimmy Garoppolo took over for Brady with just over five minutes left in the game.
The helmet-throwing display came a week after a reported contentious locker room scene after the Bears' loss to the Miami Dolphins last Sunday. Reports of a rift between Cutler and receiver Brandon Marshall wererefuted this week by head coach Marc Trestman and Marshall. Cutler said he didn't have a problem with what Marshall said in the locker room.
Trestman's policy of rotating captains each week instead of having permanent ones also came up for criticism this week, including from former Bears player and coach Mike Ditka.
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Chicago (3-5) has a bye next week. The team's next game comes against the Packers on Nov. 9 in Green Bay.
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