Bears' locker room gets 'ugly' after equally gross loss to Dolphins
The Chicago Bears are now 3-4 and have yet to win at home this season, and it may be starting to take its toll on the team.
After a lackluster 27-14 loss to the Miami Dolphins on Sunday, frustrations apparently boiled over in the Bears' locker room, with various sources citing yelling, scuffling and multiple references to an "ugly" situation.
Mercurial wide receiver Brandon Marshall and guard Kyle Long reportedly were at the center of much of the arguing, though they weren't necessarily arguing with each other.
Ugly scene in #bears locker room right after game. Lots of yelling, players pulled out of room
— Jeremy Stoltz (@BearReport) October 19, 2014
Lots of yelling coming from the #Bears locker room.
— Adam Jahns (@adamjahns) October 19, 2014
Some of the quotes from #Bears locker room yelling: "Will you fight with your heart ... You just kick the ball .... Do your job."
— Adam Jahns (@adamjahns) October 19, 2014
Marshall seemed to be more upset with the team in general, although ESPN cites a source as saying that he called out Bears quarterback Jay Cutler specifically:
#Bears Brandon Marshall repeated roughly 15 times: "3-4 is unacceptable."
— Jeremy Stoltz (@BearReport) October 19, 2014
#Bears WR Brandon Marshall : "3-4 is unacceptable." Said it about a dozen times.
— Adam Jahns (@adamjahns) October 19, 2014
#Bears WR Brandon Marshall: "We shouldn’t be 3-4. Our offense has got to play better. It’s as simple as that.”
— Adam Jahns (@adamjahns) October 19, 2014
Long apparently took a shot at Bears fans, which usually never ends well:
Kyle Long blames fans for not making enough noise on 3rd down defensive plays, and says they can't boo. This is quite a day for the #Bears.
— Dan Bernstein (@dan_bernstein) October 19, 2014
Long: "To be getting booed at home when you're walking off the field down two possessions is unacceptable." (1 of 2) #Bears
— Jordan Bernfield (@JordanBernfield) October 19, 2014
Long: "Especially when there's not a lot of noise being made on 3rd down." #Bears (2/2)
— Jordan Bernfield (@JordanBernfield) October 19, 2014
Long tried to explain his comments, but it's still a little unclear what he meant:
Whatever precipitated the players' remarks, what is clear is that the Chicago Bears are a bit of a mess right now.
"This was a very, very disappointing loss to our football team," coach Marc Trestman said.
The Bears have lost five of their last seven games at home, so they're gonna need to start pulling things together, not rending it all asunder.
The Associated Press contributed.
(H/t to For the Win, Deadspin, SB Nation)