John Fox is not amused by hot-dog eating reporters questioning Bears' QB decisions
The Bears have a quarterback controversy: Jay Cutler or Brian Hoyer?
A week ago, Bears coach John Fox subtly hinted that Brian Hoyer would remain the starting quarterback even when Jay Cutler is healthy enough to step in again. A day after the Bears lost a close game to the Colts, Fox remained just as coy about the future of the position, saying he has no plans for when Cutler returns.
So, in typical fashion, he didn't reveal much of anything to reporters. In not so typical fashion, Fox also ribbed reporters for questioning his quarterback situation. In the process, hot dogs were discussed at mulitple points.
Here's how a portion of Fox's press conference went, via Zach Zaidman of CBS Chicago:
Reporter to John Fox: Should Hoyer have been looking Alshon Jeffery's way on fourth down?
Fox: "I think when you're out there playing quarterback, it looks a little different than when you're up in a press box having hot dogs.
Reporter to Fox: Does that play on fourth down illustrate the difference between Hoyer and Cutler?
Fox: "I'm not going to get into all this. ... Had we had the coolness of the hot dog-laden press box, we might have gone there."
Either Fox is hungry and jealous that media members can eat during football games or he's frustrated with what Hoyer did on the deciding play of the Bears' loss to the Colts on Sunday, when he failed to spot a wide open Alshon Jeffery in the end zone for what would've been a late go-ahead touchdown. Instead, Hoyer threw incomplete to a covered receiver and the Bears dropped to 1-4 on the season.
Despite Fox's refusal to answer those questions, he did at least admit that Jeffery was open on the play.
When told Alshon Jeffery looked open from press box, #Bears coach John Fox acknowledged "he was open from that film I just looked at too."
— Zach Zaidman (@ZachZaidman) October 10, 2016
Still, the quarterback controversy continues, namely because Hoyer's stat line was impressive. For the third straight game, Hoyer threw for more than 300 yards and two touchdowns. And Cutler critics will be quick to point out that Hoyer still hasn't thrown an interception this year.
But stats don't always tell the entire story -- and they don't tell Hoyer's entire story. Hoyer's had the luxury of operating behind a much-improved offensive line that was still struggling before Cutler suffered his thumb injury. He's also had the luxury of playing alongside an efficient running game and using shorter, safer passes.
Where Hoyer struggles is generating big plays and utilizing the big-play threat of Jeffery, who has seen his involvement in the offense decline since Cutler's injury. And for a bad Bears team that needs more than just a game manager to beat better teams, ignoring their best playmaker probably isn't a wise strategy, which is why I'd hand the job back to Cutler, whenever he does return.
Then again, I'm just a hot-dog eating reporter, so what the heck do I know?
















