How do we know that he didn't care about what was going on? Because the cameras found a way to zoom on him when he happened to be sitting on the bench? Or with his arms inside his parka because it was below 10 degrees in temperature?
How do we know that said zoom shots were a representative sample of how he spent his time post-injury? How do we know it wasn't just the friggin' sports media being their usual useless selves?
Are you saying that the only people who are passionate about the game act like Ray Lewis or Aaron Rodgers? Or go around shouting and patting people on the back?
And if he's playing the game even though he's not passionate about it,well, all I can say is a lot of people work at jobs they aren't passionate about even though they get paid a lot less money.
Frankly, if someone offered me multiple millions a year to work at something I'd be seriously considering it even if it weren't my deepest passion. Because that multi millions would make possible and/or a lot easier the achievement of things that do matter to me. Things that have a bigger price tag than I could come up with in thirty years of work much less the 5-10 of the average NFL starting QB career.
I wouldn't work at a job I hate if I had Cutler's wealth. But I can certainly imagine working at a job that wasn't my ultimate passion even if I did, if I saw that passion as achievable only with it.
And I wouldn't apologize to anyone for doing so.
If people want to criticize Cutler for the quality of his onfield performance, fine. If people want to criticize him for his lack of work ethic in learning/developing his craft, I'm fine with that, too. (I wouldn't do it, but only because I don't know enough about what he does -- he's a friggin Bear, after all.) Or if he acts like an arrogant asshole or treats his teammates or coaches like shit? Fine there as well.
But criticize him because he doesn't have a particular outgoing exhibition of his emotions? Because he doesn't show his passion in a way that I would or Brett Favre would or the Archbishop of Canterbury would? Or because he isn't properly polite/political with reporters and other bacteria?
Not a chance.
And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, that you may prove what is that good and acceptable and perfect will of God.
Romans 12:2 (NKJV)