CHICAGO — Chicago Bears quarterback Jay Cutler and his San Diego Chargers counterpart Philip Rivers might exchange pleasantries before the coin toss Sunday at Soldier Field, but they’re not going to be friends anytime soon.
Sure, time might heal some wounds, and the big-armed quarterbacks did their best to avoid a rekindling of their rivalry Wednesday, but these guys don’t care much for each other.
The rivalry between Cutler and Rivers started when the Chargers were leading Cutler’s former team, the Broncos, 23-3 when they stuffed running back Cecil Sapp on a fourth- and-1 from the 2-yard line.
Television cameras caught Rivers, flanked by defensive teammates Shaun Phillips and Matt Wilhelm jawing with Cutler after the play. They waved goodbye to him. Afterward, it was reported Cutler grabbed his crotch and motioned in the direction of the Chargers sideline.
Cutler later was asked about the situation.
“I’m just not that big of a fan of the guy,” Cutler said. “I don’t like how he carries himself, some of the stuff he does on the field.”
On Wednesday, Cutler said he didn’t know when his rivalry with Rivers began and said he didn’t miss playing him twice a season in the AFC West.
“I don’t play him every year so it’s kind of different,” he said. “It’s something that is in the past. He’s a great player. He’s still putting up big numbers. . . . Defensively, the way we are playing, hopefully we will shut him down.”
His numbers aren’t flashy, but Cutler could be playing his best football in 2 1/2 seasons with the Bears. He has thrown six touchdown passes and only two interceptions in the last five games as the 6-3 Bears have won four straight.
Rivers, meanwhile, has tied his career-high of 15 interceptions with seven games to play, a figure that leads the NFL. He has been picked off eight times in the Chargers’ current four-game losing streak. The 4-5 team started 4-1 and once again needs the kind of late-season rally that has defined coach Norv Turner’s run.
Has he missed playing against Cutler?
“Oh, well, shoot,” Rivers said. “We haven’t had much time to worry about that. We’re trying to find a way to win a game.”
Pressed on the issue, Rivers said it was an isolated event in one game during five starts they made against each other, four of which Rivers won.
“One little incident that got blown into a huge deal,” Rivers said. “I’d rather talk about the Bears, to be honest with you. . . . I have nothing against Jay. He’s a heck of a player and he’s a super competitor. One thing he’s doing right now is he’s leading his team to win four in a row. I am fighting like crazy just to try to get a win.”
The Chargers will be without Pro Bowl left guard Kris Dielman, who was placed on season-ending injured reserve because of lingering effects of a concussion suffered Oct. 23 at the New York Jets.
