Dec. 16--Chicago Bears quarterback Jay Cutler fielded only three questions during his news conference following a 31-15 loss to the New Orleans Saints on Monday night, largely because reporters in the locker room were not alerted to the start of his session in time to attend it.
Cutler usually hosts his postgame news conference after coach Marc Trestman, but he arrived at the podium first Monday. It was sparsely attended because most reporters were interviewing players in the locker room.
A Bears public relations official informed reporters in the locker room that Cutler was at the podium. The announcement prompted more than a dozen reporters to hurry out of the locker room, with several even jogging to the news conference area, which is about 200 feet away.
Meanwhile, Cutler fielded three questions from the same reporter, ESPN.com's Mike Sando, and then met silence from the room.
Realizing the strangeness of such a brief media session, Cutler turned to Bears media relations manager Jim Christman and said: "Jim?"
Christman, according to video on the NFL's website, said: "Do we have any questions? The media is on its way."
"We're going to wait for them?" Cutler asked. His tone was non-confrontational.
"Do we have anything else?" Christman asked those in the room.
"OK, thank you," Cutler said. He walked off.
Moments later, the group of reporters entered the room to learn that the news conference had ended.
rcampbell@tribpub.com
Twitter @Rich_Campbell
