CHICAGO — At least one place is benefiting from the Bears getting smoked by opponents recently.
That would be the "Smokin' Jay Cutler" Tumblr page created by Brandon Freeberg, and dedicated to the Bears quarterback whom the page calls the "most apathetic looking athlete in the history of sports."
"I definitely get a ton more fan submissions after a loss than after a win," said Freeberg, a senior producer for MTV Digital in New York. "I think in the eyes of the fans, Jay Cutler becomes Smokin' Jay Cutler more so when he loses than when he wins."
Freeberg's site, which debuted in 2012 with a shot of Cutler and a photoshopped cigarette in his mouth, has blossomed into one with parody photos of smoking fans, and even pets, making fun of the Chicago QB and his facial expressions. It also sells apparel like "Smokin' Jay T-shirts."
Even Packers quarterback Aaron Rodgers is a fan.
"I remember photoshopping a cigarette in his mouth for the first time, taking a step back to take a look at it and thinking, 'Yeah, this could be funny.' I guess everyone else agreed," Freeberg said Thursday. "You put a cigarette in his mouth and it seems right."
Heading into Sunday's game against Minnesota at Soldier Field, the Bears are 3-6 after two dreadful defeats — 51-23 at New England and last Sunday's 55-14 debacle at Green Bay.
Freeberg, who has no ties to Chicago and is not a Bears fan, said he loves fans' submissions and their creativity.
"The Bears win, and he's this bad---, smoking, gunslinger type. You see fans jump on social to say things like 'Smokin' Jay just smoked the Niners!' " he said. "The Bears lose and now he's this apathetic, pouty, ho-hum type. The fans then switch it up and are saying 'Smokin' Jay just got smoked by New England.'
"As I mentioned earlier, I think fans gravitate to it more when he loses, but on my end it's always a win-win."
As far as Cutler (2,365 yards passing, 18 touchdowns, 10 interceptions in 2014) and the Bears finishing the season strong, Freeberg doesn't exactly see that happening.
"It's the NFL, so you never know for sure, but I feel like both sides of the ball are struggling, and obviously, if that continues it's not going to end well," he said.
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