Coach: Bears' Cutler sprained ligament

CHICAGO, Jan. 24 (UPI) -- Chicago quarterback Jay Cutler sprained a ligament in his left knee in the Bears' NFC title game loss, Coach Lovie Smith said Monday.

Smith said the sprain of the medial collateral ligament was severe enough that Cutler would have been listed as questionable had the Bears advanced to the Super Bowl.

Smith told reporters Cutler had wanted to keep playing but the medical staff advised against it.

"Our quarterback is a tough guy (who) wanted to win the game as much as anyone," Smith said. "He wanted to go and tried to go the second half."

The Chicago Sun-Times had reported earlier a source said Cutler had suffered a ligament tear but was to have tests to determine the extent of the damage.

Cutler was hurt in the second quarter of the Bears' 21-14 loss to Green Bay Sunday. He returned for the first series of the third quarter but Smith removed him for the rest of the game.

Cutler finished 6-of-14 for 80 yards and an interception.

Initially, he was replaced by Todd Collins, who was yanked after going 0-for-4 passing. Caleb Hanie finished up, going 13-of-20 for 153 yards with one touchdown and two interceptions.

Cutler's grit came into question after numerous NFL players sent Internet messages during and after the game.

Hanie stuck up for Cutler.

"It just frustrates you to hear that stuff from anybody, yet alone other players," Hanie said. "One thing I know about Jay Cutler is he's tough. He didn't want to let his teammates down. If he could've been on the field and been productive ... he would have done it."

Hanie also said Cutler was "very encouraging to me and helped me out tremendously during the game."